homework is bad or good

Is Homework Good or Bad for Students?

It's mostly good, especially for the sciences, but it also can be bad

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Homework isn't fun for students to do or for teachers to grade, so why do it? Here are some reasons why homework is good and why it's bad.

Why Homework Is Good

Here are 10 reasons why homework is good, especially for the sciences, such as chemistry:

• Doing homework teaches you how to learn on your own and work independently. You'll learn how to use resources such as texts, libraries, and the internet. No matter how well you thought you understood the material in class, there will be times when you'll get stuck doing homework. When you face the challenge, you learn how to get help, how to deal with frustration, and how to persevere.
• Homework helps you learn beyond the scope of the class. Example problems from teachers and textbooks show you how to do an assignment. The acid test is seeing whether you truly understand the material and can do the work on your own. In science classes, homework problems are critically important. You see concepts in a whole new light, so you'll know how equations work in general, not just how they work for a particular example. In chemistry, physics, and math, homework is truly important and not just busywork.
• It shows you what the teacher thinks is important to learn, so you'll have a better idea of what to expect on a quiz or test .
• It's often a significant part of your grade . If you don't do it, it could cost you , no matter how well you do on exams.
• Homework is a good opportunity to connect parents, classmates, and siblings with your education. The better your support network, the more likely you are to succeed in class.
• Homework, however tedious it might be, teaches responsibility and accountability. For some classes, homework is an essential part of learning the subject matter.
• Homework nips procrastination in the bud. One reason teachers give homework and attach a big part of your grade to it is to motivate you to keep up. If you fall behind, you could fail.
• How will you get all your work done before class? Homework teaches you time management and how to prioritize tasks.
• Homework reinforces the concepts taught in class. The more you work with them, the more likely you are to learn them. 
• Homework can help boost self-esteem . Or, if it's not going well, it helps you identify problems before they get out of control.

Sometimes Homework Is Bad

So, homework is good because it can boost your grades , help you learn the material, and prepare you for tests. It's not always beneficial, however. Sometimes homework hurts more than it helps. Here are five ways homework can be bad:

• You need a break from a subject so you don't burn out or lose interest. Taking a break helps you learn.
• Too much homework can lead to copying and cheating.
• Homework that is pointless busywork can lead to a negative impression of a subject (not to mention a teacher).
• It takes time away from families, friends, jobs, and other ways to spend your time.
• Homework can hurt your grades. It forces you to make time management decisions, sometimes putting you in a no-win situation. Do you take the time to do the homework or spend it studying concepts or doing work for another subject? If you don't have the time for the homework, you could hurt your grades even if you ace the tests and understand the subject.
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Is Homework Good or Bad?

• Post author By admin
• October 13, 2022

Homework is a word that brings up many memories from childhood, it can be good, or it might be not good. From the book reports, projects are continuously given to students to solve some assignments. However, the word homework has been debated for over a century. 

On the other hand, we are unsure who invented homework. We know that the word “Homework” dates back to ancient Rome. In the 19th century, German students from a school were given assignments that they had to complete outside of the school day. After that, this concept of homework spread quickly across Europe and became famous in the United States also. 

In recent years, many parents have raised concerns about homework. Did homework enhance learning, or is it just a waste of time, or did homework load lead to more stress or cause mental issues. 

In this blog, we will cover all the topics regarding is homework good or bad. 

So, let’s get started. 

Table of Contents

Top Takeaways: Is Homework Good or Bad

“Is homework good or bad” has been going around for decades now. Different people have different views, and some think that it is good. On the other hand, some think that it is not good. Both the answers are related to each other in many ways. It primarily depends on the time students need to put in and the difficulty level. Most students think it is an unnecessary burden that eats up their time. On the other hand, teachers feel it is necessary for better learning. 

Is Homework Good or Bad has two sides 

Is Homework Good or Bad: Good Side

Help in learning .

In some situations, students cannot connect with a particular topic, so homework is used as a reinforcement tool. This is especially true for young age students. So, as a result, homework is used to understand the study better. Doing homework will teach you how to learn on your own and make you independent. On the other hand, homework helps you learn beyond the class’s scope and helps you get better marks on quizzes. 

Better Time Management

By doing homework, you get to know the concept of time management. Lessons taught in class mainly focus on conceptual clarity. On the other hand, homework helps the students frame answers to questions in a given time. Time management comes in handy when you take an exam. You can finish your exam much faster because you have already spent your time answering questions. 

Practice make you Perfect

You must have heard the term “ Practice makes the man Perfect “. The only thing that will help you get better academic marks is practice. By doing practice on a daily basis, a student can easily cover all the topics and work on difficult topics so that they can’t face the same problem again in the future. As a result, practice helps students master the difficult topic taught at school and get better or even excellent academic marks. 

It Reduces Screen Time

On average, a student in the US might get 3-4 hours of screen time per day, but when a student isn’t in school, that figure gets to 7-8 hours. Homework might look unwanted, but it encourages better study habits. On the other hand, homework decreases the time spent watching television and playing video games on a mobile device. As a result, it reduces screen time. 

Is Homework Good or Bad: Bad Side

If you look at the above section, you must think that homework has only good sides, but there is a flip side to homework. Let’s take a look at some bad sides of homework.

May lead to Mental illness.

Extra assignments given by schools to students may lead to unhealthy stress levels. I know students need to learn in the class, but they also get some time to explore other things. 

If you get work after work and fail to complete that work, it is obvious that you get stressed, and that gets worse over time if you don’t complete it. The same thing happens with students. 

According to a survey by Stanford University, 56 percent of the students think that homework is the primary cause of stress. At the same time, the remaining students think that tests and getting good marks in tests are the causes of mental illness. Only one percent of the students think that homework does not cause any mental problems, which is notable. 

No time for family

This is the main reason why homework is bad. If students have too much homework, it’s hard to spend any time with their family members. Students start working on their homework when they get back home and never come back from their room.  

Students don’t have time because of extra assignments and homework, even on the weekends. As a result, students miss weekends that they are supposed to spend with their family members. However, without work, students have more time for family. 

Imbalance Student life

Spending too much time on homework has negative results like it prevents students from having an active social life with their friends and family. When students are busy doing homework, it is really difficult to socialize in a healthy manner which may lead to difficulty in communication in their later stages. 

Key Takeaways: Is Homework Good or Bad

To sum up, the ‘is homework good or bad there are a few points one needs to remember-

• Homework has many advantages for students. In short, homework reinforces learning and helps the students learn the art of time management.
• Too much homework is bad for a student’s physical as well as mental health.
• It acts as a stressor tool that can lead to severe headaches, exhaustion, and sleeplessness.
• It is important to balance the homework to get the most out of it.
• Students should receive homework based on their grades. 
• Homework should be on that topic already covered in the class, not a new topic altogether.
• Students have the option of accessing online homework help platforms to get assistance.

Does homework make kids smarter or not?

According to the research held in 2000 by a Duke University social psychologist Harris Cooper researcher, the result shows a general correlation between homework and academic achievement. Moreover, students who do homework daily develop good study habits and a desire to learn something new. 

These are some aspects that make students smarter, and it’s one of the key objectives of studying. Of course, when students face an enormous amount of homework, they may become dumb.

How much homework are students doing?

We are not entirely sure how much homework students are doing. But many schools follow a “Rule of thumb”, which means students should get 10 minutes of homework for each grade level. As a result, first graders should get just 10 minutes of work to do at home. On the other hand, higher graders should be cracking the books for a couple of hours. 

Is homework a necessary evil, and should it be banned?

A public school in Marion Country, Florida, decided on a no-homework policy for all the students. This decision was based on Cooper’s research. This research shows that students gain a little by doing homework but a lot from reading. 

After that, Orchard Elementary School in Burlington, Vermont, followed the same path. Well, if you are wondering, the homework policy has four parts:

• Read Nightly
• Go outside and Play
• Have dinner with family
• Get a good Sleep

On the other hand, many schools are totally against this rule. Schools say that parents should also support homework because teachers know that it can be helpful for many reasons, like practice solving problems. Still, for no reason, if teachers assign 30 problems instead of 5, then it will create some problems. 

Not all students have the same time or space to complete their homework. 

Conclusion (Is homework good or bad)

Homework is a controversial topic. It’s often considered a valuable form of practice or a tool to help students learn at home. In support of the first argument, it is clear that homework does help students practice what they have learned in school to get better marks in academics. On the other hand, some argue that homework has no benefits and only detracts from free time.

In my opinion, excessive amounts of anything are bad if a student gets a lot of homework. As a result, they do not get any time to play or chill, so homework is bad. Otherwise, it’s good. 

I hope you like this blog. Is homework good or bad?

Also, Read: Why Homework Is Bad For Students

Q1. 10 reasons why homework is good for students?

Ans. Ten reasons why homework is good for students. Children benefit from playing Not every home is a beneficial environment School is already a full-time job for students It encourages a sedentary lifestyle There is no evidence that homework creates improvements Extra time in school does not equate to better grades Too much homework for students Homework is often geared toward benchmarks The accurate practice may not be possible It may encourage cheating on multiple levels

Q2. 10 reasons why homework is bad for students?

Ans. Ten reasons why homework is bad for students. No Life Outside of School Homework Is Busywork Homework Can’t Replace In-Class Education Because Students Can’t or Don’t Ask for Help Because Sometimes Parents Can’t Help Because It Can Hurt Grades Because It Hurts Students With Problems Learning Should Be Fun Chronic Daily Headaches Lack of Socialisation

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Homework: Good or Bad?

Student A arrives home from school, has a snack and tells her mom about her day.  She heads to her room, completes her homework and reports back in thirty minutes that she finished.  She states that she doesn’t understand why homework is even assigned because it is just so EASY!

Student B arrives home from school, has his snack and immediately begins complaining about his homework.  He is full of dread and states that he just doesn’t understand why he has to complete it.  He talks about how HARD it is going to be and how long it is going to take.  He hates homework!  His afternoon and evening is spent working on his assignments.

Do either of these sound familiar?  Maybe your child falls somewhere in the middle. Regardless of how our children feel about homework, the level of difficulty, or how long it takes, it will be assigned.  Students and parents alike will continue to ask the question…

Is homework really worth the time and effort?

Homework can provide an increased understanding of concepts taught at school.  Giving students extra practice, allows those concepts to be committed to each student’s long term memory.  Good homework reinforces what is taught at school.  When homework follows the 10-minute rule (10 minutes of homework per grade level), these benefits are the greatest for high school students. Good study habits develop because of daily homework.  Children may also gain a sense of personal responsibility and increased independence because they learn to manage their time and expanding their organizational skills.

Negative Impact:

If homework levels exceed the 10 minute rule, students begin to feel overwhelmed and unmotivated.  Too much homework causes stress for the student and family.  Kids become burned out because excessive amounts of homework takes away from family time and extra curricular activities.  Homework can be difficult for some students due to lack of resources and parental support in their own homes.  Other students struggle with homework as a result of individual learning differences.  Often students feel defeated because they didn’t fully grasp the concepts when they were introduced in class.

No Definitive Answer:

Ultimately, whether homework impacts a child negatively or positively, depends on each situation.  There are too many factors involved to truly know which children benefit, or to say that all homework is beneficial for all students. The type of homework, the amount of homework assigned, the type of learner, and the availability of home support all contribute to each student’s homework experience.   The best we can do, is to provide a supportive environment to teach children how to navigate homework.  Courtney Evenchik’s article, “ Homework and Power Struggles ” has great advice for setting students up for success at home.

Written by: Elizabeth Hipwell, M.Ed. Certified Barton Reading & Spelling Tutor Dyslexia Consultant

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Is Homework Good or Bad For Students

I am sure you all are familiar with homework words. You must have spent many hours as homework during your school days or even on your vacation days. Be it daily during school days or for our holidays our teachers give homework.

Teachers also give us work during our holidays to give us some time to study at home. The work or study which is missed or remains incomplete in our class, our teacher, gives it to us as homework. This is what we call homework.

So, is homework good or bad? Sometimes, you can say it is good because it can boost your exam grades. It can also help you to prepare for your test. However, it is not always good. Sometimes homework can hurt more than it helps. In this blog, we will discuss is homework good or bad. So, let’s get started.

What Is Homework?

Table of Contents

After the school hours, the work, project or exercise, where the teachers bring the students to do some of the subject work from home, we call homework. This task is given to the students to practice for that subject.

In this work, children can take the help of their parents, elders or anyone else. A good way for any student to learn this for themselves. He should not take this work otherwise, and everyone should take an interest in it and work hard, keeping his future in mind.

Why Is Homework Needed?

Continuous practice and hard work is the sign of success. The same thing applies to students as well. Every student needs hard work and practice to be successful. So he needs constant practice at home, even after school hours. Whatever the student teaches or teaches in the class must be practiced at home so that the subject settles in your mind. That’s why teachers give homework to the students.

Whatever students learn in the class remains in their minds for some time; if they practice it at home, that thing remains in their minds for a long time. If they don’t practice, then they forget it later. It is very necessary to practice it to remember all those things and facts well and get good marks in the exam.

Homework is a good way to remember and practice all the topics taught in class for a long time. That’s why teachers give homework to the students. Every student should understand this and take homework seriously and practice that topic.

Homework Is Good or Bad

Is homework good or bad?Teachers give homework to the students every day to learn something new and practice what they have been taught. To do this task, students have to work hard and practice. Homework has some positive and some negative effects on students. Let’s try to know about it.

Why Homework Is Good

Revise what you read.

is homework good or bad? We can revise what we read in class with homework. It may happen in the class that whatever we read, we cannot understand well due to less time. But we can understand better by revising topics with homework. This removes our doubts, and with this repetition, we can remember the meaning of that fact for a long time.

Practice For Exam

If we do our homework daily, we can understand its meaning easily. We can remember everything that was told in class. We remember through homework, understand and study it and keep it in mind.

While doing homework, we solve all our problems by practising. Due to this, we get some relief from the pressure of studies during the examination. It also helps us to score good marks in the examination.

Increases Ability To Understand

We have to go through daily studies, and all the things told one or more times through homework. Homework work includes both writing and reading tasks, which gives us practice in writing and reading and increases our ability to understand.

Helps Teachers To Assess

Our teachers help children evaluate them through their questions, answers, tasks, and new project methods in the classroom. Homework eliminates all the student’s confusion and tries to think about that subject differently, understand, and reshape it in their way. Due to this, it also assures their parents and teachers to do well in their evaluation and mark sheet.

Teaches Time Management

Through homework, students make way for their progress with hard work and dedication. Through this, the student analyzes his time and manages it. This allows students to do their homework on time, play, and watch TV. Restricts your time to watch, visit your friends, etc. In the future, he will become proficient in this, which will help him be successful in the future.

Makes You Responsible

Homework helps students improve their thinking, memorizing power, and skills further. The student increases his concentration by doing homework daily and on holidays. Due to this, they become very responsible for their work and start doing all the work by themselves.

Why Homework Is Bad

Too much homework.

Excessive homework acts as a burden for any student. Due to this, the overall development of the student gets tied up. Any student gets stressed and irritable due to daily or excessive homework, which greatly affects his health.

No Time For Other Activities

Due to excessive homework, the student lacks time to engage in any other activity. He doesn’t find enough time for this. Due to this, they do not get a chance to meet and talk to other people and they start feeling completely lonely. This thing can turn out to be very dangerous in the future.

Also, Read- Why Homework Should Be Banned

Giving Homework The Smart Way

Easy and good homework.

Students should be given easy and interesting homework which they should complete with pleasure. Such work should be given so that their thinking and new ways of thinking are used and they also get pleasure and fun in this work. The homework given to them should not be difficult and not too easy. Their homework should be such that their intelligence, methods and enthusiasm to learn new things should remain them.

Homework Should Be Given At Intervals Of Days

Due to daily homework, boredom, sadness, irritability, fatigue, etc. Therefore, children should be given more interesting homework at a fixed interval. Due to this, the pressure of homework work on them is reduced and their full development is achieved.

Is Homework Required For Students?

All parents, teachers, and students want that they should do their own chapter and this homework is very important. Whatever the students learn in the class is not enough for them, some doubts remain in their minds somewhere. They don’t get the meaning of these things clearly. Self-chapter is very necessary to remove all these doubts and to recognize our intellect and the power within.

Homework will seem a bit sad and pointless in the beginning. We should understand the value of homework, and we should be self-supporting. Through this, we awaken the power to talk to each other and to answer our questions to our teacher, parents, classmates, or any other to solve the problem. Homework is very important and useful for every student in my opinion. It enhances their ability to think and do something new.

Conclusion (Is Homework good or bad)

In this blog, we have discussed is homework good or bad in detail. We hope you have understood easily. Homework has its own advantages with few disadvantages. With this, the student uses time, his thinking ability, and work power and generates new work thinking in life. With a little short and interesting homework, it is very essential in the life of all the students.

FAQs (Is Homework good or bad) 

Who invented homework.

According to the research, Roberto novelist of Venice, Italy is credited with having homework in 1095 or 1905.

Why is homework a good thing?

Homework gives parents a chance to see what is being learned in school. Homework teaches students how to take responsibility for their part in the educational process. Homework teaches students that they may have to do things—even if they don’t want to. Homework teaches students to work independently.

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The great homework help debate, “is homework helpful or harmful” is something that has been going around for decades now. Different stakeholders, including parents, students, and teachers have different views when the question ‘is homework helpful or harmful’ comes around. The advantages and disadvantages of homework are definitely relative.

They primarily depend on the time the students need to put in and the level of difficulty. Also, whether or not teachers should permit parents to help with homework. On the one hand, students feel that it is an unnecessary burden that eats up their time. On the other hand, teachers feel that homework is necessary to reinforce learning. Is homework helpful or harmful will thus, always have two sides to it.

Let us look at is homework helpful or harmful and how you can make doing homework a piece of cake-

Is Homework Helpful or Harmful: Why Homework is Good?

There are a variety of reasons why teachers and educators feel that homework is good for a student’s learning-

Learning reinforcement

This is especially true for younger students. Often students face ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ In the absence of homework, what they learn at school gets lost on the way home. Students, in such a situation, are unable to connect the dots in the next lesson. Homework, thus, acts as a tool to reinforce what is learned at school.

Practice makes perfect

Since the learning speed and capacity of all students is different, why homework is good becomes apparent. Homework encourages the students to practice and re-practice what they learn at school. This way if they have the slightest confusion in any concept, they can rework it and then go back to their teacher with the problem they are facing. This practice helps students master the concepts taught at school and excel academically.

Time management

While lessons in school focus on conceptual clarity, homework aims to help students frame answers to questions in a given time frame. This helps students learn the art of time management. This comes in handy for students during exam time. As they have already spent time answering questions, they are able to finish their exams in the given time and more efficiently.

Art of priority setting

Student life is often a time of confusion and lack of priority setting. Overwhelmed with a number of activities they need to take care of, students are unable to decide the order of doing each one. Doing homework can help students prioritize better as they have to decide which homework to finish first. 

Here is a quick guide on how you can get the motivation to pay someone to do my homework .

Is Homework Helpful or Harmful: Why Homework is Bad for You?

If you look at the above section, you may think homework wins the ‘is homework helpful or harmful’ debate. However, there is a flip side to this. This means that there are some disadvantages to homework too. Let us have a look at this flip side of is homework harmful or helpful-

What do you think is homework helpful? Comment below!

Unnecessary stress

According to a survey by Stanford, 56% of students felt that homework was a means of primary stress for them . On the other hand, only 1% of students felt that homework did not cause stress to them. Homework causing stress has many reasons to it. Firstly, students feel the stress of finishing the homework on time. Secondly, they also feel stressed out contemplating the consequences of getting the answers wrong. 

Health problems

A direct consequence of stress due to homework comes in the form of health problems. Students who get more homework often suffer from health problems. Headaches, lack of sleep, exhaustion, stomachaches, etc. While these health problems may seem small in the beginning, they can lead to chronic illnesses in the longer run. 

Imbalance in life

Spending too much time on homework also prevents students from having an active social life and mingling with friends and peers. Always busy with homework, students are unable to socialize in a healthy manner which leads to difficulty in communication in the later stages of life. Additionally, due to homework, students are unable to take part in extracurricular activities. This stands in the way of their holistic development. Since more career professions now look for all-rounded candidates, such students might get on the back burner. 

Is Homework Helpful or Harmful: The Balancing Act

It is definitely true that there are benefits to homework. These advantages make it desirable and do play a significant role in helping students raise their grades. However, as they say, that too much of anything is bad, the same goes for homework too. It is important to note that students and teachers need to strike a balance between a variety of factors for maximum efficiency-

The correct amount

For homework to be genuinely helpful and not become a nightmare for students, it should be of the optimum amount. While there is no standard benchmark as to how much homework is less or more, there are certain parameters that top educators advise. For instance, for a primary school student, the optimum homework should not take more than 20-25 minutes. A middle school student should spend about 45 mins. For a high school student, the amount will depend on the discipline the student opts for, but it should not take more than 1.5- 2 hours.

Consistency

While the amount is one determinant of is homework helpful or harmful, its consistency with classroom learning is also important. This simply means that students should be given homework on the lines of the syllabus done in the class. More often than not teachers complete one topic in class and give away the next one as homework. However, the right approach should be to give practice questions on the first topic itself. Homework on a completely new topic stresses students more than usual and makes them despise it.

How to do your Homework without Stress?

Thanks to the coming together of education and technology, students can have access to instant help when it comes to homework. There are a plethora of homework help edtech platforms that are making life easier for students. Such platforms like TutorBin are a repository of professional tutors who are available to help out students stuck with their homework. They offer a variety of benefits-

• Reduce stress- As students can get some help and guidance from these homework help sites, it reduces their stress. This is especially true when students have very less time in hand and a lot to do. 
• Better grades- A study by Stanford illustrates that 33% students are under the pressure of getting good grades which negatively impacts their physical and mental health. These platforms ensure that students receive 100% correct solution with the right methodology. Thus, students are able to achieve better grades and do not feel the burden of homework too much

Key Takeaways

To sum up, the ‘is homework helpful or harmful’ there are a few points one needs to remember-

• Homework has several advantages for students, in short capsules
• Homework reinforces learning and helps the students learn the art of time management and better answer writing
• However, too much homework is bad for a student’s physical and mental health
• It acts as a constant stressor and can even lead to severe headaches, exhaustion and sleeplessness
• It is important to balance the homework to reap the benefits out of it
• Students should receive homework based on which grade they are in and what disciplines they opt for
• Homework should be a practice of what has already been done in class, and not a new topic altogether
• Students have the option of accessing online homework help platforms to seek assistance and reduce their stress and achieve better grades

Do you want to do your homework fast? Check out these interesting tips

If you are ever under the burden of homework and are seeking a burden to bail you out, TutorBin is just a click away. Get homework help from subject matter experts and have the time to develop holistically.

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The Pros and Cons of Homework

Homework is a word that most students dread hearing. After hours upon hours of sitting in class , the last thing we want is more schoolwork over our precious weekends. While it’s known to be a staple of traditional schooling, homework has also become a rather divise topic. Some feel as though homework is a necessary part of school, while others believe that the time could be better invested. Should students have homework? Have a closer look into the arguments on both sides to decide for yourself.

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Why should students have homework, 1. homework encourages practice.

Many people believe that one of the positive effects of homework is that it encourages the discipline of practice. While it may be time consuming and boring compared to other activities, repetition is needed to get better at skills. Homework helps make concepts more clear, and gives students more opportunities when starting their career .

2. Homework Gets Parents Involved

Homework can be something that gets parents involved in their children’s lives if the environment is a healthy one. A parent helping their child with homework makes them take part in their academic success, and allows for the parent to keep up with what the child is doing in school. It can also be a chance to connect together.

3. Homework Teaches Time Management

Homework is much more than just completing the assigned tasks. Homework can develop time management skills , forcing students to plan their time and make sure that all of their homework assignments are done on time. By learning to manage their time, students also practice their problem-solving skills and independent thinking. One of the positive effects of homework is that it forces decision making and compromises to be made.

4. Homework Opens A Bridge Of Communication

Homework creates a connection between the student, the teacher, the school, and the parents. It allows everyone to get to know each other better, and parents can see where their children are struggling. In the same sense, parents can also see where their children are excelling. Homework in turn can allow for a better, more targeted educational plan for the student.

5. Homework Allows For More Learning Time

Homework allows for more time to complete the learning process. School hours are not always enough time for students to really understand core concepts, and homework can counter the effects of time shortages, benefiting students in the long run, even if they can’t see it in the moment.

6. Homework Reduces Screen Time

Many students in North America spend far too many hours watching TV. If they weren’t in school, these numbers would likely increase even more. Although homework is usually undesired, it encourages better study habits and discourages spending time in front of the TV. Homework can be seen as another extracurricular activity, and many families already invest a lot of time and money in different clubs and lessons to fill up their children’s extra time. Just like extracurricular activities, homework can be fit into one’s schedule.

The Other Side: Why Homework Is Bad

1. homework encourages a sedentary lifestyle.

Should students have homework? Well, that depends on where you stand. There are arguments both for the advantages and the disadvantages of homework.

While classroom time is important, playground time is just as important. If children are given too much homework, they won’t have enough playtime, which can impact their social development and learning. Studies have found that those who get more play get better grades in school , as it can help them pay closer attention in the classroom.

Children are already sitting long hours in the classroom, and homework assignments only add to these hours. Sedentary lifestyles can be dangerous and can cause health problems such as obesity. Homework takes away from time that could be spent investing in physical activity.

2. Homework Isn’t Healthy In Every Home

While many people that think homes are a beneficial environment for children to learn, not all homes provide a healthy environment, and there may be very little investment from parents. Some parents do not provide any kind of support or homework help, and even if they would like to, due to personal barriers, they sometimes cannot. Homework can create friction between children and their parents, which is one of the reasons why homework is bad .

3. Homework Adds To An Already Full-Time Job

School is already a full-time job for students, as they generally spend over 6 hours each day in class. Students also often have extracurricular activities such as sports, music, or art that are just as important as their traditional courses. Adding on extra hours to all of these demands is a lot for children to manage, and prevents students from having extra time to themselves for a variety of creative endeavors. Homework prevents self discovery and having the time to learn new skills outside of the school system. This is one of the main disadvantages of homework.

4. Homework Has Not Been Proven To Provide Results

Endless surveys have found that homework creates a negative attitude towards school, and homework has not been found to be linked to a higher level of academic success.

The positive effects of homework have not been backed up enough. While homework may help some students improve in specific subjects, if they have outside help there is no real proof that homework makes for improvements.

It can be a challenge to really enforce the completion of homework, and students can still get decent grades without doing their homework. Extra school time does not necessarily mean better grades — quality must always come before quantity.

Accurate practice when it comes to homework simply isn’t reliable. Homework could even cause opposite effects if misunderstood, especially since the reliance is placed on the student and their parents — one of the major reasons as to why homework is bad. Many students would rather cheat in class to avoid doing their homework at home, and children often just copy off of each other or from what they read on the internet.

5. Homework Assignments Are Overdone

The general agreement is that students should not be given more than 10 minutes a day per grade level. What this means is that a first grader should be given a maximum of 10 minutes of homework, while a second grader receives 20 minutes, etc. Many students are given a lot more homework than the recommended amount, however.

On average, college students spend as much as 3 hours per night on homework . By giving too much homework, it can increase stress levels and lead to burn out. This in turn provides an opposite effect when it comes to academic success.

The pros and cons of homework are both valid, and it seems as though the question of ‘‘should students have homework?’ is not a simple, straightforward one. Parents and teachers often are found to be clashing heads, while the student is left in the middle without much say.

It’s important to understand all the advantages and disadvantages of homework, taking both perspectives into conversation to find a common ground. At the end of the day, everyone’s goal is the success of the student.

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Homework: Good or Bad? Here Is What Research Says

By Med Kharbach, PhD | Last Update: May 18, 2023

Homework is a controversial topic and the object of differing opinions among teachers, parents, and educators . While some highly value it considering it key in scholarly achievement and academic performance, others view it as a nuisance to students’ independence and a cause for unwarranted emotional and physical stress for kids. 

However, as the research cited in this article demonstrates, homework, controversial as it is, has some benefits for students although these benefits differ according to various factors including students age, skill and grade level, students socio-economic status, purpose behind homework, duration of the homework, among other considerations. In this article, I cover some of the key issues related to homework and provide research resources to help teachers and parents learn more about homework.

What does homework mean? 

According to Cooper (1989), homework is defined as “tasks assigned to students by school teachers that are meant to be carried out during non-school hours”. Cooper’s definition is similar to the one found in Cambridge Dictionary which defines homework as “work that teachers give their students to do at home” or as “studying that students do at home to prepare for school”.

There is way more to homework than what these general definitions outline. Homework assignments are not equal and there are various variables that can affect the value and effectiveness of homework. Some of these variables, according to Blazer (2009) , include difficulty level of assigned tasks, skill and subject areas covered, completion timeframe (short or long term), degree of autonomy and individualization, social context (done independently or with the help of others), obligatory or voluntary, whether it will be submitted for grading or not, among other variables.

Homework good or bad? 

Going through the scholarly literature and regardless of the disagreement and controversies the topic of homework raises, there is a growing consensus that homework has some benefits , especially for students in middle and high school ( National Education Association ).

One of the most comprehensive research studies on homework is a meta-analysis done by professor Harris Cooper and his colleagues (2006) and published in the journal Review of Educational Research . In this study, Cooper et al analyzed a large pool of research studies on homework conducted in the United States between between 1987 and 2003. Their findings indicate the existence of ‘a positive influence of homework on achievement’. The influence is mainly noticed in students in grades 7-12 and less in students grades K-6. However, even though kids benefit less from homework, Cooper et al. confirm the importance of some form of homework for students of all ages.

What is the purpose of homework? 

There are several reasons for assigning homework. Some of these reasons according to Blazer include:

– Review and reinforce materials learned in class – Check students understanding and assess their skills and knowledge – Enhance students study skills – Provide students with learning opportunities where they can use their newly acquired skills to explore new insights. – Enable students to hone in their search skills and apply them to find resources on an assigned topic – Help students develop social emotional learning skills – Enable students to develop functional study habits and life skills. These include time management and organization skills, problem solving skills, self-discipline, accountability, self-confidence, communication skills, critical thinking skills, inquisitiveness, among others.

Drawbacks of homework  

How much homework should students have? 

According to Fernández-Alonso, Suárez-Álvarez and Muñiz ( 2015 ), spending 60 minutes per day doing homework is considered a reasonably effective time. However, the study also added that the amount of help and effort needed to do homework is key in this equation because “when it comes to homework”, as the authors concluded, “how is more important than how much”.  This conclusion is congruent with several other studies (e.g., Farrow et al. (1999), that emphasize the idea that when doing homework, quality is more important than quantity. When the variables of time and effort are taken into account, the question of how much homework should students have becomes statistically irrelevant.

Catty Vatterott, author of Rethinking Homework: Best Practices that Support Diverse Needs , also advocates for quality over quantity when assigning homework tasks.She argues that instead of banning homework altogether, we can embrace a more open approach to homework; one that deemphasizes grading and differentiates tasks.

Along similar lines, studies have also confirmed the correlation between autonomy and positive performance. Autonomous students, that is those who can do homework on their own, are more likely to perform better academically (Fernández-Alonso, 2015; Dettmers et al.,2010, 2011; Trautwein & Lüdtke, 2007, (Xu, 2010a). Findings from these studies indicate that “students who need frequent or constant help with homework have worse academic results.” (Fernández-Alonso, 2015)

My take on homework 

The debate over homework is far from being settled and probably will never reach definitive conclusions. With that being said, l personally view homework as a heuristic for learning. It scaffolds classroom learning and helps students reinforce learned skills. For elementary students, homework should not be tied to any academic grades or achievement expectation.

In fact, kids’ homework assignments, if any, should align with the overall interests of kids in that it should support and include elements of play, fun, and exploration. Needless to mention that, once outside school, kids are to be given ample time to play, explore, and learn by doing. As Cooper stated “A good way to think about homework is the way you think about medications or dietary supplements. If you take too little, they’ll have no effect. If you take too much, they can kill you. If you take the right amount, you’ll get better.”

Research about homework 

1.Blazer, C. (2009). Literature review: Homework. Miami, FL: Miami Dade County Public Schools. 2. Cooper, H. (1989). Synthesis of research on homework. Educational Leadership, 47, 85–91.

3. Cooper, H., Robinson, J. C., & Patall, E. A. (2006). Does homework improve academic achievement? A synthesis of research, 1987–2003. Review of Educational Research, 76, 1– 62. 4. Dettmers, S., Trautwein, U., Lüdtke, M., Kunter, M., & Baumert, J. (2010). Homework works if homework quality is high: Using multilevel modeling to predict the development of achievement in mathematics. Journal of Educational Psychology,

5. Dettmers, S., Trautwein, U., & Lüdtke, O. (2009). The relationship between homework time and achievement is not universal: Evidence from multilevel analyses in 40 countries. School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 20, 375– 405.

6. Epstein, J. L., & van Voorhis, F. L. (2001). More than minutes: Teachers’ roles in designing homework. Educational Psychologist, 36, 181–193

7. Farrow, S., Tymms, P., & Henderson, B. (1999). Homework and attainment in primary schools. British Educational Research Journal, 25, 323–341

8. Goldstein, A. (1960). Does homework help? A review of research. The Elementary School Journal, 60, 212–224.

9. Trautwein, U., & Köller, O. (2003). The relationship between homework and achievement: Still much of a mystery. Educational Psychology Review, 15, 115–145

10. Warton, P. M. (2001). The forgotten voices in homework: Views of students. Educational Psychologist, 36, 155–165.

11. Xu, J. (2013). Why do students have difficulties completing homework? The need for homework management. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 1, 98 –105.

12. Zimmerman, B. J., & Kitsantas, A. (2005). Homework practices and academic achievement: The mediating role of self-efficacy and perceived responsibility beliefs. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 30, 397– 417.

13. Kralovec, E., & Buell, J. (2001). End Homework Now. Educational Leadership, 58(7), 39-42.

14. Krashen, S. (2005). The Hard Work Hypothesis: Is Doing Your Homework Enough to Overcome the Effects of Poverty? Multicultural Education, 12(4), 16-19.

15. Lenard, W. (1997). The Homework Scam. Teacher Magazine, 9(1), 60-61.

16. Marzano, R.J., & Pickering, D.J. (2007). The Case For and Against Homework. Educational Leadership, 64(6), 74-79.

17. Skinner, D. (2004). The Homework Wars. Public Interest, 154, Winter, 49-60.

18. Corno, L. (1996). Homework is a Complicated Thing. Educational Researcher, 25(8), 27-30. 19. Forster, K. (2000). Homework: A Bridge Too Far? Issues in Educational Research, 10(1), 21-37.

20.  H oover-Dempsey, K.V., Battiato, A.C., Walker, J.M., Reed, R.P., DeLong, J.M., & Jones, K.P. (2001). Parent Involvement in Homework. Educational Psychologist, 36(3), 195-209.

Books on homework 

Here are some interesting books that profoundly explore the concept of homework:

1. The Homework Myth: Why Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing , by Kohn (2006)

2. Rethinking Homework: Best Practices that Support Diverse Needs , by Catty Vatterot

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Meet Med Kharbach, PhD

Dr. Med Kharbach is an influential voice in the global educational technology landscape, with an extensive background in educational studies and a decade-long experience as a K-12 teacher. Holding a Ph.D. from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Canada, he brings a unique perspective to the educational world by integrating his profound academic knowledge with his hands-on teaching experience. Dr. Kharbach's academic pursuits encompass curriculum studies, discourse analysis, language learning/teaching, language and identity, emerging literacies, educational technology, and research methodologies. His work has been presented at numerous national and international conferences and published in various esteemed academic journals.

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Is Homework Good Or Bad For Students? Top 15 Reasons

Is homework good or bad for Students? Let’s discuss this.

There’s a good and bad side to homework. The positive side is that it can be a valuable tool for reinforcing learning and an opportunity for students to prioritize their lives. 

But it can also be a lot of work and create friction between kids and parents.

There needs to be more debate about the effectiveness of homework. 

The arguments are divided into two main categories: the Case Against Homework and the Homework Myth. 

One side of the argument argues that homework is a waste of time and a distraction from other activities.

On the other hand, another argument argues that it is beneficial.

This blog will discuss both the positive and negative aspects of doing homework to reveal the answer is homework good or bad for students. Keep reading this blog.

Good Side: Is Homework Good Or Bad For Students

Table of Contents

1. It Reinforces Learning

Homework is a valuable exercise, mainly when it is used as a tool to reinforce learning. It has been proven that students perform better when assigned homework that involves the preparation, application, and comprehension of a given concept. This activity can help develop skills, promote self-discipline, and establish communication between parents and children.

Besides providing practice for concepts, lessons, and activities learned in school, it also helps build good study habits. If students spend less time on homework, it can help their academic performance and overall health.

Homework is also an opportunity for parents to get involved with their child’s education. Parents can help their kids prepare for tests by helping them practice writing essays and giving them fun activities.

2. It Helps Students Prioritize

Using homework to prioritize your studies is a proven time-saving and motivational technique. It may be one of the most powerful ways to boost your school performance and happiness. The more tasks you complete, the more apt your teachers will be to give you the A’s you deserve. Luckily, a little homework will help your grades improve and help you learn to be more independent. This is something that will serve you well throughout your adolescence.

Homework is also an excellent way to learn to be a better time manager. Not only does homework allow you to get more done in less time, but it can also help you figure out your strengths and weaknesses. You can better prioritize your time by figuring out your strengths and weaknesses.

3. Increasing The Digital Divide is Possible

The Digital divide is a term used to describe the gap between those who have access to high-speed internet and those who do not. This gap is particularly pronounced among students from low-income families and minority groups.

A lack of high-speed home broadband can lead to academic problems and reduce student opportunities among school-age children. In addition, it may hurt job prospects.

Homework is challenging for students who need more reliable access to the internet. Not only do they have to complete their assignments, but they also have to find a way to learn about their interests.

A study published by Michigan State University found that eighth graders with no internet at home scored lower on national exams than those with internet at home. Those with only one device, such as a cell phone, are even more vulnerable.

4. It Can Be a Full-Time Job

A full-time student can expect to spend about 5-8 hours a day in the classroom, and the odds are that you’ll spend most of your waking hours doing it. As a result, the time you spend at home or on the commute to and from school is a precious commodity. You should prioritize your homework and other activities to make the most of this limited resource. On the other hand, if you do, you might be surprised by the results. Homework can be a drag, but you can get more done with a little forward-thinking in less time. The best part is that you’ll be happy you did!

One of the first things you should do is read up on what your teacher or parents are talking about. This will help you better comprehend what they are saying and what they expect of you. You’ll also be able to gauge what to expect from your students.

5. Assignment Tasks Help Students Plan How To Complete It On Time

A good teacher can help you get the most out of your study period, but you must put in the effort to see the rewards. Luckily, there are several sites and applications to help you get the most out of your studies. Some teachers have even gone as far as to give students extra credit for putting in the extra effort. The best part is you can be something other than a math whiz to take advantage of these resources. And you won’t even have to leave your home or office!

On the other hand, if you have pending homework/assignments then, you can take our homework/assignments help .

6. Homework Is a Way To Identify Children Who May Benefit From More Complex Learning Tasks

Homework is a powerful tool for both teachers and parents. It provides students with practice in organizational and critical thinking skills while also reinforcing positive study habits.

Research has found that high-quality homework promotes self-efficacy, which increases effort and reduces feelings of helplessness. Modeling how to complete complex tasks without assistance successfully teaches students to take responsibility for their learning.

In addition, high-quality homework supports students’ development of personal assets. For instance, it gives them clear directions, suggested time frames, and opportunities to practice critical thinking and self-regulation skills.

7. Homework Is a Way To Keep The Focus on Studies

If you’ve ever had to do homework, then you’re familiar with the pain that comes with spending hours upon hours sifting through the minutiae of your education. However, there are some things you can do to make the experience more manageable. Keeping the right kind of light on the task will go a long way toward keeping your sanity. Putting a timer to work can help you achieve a more manageable workload.

The right music can also keep you on the right track. To get the most out of the experience, find a study space that enables you to do your best work.

8. Homework Is a Way To Bridge The Gap Between Learning At School and At Home

Homework is an integral part of a student’s academic career. It provides a way for students to bridge the gap between home learning and classroom instruction. If homework is adequately managed, it can be a helpful assessment tool and help students develop skills and attitudes that will help them in their later lives.

Students have a variety of reasons for failing to do their homework. They may need access to technology, or they may need help to complete it. Parents are often tempted to help with their child’s homework to alleviate the burden. However, doing so can hinder their progress in school.

9. Homework Can Increase a Learner’s Responsibility

Doing homework is an essential life skill. It teaches children to use time and resources wisely and helps develop their self-regulation skills.

Some parents worry that too much homework can be stressful for their children. However, research has shown that it can also have a positive impact on student achievement.

Some studies have found that students who do homework earn higher test scores. These studies have also found that homework may improve a student’s self-efficacy. This increases a student’s ability to stay focused and work efficiently.

Other studies have found that homework can help increase students’ self-reflective skills and teach them to set goals. These skills will help them in school and their future careers.

Bad Side: Is Homework Good Or Bad For Students

10. it can create friction between children and their parents.

Homework is a significant source of stress for many students. However, it interferes with family life and social activities.

However, homework also provides educational benefits. Elementary and high school students are encouraged to do homework. Parents can help with the process.

The amount of homework students receive is determined by the needs of each child. Some students need more time than others. For example, students with learning disabilities may require an evaluation to determine their level of attention.

The problem with homework is that it can be very time-consuming. Students and parents should develop a plan to make it more manageable.

In addition, homework can create tension between parents and schools. Many parents will not allow their children to have homework on Wednesday nights or Sundays.

11. Homework Can Eat Into The Amount of Rest Kids Get Each Night

Homework is often seen as a good thing, but a hefty dose can adversely affect a student’s physical and mental health. Too much homework is associated with increased sleep deficits and other physical ailments, such as digestive issues and headaches. It’s also a significant time sink that can detract from family time.

The number of hours a high schooler spends on homework is rising. According to the survey, adolescents should get nine to nine hours of sleep per night. Some kids only get six hours or less. If a kid isn’t getting enough sleep, he will start acting out, which is a recipe for disaster.

12. Homework Can Be a Burden For Teachers

Homework is a task given to students by their teachers. In the past, homework has been regarded as a means to develop discipline, boost academic performance, and provide extra learning opportunities. However, in recent years, educators and policymakers are starting to question the efficacy of homework.

Getting homework done is daunting for many students, including young children, who have short attention spans. Some of these kids may need more resources to complete their assignments, such as a laptop or a computer with internet access.

Not only is homework a time drain, but it can also interfere with a child’s social development. Students who struggle with their school work, such as those with learning disabilities, often benefit from getting a little help with their assignments.

13. It Can Be a Waste of Time and Energy

There needs to be more debate over whether doing homework wastes time and energy. While some students and parents may view the process negatively, others see it as an opportunity to help their kids become better learners. However, if there’s too much of it, it can become a source of stress .

One of the most valuable tasks a parent can perform for their kid is setting up a study space. This includes putting together a checklist of items the child can check off as they finish their assignments. It also includes providing snacks, so the kids are healthy when they sit down to do their homework.

Another clever little thing to do is check out the best online grading sites and assess homework. 

14. It Can Affect Students’ Mental and Physical Health

Doing homework can affect students’ mental and physical health in several ways. For example, it takes away time they can spend with their family and friends, leaves them feeling isolated, and can cause them to miss essential milestones in their childhood. It can also be a source of anxiety, leaving them with a negative impression of the school.

High school students who spend too much time on their homework report a number of negative consequences, such as sleep deprivation, depression, and headaches. In addition, they may be more susceptible to weight loss, digestive problems, and other health issues.

A Stanford University study found that students who are weighed down by homework are at a higher risk of physical and mental health problems. Researchers surveyed 4,317 students in 10 high-performing schools in California. Students reported various symptoms, including sleep deprivation, exhaustion, headaches, stomach problems, and lack of social involvement.

15. It Can Be a Distraction

Doing homework can be a daunting task, especially in this age of digital distractions. Whether it is social media or a barking dog, a distraction will likely catch you off guard.

Due to this students fails to complete their homework on time and this makes them anxious on the next day in school.

In conclusion, it is essential to consider homework’s pros and cons before deciding. The pros of completing homework include learning new information, improving mental concentration, and increasing work efficiency. 

However, there are also cons to homework that can affect students’ grades and potential jobs. So, before deciding whether or not to do it, it is essential to weigh the pros and cons carefully. What do you think about the homework?

Q1. Does homework actually help?

According to many studies, homework improves student achievement in terms of many things like improved grades, test results, and the likelihood of attending college.

Q2. How does homework affect students?

Homework can have an impact on students’ physical and mental health. On the other hand, according to a Stanford University study, homework was the primary source of stress for 56% of students. Too much homework can lead to sleep deprivation, headaches, stress, exhaustion, and weight loss.

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Is Homework Necessary? Education Inequity and Its Impact on Students

Schools are getting rid of homework from Essex, Mass., to Los Angeles, Calif. Although the no-homework trend may sound alarming, especially to parents dreaming of their child’s acceptance to Harvard, Stanford or Yale, there is mounting evidence that eliminating homework in grade school may actually have great benefits , especially with regard to educational equity.

In fact, while the push to eliminate homework may come as a surprise to many adults, the debate is not new . Parents and educators have been talking about this subject for the last century, so that the educational pendulum continues to swing back and forth between the need for homework and the need to eliminate homework.

The Problem with Homework: It Highlights Inequalities

How much homework is too much homework, when does homework actually help, negative effects of homework for students, how teachers can help.

One of the most pressing talking points around homework is how it disproportionately affects students from less affluent families. The American Psychological Association (APA) explained:

“Kids from wealthier homes are more likely to have resources such as computers, internet connections, dedicated areas to do schoolwork and parents who tend to be more educated and more available to help them with tricky assignments. Kids from disadvantaged homes are more likely to work at afterschool jobs, or to be home without supervision in the evenings while their parents work multiple jobs.”

[RELATED] How to Advance Your Career: A Guide for Educators >> 

While students growing up in more affluent areas are likely playing sports, participating in other recreational activities after school, or receiving additional tutoring, children in disadvantaged areas are more likely headed to work after school, taking care of siblings while their parents work or dealing with an unstable home life. Adding homework into the mix is one more thing to deal with — and if the student is struggling, the task of completing homework can be too much to consider at the end of an already long school day.

While all students may groan at the mention of homework, it may be more than just a nuisance for poor and disadvantaged children, instead becoming another burden to carry and contend with.

Beyond the logistical issues, homework can negatively impact physical health and stress — and once again this may be a more significant problem among economically disadvantaged youth who typically already have a higher stress level than peers from more financially stable families .

Yet, today, it is not just the disadvantaged who suffer from the stressors that homework inflicts. A 2014 CNN article, “Is Homework Making Your Child Sick?” , covered the issue of extreme pressure placed on children of the affluent. The article looked at the results of a study surveying more than 4,300 students from 10 high-performing public and private high schools in upper-middle-class California communities.

“Their findings were troubling: Research showed that excessive homework is associated with high stress levels, physical health problems and lack of balance in children’s lives; 56% of the students in the study cited homework as a primary stressor in their lives,” according to the CNN story. “That children growing up in poverty are at-risk for a number of ailments is both intuitive and well-supported by research. More difficult to believe is the growing consensus that children on the other end of the spectrum, children raised in affluence, may also be at risk.”

When it comes to health and stress it is clear that excessive homework, for children at both ends of the spectrum, can be damaging. Which begs the question, how much homework is too much?

The National Education Association and the National Parent Teacher Association recommend that students spend 10 minutes per grade level per night on homework . That means that first graders should spend 10 minutes on homework, second graders 20 minutes and so on. But a study published by The American Journal of Family Therapy found that students are getting much more than that.

While 10 minutes per day doesn’t sound like much, that quickly adds up to an hour per night by sixth grade. The National Center for Education Statistics found that high school students get an average of 6.8 hours of homework per week, a figure that is much too high according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). It is also to be noted that this figure does not take into consideration the needs of underprivileged student populations.

In a study conducted by the OECD it was found that “after around four hours of homework per week, the additional time invested in homework has a negligible impact on performance .” That means that by asking our children to put in an hour or more per day of dedicated homework time, we are not only not helping them, but — according to the aforementioned studies — we are hurting them, both physically and emotionally.

What’s more is that homework is, as the name implies, to be completed at home, after a full day of learning that is typically six to seven hours long with breaks and lunch included. However, a study by the APA on how people develop expertise found that elite musicians, scientists and athletes do their most productive work for about only four hours per day. Similarly, companies like Tower Paddle Boards are experimenting with a five-hour workday, under the assumption that people are not able to be truly productive for much longer than that. CEO Stephan Aarstol told CNBC that he believes most Americans only get about two to three hours of work done in an eight-hour day.

In the scope of world history, homework is a fairly new construct in the U.S. Students of all ages have been receiving work to complete at home for centuries, but it was educational reformer Horace Mann who first brought the concept to America from Prussia. 

Since then, homework’s popularity has ebbed and flowed in the court of public opinion. In the 1930s, it was considered child labor (as, ironically, it compromised children’s ability to do chores at home). Then, in the 1950s, implementing mandatory homework was hailed as a way to ensure America’s youth were always one step ahead of Soviet children during the Cold War. Homework was formally mandated as a tool for boosting educational quality in 1986 by the U.S. Department of Education, and has remained in common practice ever since.  

School work assigned and completed outside of school hours is not without its benefits. Numerous studies have shown that regular homework has a hand in improving student performance and connecting students to their learning. When reviewing these studies, take them with a grain of salt; there are strong arguments for both sides, and only you will know which solution is best for your students or school. 

Homework improves student achievement.

• Source: The High School Journal, “ When is Homework Worth the Time?: Evaluating the Association between Homework and Achievement in High School Science and Math ,” 2012. 
• Source: IZA.org, “ Does High School Homework Increase Academic Achievement? ,” 2014. **Note: Study sample comprised only high school boys. 

Homework helps reinforce classroom learning.

• Source: “ Debunk This: People Remember 10 Percent of What They Read ,” 2015.

Homework helps students develop good study habits and life skills.

• Sources: The Repository @ St. Cloud State, “ Types of Homework and Their Effect on Student Achievement ,” 2017; Journal of Advanced Academics, “ Developing Self-Regulation Skills: The Important Role of Homework ,” 2011.
• Source: Journal of Advanced Academics, “ Developing Self-Regulation Skills: The Important Role of Homework ,” 2011.

Homework allows parents to be involved with their children’s learning.

• Parents can see what their children are learning and working on in school every day. 
• Parents can participate in their children’s learning by guiding them through homework assignments and reinforcing positive study and research habits.
• Homework observation and participation can help parents understand their children’s academic strengths and weaknesses, and even identify possible learning difficulties.
• Source: Phys.org, “ Sociologist Upends Notions about Parental Help with Homework ,” 2018.

While some amount of homework may help students connect to their learning and enhance their in-class performance, too much homework can have damaging effects. 

Students with too much homework have elevated stress levels. 

• Source: USA Today, “ Is It Time to Get Rid of Homework? Mental Health Experts Weigh In ,” 2021.
• Source: Stanford University, “ Stanford Research Shows Pitfalls of Homework ,” 2014.

Students with too much homework may be tempted to cheat. 

• Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education, “ High-Tech Cheating Abounds, and Professors Bear Some Blame ,” 2010.
• Source: The American Journal of Family Therapy, “ Homework and Family Stress: With Consideration of Parents’ Self Confidence, Educational Level, and Cultural Background ,” 2015.

Homework highlights digital inequity. 

• Sources: NEAToday.org, “ The Homework Gap: The ‘Cruelest Part of the Digital Divide’ ,” 2016; CNET.com, “ The Digital Divide Has Left Millions of School Kids Behind ,” 2021.
• Source: Investopedia, “ Digital Divide ,” 2022; International Journal of Education and Social Science, “ Getting the Homework Done: Social Class and Parents’ Relationship to Homework ,” 2015.
• Source: World Economic Forum, “ COVID-19 exposed the digital divide. Here’s how we can close it ,” 2021.

Homework does not help younger students.

• Source: Review of Educational Research, “ Does Homework Improve Academic Achievement? A Synthesis of Researcher, 1987-2003 ,” 2006.

To help students find the right balance and succeed, teachers and educators must start the homework conversation, both internally at their school and with parents. But in order to successfully advocate on behalf of students, teachers must be well educated on the subject, fully understanding the research and the outcomes that can be achieved by eliminating or reducing the homework burden. There is a plethora of research and writing on the subject for those interested in self-study.

For teachers looking for a more in-depth approach or for educators with a keen interest in educational equity, formal education may be the best route. If this latter option sounds appealing, there are now many reputable schools offering online master of education degree programs to help educators balance the demands of work and family life while furthering their education in the quest to help others.

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