Homework is a tool that many teachers use to assess a student’s grasp on concepts learned in class. While teachers can use homework to see how much each student has learned, students also gain benefits by doing homework because they get to practice what they’ve learned in school. Homework remains popular to this day because of the mutual benefits that both the giver and receiver get. However, an issue that happens with homework is the workload. How much homework should students receive? How much is too much or too little? These are some problems that each educator must consider when giving homework. However, each person has a different perspective on what is too little and too much, so it is important to define what kind of workload fits each category. A workload that matches the amount of time students spend in class is considered high because it prevents them from having time to do extracurricular activities and pursue other goals. High school students report an average of 5 hours of homework per night, which is almost the amount of time they spend at school. Instructors should collectively agree to lessen workload so that students spend about 2 hours each night instead. This will give students more time to explore other options that could possibly help them later in life. If students had a lighter workload, they could actually learn more about material that isn’t taught at schools.
Homework is something that has been used in the education system for a long time. However, while most aspects of the world have changed, the education system remains one of the few things that hasn’t. While some homework may have converted from paper to online, many instructors continue to believe that homework is one of the only ways for students to learn what they need to be successful. However, too much homework can actually hinder a child’s growth. Cathy Vatterott is a professor in the Department of Educator Preparation, Innovation and Research and is known for her expertise on the topic of homework. In her recent book, she claims that homework had the potential to interfere with students’ health because it prevented children from being able to go outside. Many children have so much homework that they lack the time to build social relationships with others and develop other health issues. Living in a fast-paced world, people value education more and see homework as a means of allowing children to acquire knowledge in a quick way. Homework has become so embedded in the lives of children that change is difficult. Teachers seem to have the right to control students’ lives inside and outside of the classroom and students are forced to comply with their policies. When students have too much homework, they are unable to build friendships and other tasks. Their social interaction is important because it’s a skill that will help them later in life. By being confined by homework, students can’t do what they want, which can seriously damage their mindset. Homework usually increases as students get older but at a certain age, the homework quantity becomes so high that it can start to affect students’ relationships with their families as well. Parents are realizing that their children can’t participate in family events to build up their family connection because they are forced to use that time to complete homework. While students may gain the intellectual benefits from completing homework, many aspects of their daily lives are also harmed by the quantity of homework they have to do.
Homework may be a double-edged sword, but it certainly doesn’t have to be. By decreasing the amount of homework, students can still gain the benefits of learning by practicing and the benefits of having more free time to spend elsewhere. When students have more time, they can spend that time to explore the world and learn about what they will be encountering in the future. Schools are supposed to prepare students to be knowledgeable individuals who can lead society into the future and replace the older generation. While homework may equip students with critical thinking, students do not gain the social skills required for life. Humans are, by nature, social creatures. Survival is dependent on collaborating with others to defeat the obstacles in the world. If students are unable to learn the importance of social skills, they won’t be able to ask for help when they need it. By letting students explore the world however they want, students can experience what their environment is like, enabling them to do activities that shape their charisma. Less homework may even have benefits in school performance because students can concentrate on class more without getting tired. Students with too much homework can become stressed, which can cause many health issues including sleep deprivation. Students who lack sleep do not learn well. Sleeping in class is an experience that many people have had and can be avoided by pushing less work upon students. As students progress to become adults, teachers should be giving less homework and encouraging students to pursue extracurricular activities that can help determine what they wish to do in the future.
Homework may have been the tool that has shaped student’s futures for generations. Whether the outcome was positive or negative, homework has barely changed. While it may be difficult to completely get rid of homework, perhaps lessening the homework amount can allow all the stakeholders to finally compromise on this issue.
Study Entertainment 