Homework: Pros, Cons, Fixes
I’m in danger of becoming irrational about homework. I started a post the other day: “Homework is evil.” Black and white is comforting, but thanks, Carol and Tom, for reminding me there are also grays.
On vacation, I’m hoping to brainstorm some of the pros and cons of homework as it is now generally structured. Then the tricky part: Can this ubiquitous, fairly uniform national habit be reshaped to good effect?
If you can’t wait to start talking, I set up a table in the Coffee Shop:
Homework: Pros, Cons, Fixes
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Homework is evil! i think it is bad enough that we have to spend 6-7 hours of our day in school, then be given 2 hours of homework! Also if you don’t under stand the homework who can help you? and then if you don’t get it done teachers will ask you to come in durning luch or durning the morning! Just more time gone down the drain. if we didn’t have homework we could speed more time doing what we want to do.
Kitty,
There is a fine book, “The End of Homework,” which really works out what’s wrong with homework. The authors of that book agree with you: You’ve already worked a full day, and now you have to come home and do more? And it’s not only students – homework puts an extra load on parents. And not only parents: Homework puts an extra load on teachers, and most of them wouldn’t mind having more time to do what they want to do.
Your post here inspired me. No promises, because things have been pretty busy for me too, but I’ll try to get some of my thoughts about homework together, and maybe with some ideas as to what we could be doing, all of us, to reduce it.
i think its peepee.
I agree completely that most homework is a waste of time. If the material can’t be covered effectively in 7-8 hours of the day, why penalize the student by adding more time after school?
I was lucky to be homeschooled for several years, and the best part of it was having the pace of the schoolwork tailored to my ability and interests. The best learning, as David says in his book, happens when we want to be doing what we’re doing.
homework is a complete waste of time and cuts in to kids’ play time.
homeworks for big fat fagits lol it sucks
I agree, as a parent I hate to see my child get homework. I give them my child for 7 to 8 hours and if they can’t do the job why should I have to. I often consider homeschooling my children. children should be able to do other thing after school like play outside, read for fun, sports etc… I think laws should be passed to cut out or cut back on the amount of homework given to children.
Two words: homework sucks.
No! Three acually: homework sucks BAD.
6 hours of school, 3 hours of homework (on GOOD days), 1-2 hours traveling to and from school (for me at any rate…)..that’s 10-11 hours, almost half a full day, just on school alone!!! What about sleeping, eating and stuff REGULAR teenagers do? No time for sports, catching up with friends, family or anything…
Homework is a monster in paper form.
HOMEWORK IS EVIL I SAY :EVIL: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FUCK THIS SCHOOL
homework is nasty!
I believe homework is needed, but teachers just give us WAY TOO MUCH! Most students have things to do afterschool. Some that are activities for enrichment, or sports. Most girls like to talk on the phone. Other students want to hang out or even watch a little t.v. Believe it or not some students even like to read. Then, what about the essential things? Shower, brushing teeth, eating, come on PERSONAL HYGENE! Its making our grades go down and they actually wonder why.
What is the goal of homework? Is it so kids can learn more, or is it to build a “good habit"? Or is it because it’s what we’ve always done?
Say that the goal is to build a habit in kids of “bringing work home” ("from the office"?). Is that a good habit to build?
Alan,
I censured your comment. I’ve left some rough posts up in the past– they were honest comments about how people felt about homework. Your comment was obscene beyond what I’m willing to let pass. Equally important to me, it was pointless and irrelevant. If you have something to say about homework, I’d like to hear it. But please say it with some decorum.
Homework is the best guys!
I have done a whole research paper on the cons of homework, and it seems like none of the teachers bother to take in consideration of what they really are doing to us.
My parents expect the best out of me and when I come home from school rushing to get things done, I end up getting horrible grades on them dropping my grades at a dangerous rate. Especially in algebra. If I come home with a load of homework, I have absoulutley no help, considering both parents work late hours and I watch my little brother. If I dont understand a topic im screwed. I have given enough time to you teachers and I think this has gone far enough!!! Plus weekends are supposed to be are 2 free days. I HAVE HOMEWORK THEN TOO!!
homo work…teeeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheehee
i agree with all of you. homework does suck. especially if you go to one of those really smart schools. everyday we work a six hour day and then half to come home and work lk another three hours. ITS CRAZY AND UNFAIR.
Homework is bad for kids. People should have fun instead of staying after skool or staying inside for home work. Kids should have fun and do sports after skool and have fun with there frinds. So yeah…
Ya’ll is just stupid!!!!
You all suck!!!! homework is so fun
i think homework sucks. in general the only thing that i would want to do the most is finally relax after going to school at 6am and get home at 3pm. no time is used for recreation and the time we use are givin to have as recreation will be used to study!!! So home work sucks!!! i also aam a blk belt in karate so i have to also got to that upon skool so no time for recreation again!!!!!!!!!!!! HOMEWORK SUCKS
Ya i don’t really know is homework fun or not? i’m not really sure but if you know please help me i want to know!!
Homework is not fun at all we have no time to go to hockey pratctice or dance or other sports it’s totally unfair but is homework good or not awnsert me!!!
When you think about it, should kids really get in triuble and be put through misery and sometimes pain for something as simple as not writing some letters on a peice of paper?
I’m thinking of starting a no homework movement!
With the right organization, and a large amount of supporters i might be able to stop homework for good!
Once i rid the Durham region of homework i’m thinking of starting it up world wide known as “The Lighter Load Campaign” If i start a website i’ll be sure to inform you guys. So tell me what you think.
i’m in. just tell what the site is and i’ll tell everybody in my school:)
I do believe that it should be a law that teachers can’t give out homework on the weekends because students just spent 5 out of 7 days of their week in school and doing homework, so why should they have to waste their weekend. I am a 5th grade student and I’m always getting homework on the weekends and I have things to do. My whole weekend is booked. I’m not sure how teachers think that kids have time to do their homework during the weekend. On top of that, I’m in school for exactly 6 hours and 45 minutes then I get to come home to do some very unpleasant homework. My homework is normally about 2 to 3 hours long. A lot of my homework is pointless, but yet I’m still stuck doing it unless I want to sit through a 2 hour lecture.
homework is stupid! Boo homework :( grrrrrrrrrrrrr!
I think homework is ok. I totaly agree that there should be no homework on the weekends, but during the week we should have homework becuase , don’t you wanna remember the stuff and get a 100% on your test?!?