[2 SIDES, 1 ISSUE] How much homework is too much?
December 6, 2021
Homework is a highly debated topic that has been the subject of many heated arguments between teachers, students, parents/guardians, and many other people whose lives are impacted by it.
On the one hand, many people argue that it is necessary for a student to grow. The WGU website states that according to Duke professor Harris Cooper, “it’s important that students have homework. His meta-analysis of homework studies showed a correlation between completing homework and academic success, at least in older grades.”
On the other hand, homework can lead to an overwhelming amount of stress and time away from necessary healthy activities. According to Stanford researchers, a study found that “too much homework can negatively affect kids, especially their lives away from school, where family, friends, and activities matter.”
SPA should give homework
READY, SET, STUDY! Sophomore McKinley Garner works on several homework assignments during a very short study hall.
Sophomore McKinley Garner says that although he partially agrees, he thinks if teachers put homework entirely in the student’s hands, many of them will fall behind. Once they go to the teacher for help it will be too late.
“Obviously too much homework is bad, but students don’t retain all the information they learn in class. Although putting homework in the hands of students might give them more freedom, inevitably, students will stop completing homework altogether if they are not monitored. They will eventually fall behind,” he said.
Garner also thinks that students might cheat on the homework if it is based on completion. “Students could just write random things on their homework if it is graded on completion. There needs to be a balance between giving homework and not overworking students.
In conclusion, teachers should give a healthy amount of homework that doesn’t overwhelm students but allows them to grow at a healthy rate. Since too much homework leads to stress, and too little can result in students falling behind, it is important that teachers work with each other to give students a steady amount of homework for them to complete each night.
SPA should not give homework
TOO MUCH. An overuse of out-of-school time for students on homework and other assignments can cause unnecessary stress.
Sophomore Declan Monohan thinks homework is something that should lay in the hands of the student. They should be able to decide how much effort and time is necessary for their growth.
“I think if teachers give around thirty minutes of homework per class but have it graded on completion. People who need extra practice can do the homework, but the people that don’t can quickly complete it without having to worry about getting points off, and not be affected negatively,” Monohan said.
Students already learn a lot in class. Homework is often just a review of classwork, and if students found the tasks particularly easy, Monohan finds no need to require them to do the extra work.
“I think the teachers do their best to make students pay attention, and if students are not focusing as much as they should be, it is on them to do the homework. Some students either don’t want to pay attention or some other circumstances are preventing them from fully applying themselves in class. In this case, having resources for work outside of class would be important,” Monohan said.
Monohan agrees students should be given homework, but it should be put in their hands to decide how much or little they need to do to keep up with the curriculum.
In conclusion, teachers should give a healthy amount of homework that doesn’t overwhelm students but allows them to grow at a healthy rate. Since too much homework leads to stress, and too little can result in students falling behind, it is important that teachers work with each other to give students a steady amount of homework for them to complete each night.