HOMEWORK: Is it really a necessity anymore?

I don't remember having a lot of homework in gradeschool, and only the monthly book reports for English in Junior High and High School. Homework was just accepted then (1962-1968) as something you had to do. If I didn'get my homework done it was for reasons beyond not knowing the subject (no way to do the research; my parents were often too drunk to communicate, much less consult on any educational subject). Still, we did have the school library and some reference books at home, which enabled me to get at least a passing grade on any homework.

So what does doing homework at night, on weekends, or over a holiday bring to a student?

Cons: (1) A backache, if each course assigns homework and you have to bring all the books home. (2) Less "down" time to just put school aside and de-stress for a while. (3) Less time for extra-curricular activities.

Pros: (1) You might actually learn something from your research, such as organization (of thoughts and information), responsibility, and the good feeling you get from a job well done. (2) If you consult a friend, schoomate or parent while doing your homework, you learn to work as a team. Something you will need to know how to do in your life. (3) That you can be reliable and counted on to complete a job given to you.

I am for homework, if it is an amount that is reasonable and do-able. What do all of you think about it?

Comments: 8

Janet Somewhere Up On The Mount Sep 22, 2006, 2:33pm EDT

I am for the homework. My nephew Ryan went to the 4th grade this year. He has homework everynight and weekends. I think it is time well spent with parents so they can keep up on there progress.
Weekends is a bit much.

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Selene N. Sep 22, 2006, 2:45pm EDT

I doubt students will pay attention to the materials and learn anything if there is no homework. Yes, there will be FEW self-motivated students, but they are the minority. I think homework is necessary. However, the teachers should also be careful in giving out reasonable assignments, so the parents don't end up doing everything for the kids.

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♯ ♪ Sep 22, 2006, 3:00pm EDT

I don't think the schools give enough homework, or quality homework, especially in middle school and high school. I can remember writing term papers and reports in 6th grade. My 16 year old couldn't figure out how to write one if she was held up at gunpoint! I have asked the schools, too, why there aren't more "report" type homework given. Usually they look at me like I'm some kind of psycho-butt-insky mother. This could be why her grades are so bad (although my son went to the same school, and he managed to get on the honor roll). They both spend about a half hour on homework, tops. Not enough in my book.

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C. S. Sep 22, 2006, 3:02pm EDT

My son gets way too much homework.

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Susan *. Sep 22, 2006, 4:20pm EDT

...our elementary school starts the kids early on homework....even if it is practicing spelling, most grades assign some homework every night. I see nothing wrong with it IF it doesn't get to be ridiculous for the younger set....as an educator, I liked my students to work IN class so I could more easily judge their progress, but times have changed and more and more classes are expecting long drawn out assignments for kids. It comes down to "keeping up with the Jones' " in the sense that the Joneses are other schools.....

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WM H. Sep 22, 2006, 4:35pm EDT

I had serious objections to the amount and type of homework given to my kids in elementary school. Assignments too often, were beyond the ability of the child to complete without substantial assistance. The situation becomes more difficult when you have more than one child and must apportion your limited time between them. An additional complication is that the homework often arrives with inadequate instructions and no textbook to refer to.

This problem has lessened since my kids moved up to middle school.

PS: thank god for the internet!

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Webduck * Sep 22, 2006, 10:23pm EDT

My son, who is now going on 35, had book reports to do in second grade! I mean real book reports. I was shocked at the time, but we did them, and it did make him think about what he had read. Now his kids started public school this year, and I will be curious to hear the stories that come from that experience. Sometimes, it is hard not to bring your own school baggage along when you are evaluating how your own child is being taught and treated.

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HOMEWORK: Is it really a necessity anymore?

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