Notes

1. By requiring students to complete additional course work by themselves at home, you are forcing them to test their own understanding of a subject. This helps them to practice and develop a mastery of a given topic.
2. There is already limited time in the classroom to cover all of the topics that need to be covered. Working on large projects and independent studies can take a large chunk of this time up. With homework, many of this course work can be completed at home and free up a lot of time during the school day.
3. Often times, the parents of students have little involvement in what is happening inside the classroom. Homework offers them some insight into the topics and lessons that are being covered, and let’s them actively participate to ensure their child’s understanding.
4. Keeping up with homework and making sure to set aside the time to do it helps to teach young students essential discipline skills that they need to succeed in the rest of their life. Time management and organization are also all enforced through homework.
5. Kids spend a large majority of their week in the classroom. The time they get to spend with their family is very short because of the long days in school. Homework only further cuts into this important bonding time for families.
6. Student’s minds and abilities are tested all day in school, which can be very draining. When they come home, they need to be able to relax and pursue other interests. Homework not only doesn’t allow them to do that, but causes the stress of the school day to continue into the evening. This could affect attitude, sleep, and many other things.
7. School is undoubtedly very important to the development of young minds, but they also have their own interests and passions that shouldn’t be ignored. Afterschool is often the only time that these students can engage in activities like sports, musical interests, dance, and other things. Homework hinders the time that they have available to do this.
8. If a child cannot learn what needs to be learned in a six hour day, we are expecting too much of a child. We are creating a jam-packed hurried day without a chance to play, reflect and interact. Adding hours to an already busy day is absurd.
9. If a child cannot learn what needs to be learned in a six hour day, we are expecting too much of a child. We are creating a jam-packed hurried day without a chance to play, reflect and interact. Adding hours to an already busy day is absurd.
10. It is possible for homework (or rather home learning) to be a positive force. However, when a parent is stuck as a practitioner of someone else’s pre-planned learning situation, it becomes an issue of management.