A lot of people have different thoughts about homework. Lately, more people are asking if homework is an effective way of learning. Some have said that it doesn’t work and is pointless. Others say that homework is a strategy of learning that indefinitely helps children. So is there a middle ground on two very different takes? Why is homework so dependent on the situation?

Students have very different learning methods specific to them. While homework might work perfectly for some students, it also could negatively impact another large portion of the children. Even comparing two students, one could easily finish their work in 10 minutes, and the other could stress out about it for hours while still not comprehending the lesson. Children are far too different to generalize whether homework is effective for a whole group of students.

High school students are furthering their adult lives. They are getting jobs and preparing for college, which can take priority over things like homework. When teenagers have commitments regarding their future, it takes up time which is easy to run out of. Loss of time often leads to loss of sleep, which can eventually lead to kids losing focus in class during school hours. As children increase in age, so does the number of their classes. Students often have at least six different classes, leading to an indefinitely large amount of homework. The homework from those class periods piles up on other responsibilities resulting in stress and missing assignments. Homework that holds little significance to the curriculum is viewed as busy work. Students think less of teachers or a subject if they have boring work that doesn’t pertain to anything other than a numbered score.

Homework in certain proportions can help students. It can reinforce classroom learning and establish good study habits. Retaining lessons and solidifying that knowledge is inarguably beneficial to young minds. The only problem is how it piles up when students procrastinate or how they complete their assignments with little effort to get them out of the way. According to a study done by Stanford, 56 percent of their students felt that homework was a primary source of their stress, while only 1 percent reported that they felt no stress as a result. An unnecessary amount of anxiety makes students unproductive and might decrease their want to pursue things outside of school. 

Overall the concept of homework is highly dependent on individuals. What works for one person will likely not work for another. A student can work for hours not understanding the concept rather than spending their time in arguably more productive ways. I believe homework can be a valuable learning tool, just not in the amounts often present in schools. Homework can make or break a student. For an increased succession rate, a children’s education has to cater to them as a person, as we all have different perceptions and ways of learning.

SOURCES

Parker, C. (2014). Stanford research shows pitfalls of homework. Stanford News. Retrieved 2022, from https://news.stanford.edu/2014/03/10/too-much-homework-031014/.

Levy, S. (2019, August 22). Why homework is bad: Stress and consequences. Healthline. Retrieved December 13, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health-news/children-more-homework-means-more-stress-031114