Homework: More Harm than Good?
(1) Certainly, most people would agree that homework is just a regular part of going to school. (2) Many teachers argue that homework teaches students how to work independently. (3) However, many researchers in education have questioned whether homework harms or hurts students. (4) Some—like Edward Graham in the article “Should Schools Be Done with Homework?”—argue we should get rid of homework entirely! (5) Is all this extra work beneficial to students, or does it actually do more harm than good?
(6) I believe we should get rid of homework because it is not very helpful to students. (7) For one thing, students have already worked 6–7 hours (a full work day!) on academic work by the time they get home, and we still need quality time with friends and loved ones. (8) Another reason is that homework is unfair to students who must work to support their families or care for young siblings.
(9) Denise Pope, a researcher at Stanford University, points out, “Too much homework can negatively affect kids by increasing stress and sleep deprivation and generally leaving less time for family, friends, and activities.” (10) Alfie Kohn, an expert on child education, states, “No homework should be the new normal. (11) Six hours of academics is enough except on those occasions when teachers can show strong reason to disrupt family time.” (12) When teachers assign homework thinking it’s to help their students, they are forgetting that socialization and family time are just as important for developing young minds. (13) Also, more homework is harder for teachers to grade.
(14) Teachers need to consider students’ home lives. (15) I, for one, have a little brother and a little sister to watch while my parents work. (16) I get punished for “not working hard enough” when I arrive to school the next day, my homework unfinished.
(17) Schools should let students be kids and teens without having to stress out about homework. (18) I don’t think teachers always consider students’ social needs or home circumstances. (19) For some students, there are chores, we had to care for children, and even other after-school activities of require attendance.