pupils should not be given homework

7 Research-Based Reasons Why Students Should Not Have Homework: Academic Insights, Opposing Perspectives & Alternatives

The push against homework is not just about the hours spent on completing assignments; it’s about rethinking the role of education in fostering the well-rounded development of young individuals. Critics argue that homework, particularly in excessive amounts, can lead to negative outcomes such as stress, burnout, and a diminished love for learning. Moreover, it often disproportionately affects students from disadvantaged backgrounds, exacerbating educational inequities. The debate also highlights the importance of allowing children to have enough free time for play, exploration, and family interaction, which are crucial for their social and emotional development.

Checking 13yo’s math homework & I have just one question. I can catch mistakes & help her correct. But what do kids do when their parent isn’t an Algebra teacher? Answer: They get frustrated. Quit. Get a bad grade. Think they aren’t good at math. How is homework fair??? — Jay Wamsted (@JayWamsted) March 24, 2022

Once you’ve finished this article, you’ll know:

Insights from Teachers and Education Industry Experts: Diverse Perspectives on Homework

Here are the insights and opinions from various experts in the educational field on this topic:

“I teach 1st grade. I had parents ask for homework. I explained that I don’t give homework. Home time is family time. Time to play, cook, explore and spend time together. I do send books home, but there is no requirement or checklist for reading them. Read them, enjoy them, and return them when your child is ready for more. I explained that as a parent myself, I know they are busy—and what a waste of energy it is to sit and force their kids to do work at home—when they could use that time to form relationships and build a loving home. Something kids need more than a few math problems a week.” — Colleen S. , 1st grade teacher

“The lasting educational value of homework at that age is not proven. A kid says the times tables [at school] because he studied the times tables last night. But over a long period of time, a kid who is drilled on the times tables at school, rather than as homework, will also memorize their times tables. We are worried about young children and their social emotional learning. And that has to do with physical activity, it has to do with playing with peers, it has to do with family time. All of those are very important and can be removed by too much homework.” — David Bloomfield , education professor at Brooklyn College and the City University of New York graduate center

“Homework in primary school has an effect of around zero. In high school it’s larger. (…) Which is why we need to get it right. Not why we need to get rid of it. It’s one of those lower hanging fruit that we should be looking in our primary schools to say, ‘Is it really making a difference?’” — John Hattie , professor

”Many kids are working as many hours as their overscheduled parents and it is taking a toll – psychologically and in many other ways too. We see kids getting up hours before school starts just to get their homework done from the night before… While homework may give kids one more responsibility, it ignores the fact that kids do not need to grow up and become adults at ages 10 or 12. With schools cutting recess time or eliminating playgrounds, kids absorb every single stress there is, only on an even higher level. Their brains and bodies need time to be curious, have fun, be creative and just be a kid.” — Pat Wayman, teacher and CEO of HowtoLearn.com

7 Reasons Why Students Should Not Have Homework

1. elevated stress and health consequences.

This data paints a concerning picture. Students, already navigating a world filled with various stressors, find themselves further burdened by homework demands. The direct correlation between excessive homework and health issues indicates a need for reevaluation. The goal should be to ensure that homework if assigned, adds value to students’ learning experiences without compromising their health and well-being.

2. Inequitable Impact and Socioeconomic Disparities

3. negative impact on family dynamics.

The issue is not confined to specific demographics but is a widespread concern. Samantha Hulsman, a teacher featured in Education Week Teacher , shared her personal experience with the toll that homework can take on family time. She observed that a seemingly simple 30-minute assignment could escalate into a three-hour ordeal, causing stress and strife between parents and children. Hulsman’s insights challenge the traditional mindset about homework, highlighting a shift towards the need for skills such as collaboration and problem-solving over rote memorization of facts.

4. Consumption of Free Time

Authors Sara Bennett and Nancy Kalish , in their book “The Case Against Homework,” offer an insightful window into the lives of families grappling with the demands of excessive homework. They share stories from numerous interviews conducted in the mid-2000s, highlighting the universal struggle faced by families across different demographics. A poignant account from a parent in Menlo Park, California, describes nightly sessions extending until 11 p.m., filled with stress and frustration, leading to a soured attitude towards school in both the child and the parent. This narrative is not isolated, as about one-third of the families interviewed expressed feeling crushed by the overwhelming workload.

5. Challenges for Students with Learning Disabilities

6. critique of underlying assumptions about learning, 7. issues with homework enforcement, reliability, and temptation to cheat, addressing opposing views on homework practices, 1. improvement of academic performance, 2. reinforcement of learning, 3. development of time management skills, 4. preparation for future academic challenges, 5. parental involvement in education, exploring alternatives to homework and finding a middle ground, alternatives to traditional homework, ideas for minimizing homework, useful resources, leave a comment cancel reply.

School Life Balance , Tips for Online Students

The Pros and Cons of Homework

Updated: June 19, 2024

Published: January 23, 2020

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.

Photo by  energepic.com  from  Pexels

Why should students have homework.

Homework has been a long-standing part of the education system. It helps reinforce what students learn in the classroom, encourages good study habits, and promotes a deeper understanding of subjects. Studies have shown that homework can improve students’ grades and skills. Here are some reasons why homework is important:

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

While homework has its benefits, there are also many arguments against it. Some believe that homework can cause increased stress, limit time for extracurricular activities, and reduce family time. Studies and expert opinions highlight the drawbacks of too much homework, showing how it can negatively affect students’ well-being and academic experience. Here are some reasons why homework might be 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.

FAQ Section

What are the benefits of assigning homework to students.

Homework reinforces what students learn in the classroom, helps develop good study habits, and promotes a deeper understanding of subjects. It also encourages practice, improves time management skills, and encourages parents to participate in their children’s education.

How much homework is too much for students?

Generally, it is recommended that students receive no more than 10 minutes of homework per grade level per day. For example, a first grader should have no more than 10 minutes of homework, while a fifth grader should have no more than 50 minutes.

What are the potential drawbacks of excessive homework assignments?

Excessive homework can lead to increased stress, a sedentary lifestyle, lack of free time for extracurricular activities, and diminished family time. It can also create a negative attitude towards school and learning.

How does homework impact students’ stress levels and well-being?

Too much homework can significantly increase stress levels and negatively affect students’ well-being. It can lead to anxiety, burnout, and reduced time for physical activity and relaxation.

Does homework promote independent thinking and problem-solving skills?

Yes, homework can promote independent thinking and problem-solving skills by encouraging students to tackle assignments on their own, manage their time effectively, and find solutions to problems without immediate assistance from teachers.

Are there any long-term effects of excessive homework on students?

Excessive homework over long periods can lead to chronic stress, burnout, and a negative attitude towards education. It can also hinder the development of social skills and reduce opportunities for self-discovery and creative pursuits.

How can technology enhance or supplement traditional homework practices?

Technology can provide interactive and engaging ways to complete homework, such as educational apps, online resources, and virtual collaboration tools. It can also offer personalized learning experiences and immediate feedback.

Are there any innovative approaches to homework that schools are adopting?

Some schools are adopting innovative approaches like flipped classrooms, where students watch lectures at home and do hands-on classroom activities. Project-based learning and personalized assignments tailored to individual student needs are also becoming more popular.

How do educators balance the workload with diverse student needs?

Educators can balance the workload by differentiating assignments, considering the individual needs and abilities of students, and providing flexible deadlines. Communication with students and parents helps to ensure that homework is manageable and effective for everyone.

In this article

At UoPeople, our blog writers are thinkers, researchers, and experts dedicated to curating articles relevant to our mission: making higher education accessible to everyone.

Some people believe that school children should not be given homework....(IELTS Band 9 Sample Essay)

Updated: Jun 27

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Some people believe that school children should not be given homework by their teachers, whereas others argue that homework plays an important role in the education of children.

Discuss both of these views and give your opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experiences.

You should write at least 250 words.

Get your personalised   IELTS Essay Feedback  from a former examiner

Download IELTS eBooks ,   get everything you need to achieve a high band score

Sample Essay 1

The debate surrounding homework in schools polarizes educators, parents, and policymakers. On one hand, some argue that homework is an unnecessary burden on students, stifling their natural curiosity and imposing undue stress. On the other, proponents believe homework is indispensable in reinforcing classroom learning, fostering discipline, and preparing students for the rigors of academic and professional life. This essay will explore both perspectives, ultimately endorsing the nuanced role homework plays in education.

Critics of homework posit that after hours spent in classrooms, requiring students to engage in additional academic tasks is both counterproductive and detrimental to their well-being. They emphasize the importance of leisure time in a child's development, arguing that pursuits such as play, family interaction, and rest are equally vital for holistic growth. For instance, the Finnish education system, renowned for minimal homework yet high student performance, exemplifies this philosophy, suggesting that quality trumps quantity in educational practice.

Conversely, supporters of homework underscore its benefits in consolidating knowledge, promoting self-discipline, and bridging the gap between home and school. Homework assignments provide a platform for revisiting and reinforcing classroom teachings, enabling students to master complex concepts through repetition and practice. Furthermore, tasks assigned for home completion foster time management and independent problem-solving skills, qualities imperative for success beyond school. A notable example is Singapore, where rigorous homework is credited for its students' top rankings in international assessments.

In conclusion, while the debate on homework's efficacy continues, it's clear that its value depends on its application and context. Overburdening students with excessive homework can be counterproductive, yet judiciously assigned tasks that reinforce learning can be immensely beneficial. Therefore, a balanced approach, recognizing the importance of leisure alongside academic rigors, is essential. Schools should strive for homework that enriches students' learning experience without overshadowing the joys and discoveries of childhood.

Sample Essay 2

Debates regarding the necessity of homework in the education system continue to persist. While some individuals opine that homework adds to the stress and strain faced by students, others argue that it plays a pivotal role in their academic development. Although there are compelling arguments against homework, I firmly believe that it is an essential component of education that should not be abolished.

Those in opposition to homework often cite that it fails to improve academic performance. For instance, Finland, a country that has adopted a no-homework policy, consistently outperforms countries where homework is mandatory. Additionally, some parents claim that homework hinders their children's ability to participate in extracurricular activities, spend time with their families, and engage in other essential developmental activities. Furthermore, research has shown that playtime is equally crucial to academic success as study time, as it facilitates creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Despite these claims, I argue that homework is critical to independent learning and problem-solving, both of which are crucial skills for success. By working on homework assignments alone and at their own pace, students are compelled to apply the knowledge they have gained in the classroom. For example, a student's comprehension of analytical issues is enhanced through practicing exercises at home, consolidating their understanding of the subject. Moreover, homework instills the habit of independent study in children, equipping them with the skills needed to work alone as adults.

In conclusion, while there may be valid arguments against the necessity of homework, its benefits to a student's development and academic performance should not be ignored. Homework allows students to reinforce their understanding of the material, develop essential skills, and prepare for adulthood. As such, I believe that homework is a vital component of the education system that should be retained.

Sample Essay 3

The debate over whether school children should be given homework continues to divide opinions. While some argue that it is a necessary part of education, others believe that it is an unnecessary burden. In my opinion, homework is an important tool for students to improve their academic performance, but it must be implemented in a way that is not overly demanding.

On the one hand, there are those who argue that homework has little to no benefit for children. They argue that children already have a full day of learning at school, and that adding additional work after school is simply too much for them to handle. Furthermore, it is argued that homework can have negative effects on children's mental and emotional well-being, leaving them stressed and overworked. For example, in South Korea, some students have been known to stay up until the early hours of the morning to complete their homework, which has led to a rise in cases of sleep deprivation and mental health issues.

However, I believe that homework is a necessary aspect of education as it provides students with the opportunity to consolidate what they have learned in class and apply it in a real-world context. For instance, if a student is struggling with a particular topic, homework allows them to practice it and get a better understanding of the subject matter. In addition, homework teaches children the valuable skills of time management, self-discipline, and responsibility, which are essential for success in later life. For example, if a child has a project to complete, they will learn how to break it down into manageable tasks and allocate time for each one.

Furthermore, homework can provide a valuable link between teachers, students, and parents. When children bring their homework home, parents can engage with what their children are learning and provide support and guidance where needed. This can help to foster a strong sense of collaboration and teamwork, which can be invaluable in later life.

In conclusion, while there are some valid arguments against homework, I believe that it is an essential part of education. However, it must be implemented in a way that is not overly demanding and takes into account the needs and abilities of individual students.

Sample Essay 4

Some people consider that students should not be required to do homework, while others insist that in order to broaden their ability, homework is an essential factor. Though home assignments might deter students from exploring the extracurricular potentials, in my opinion, it allows them to get into the deeper of the specific knowledge area.

People, who believe that children should not be assigned to do homework, argue that they need to focus on many other tasks these days. For example, some children take part in sports club, enrol in art institutes, engage in cultural and volunteer organizations, and they enthusiastically get involved in these dynamic activities. Hence, these students do not find enough time to spend for the same task that they do in their schools. In other words, for these students, doing homework is almost like wasting time for repetitive tasks that hinder them from expanding the horizon of their talent and interest, because it is too difficult to find spare time after covering all the homework. Whereas, to develop any special attributes, students are supposed to dedicate adequate amount of time and concentration on those fields.

On the other hand, it is a well-recognised notion that homework helps to improve children’s intelligence further. As students’ school stay is a limited time, teachers can only make them familiar with the topic overview and basic knowledge. That means, if the students want to dive deeper in the school subjects, they should spend enough time in their homework. Otherwise, they might forget easily what they were taught in their school. In fact, if the students cannot explore further details of their school specified knowledge areas, they will pass with merely basics and superficial concepts which might not help them to sharpen their subject knowledge for future endeavours.

To conclude, doing homework might bother some students as it can occupy their time at the cost of diverse interest and activities. However, I believe that it is worth spending time for homework because its contribution in terms of digging deeper into a subject discipline is simply incredible for honing a student’s in-depth subject knowledge.

Get your personalised   IELTS Essay Feedback   from a former examiner

• Task 2 Essays

Recent Posts

Newspapers Are The Best Way To Learn about Current Events - IELTS Band 9 Sample Essay

Friendships That Take Place Online Are Not As Meaningful As Real-Life Friendship - IELTS Sample Essay

Demand for Online Coaching Services And Video Courses Has Grown Significantly - IELTS Band 9 Essay

Homework – Top 3 Pros and Cons

Pro/Con Arguments | Discussion Questions | Take Action | Sources | More Debates

From dioramas to book reports, from algebraic word problems to research projects, whether students should be given homework, as well as the type and amount of homework, has been debated for over a century. [ 1 ]

While we are unsure who invented homework, we do know that the word “homework” dates back to ancient Rome. Pliny the Younger asked his followers to practice their speeches at home. Memorization exercises as homework continued through the Middle Ages and Enlightenment by monks and other scholars. [ 45 ]

In the 19th century, German students of the Volksschulen or “People’s Schools” were given assignments to complete outside of the school day. This concept of homework quickly spread across Europe and was brought to the United States by Horace Mann , who encountered the idea in Prussia. [ 45 ]

In the early 1900s, progressive education theorists, championed by the magazine Ladies’ Home Journal , decried homework’s negative impact on children’s physical and mental health, leading California to ban homework for students under 15 from 1901 until 1917. In the 1930s, homework was portrayed as child labor, which was newly illegal, but the prevailing argument was that kids needed time to do household chores. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 45 ] [ 46 ]

Public opinion swayed again in favor of homework in the 1950s due to concerns about keeping up with the Soviet Union’s technological advances during the Cold War . And, in 1986, the US government included homework as an educational quality boosting tool. [ 3 ] [ 45 ]

A 2014 study found kindergarteners to fifth graders averaged 2.9 hours of homework per week, sixth to eighth graders 3.2 hours per teacher, and ninth to twelfth graders 3.5 hours per teacher. A 2014-2019 study found that teens spent about an hour a day on homework. [ 4 ] [ 44 ]

Beginning in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic complicated the very idea of homework as students were schooling remotely and many were doing all school work from home. Washington Post journalist Valerie Strauss asked, “Does homework work when kids are learning all day at home?” While students were mostly back in school buildings in fall 2021, the question remains of how effective homework is as an educational tool. [ 47 ]

Is Homework Beneficial?

Pro 1 Homework improves student achievement. Studies have shown that homework improved student achievement in terms of improved grades, test results, and the likelihood to attend college. Research published in the High School Journal indicated that students who spent between 31 and 90 minutes each day on homework “scored about 40 points higher on the SAT-Mathematics subtest than their peers, who reported spending no time on homework each day, on average.” [ 6 ] Students in classes that were assigned homework outperformed 69% of students who didn’t have homework on both standardized tests and grades. A majority of studies on homework’s impact – 64% in one meta-study and 72% in another – showed that take-home assignments were effective at improving academic achievement. [ 7 ] [ 8 ] Research by the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) concluded that increased homework led to better GPAs and higher probability of college attendance for high school boys. In fact, boys who attended college did more than three hours of additional homework per week in high school. [ 10 ] Read More

Pro 2 Homework helps to reinforce classroom learning, while developing good study habits and life skills. Students typically retain only 50% of the information teachers provide in class, and they need to apply that information in order to truly learn it. Abby Freireich and Brian Platzer, co-founders of Teachers Who Tutor NYC, explained, “at-home assignments help students learn the material taught in class. Students require independent practice to internalize new concepts… [And] these assignments can provide valuable data for teachers about how well students understand the curriculum.” [ 11 ] [ 49 ] Elementary school students who were taught “strategies to organize and complete homework,” such as prioritizing homework activities, collecting study materials, note-taking, and following directions, showed increased grades and more positive comments on report cards. [ 17 ] Research by the City University of New York noted that “students who engage in self-regulatory processes while completing homework,” such as goal-setting, time management, and remaining focused, “are generally more motivated and are higher achievers than those who do not use these processes.” [ 18 ] Homework also helps students develop key skills that they’ll use throughout their lives: accountability, autonomy, discipline, time management, self-direction, critical thinking, and independent problem-solving. Freireich and Platzer noted that “homework helps students acquire the skills needed to plan, organize, and complete their work.” [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ] [ 49 ] Read More

Pro 3 Homework allows parents to be involved with children’s learning. Thanks to take-home assignments, parents are able to track what their children are learning at school as well as their academic strengths and weaknesses. [ 12 ] Data from a nationwide sample of elementary school students show that parental involvement in homework can improve class performance, especially among economically disadvantaged African-American and Hispanic students. [ 20 ] Research from Johns Hopkins University found that an interactive homework process known as TIPS (Teachers Involve Parents in Schoolwork) improves student achievement: “Students in the TIPS group earned significantly higher report card grades after 18 weeks (1 TIPS assignment per week) than did non-TIPS students.” [ 21 ] Homework can also help clue parents in to the existence of any learning disabilities their children may have, allowing them to get help and adjust learning strategies as needed. Duke University Professor Harris Cooper noted, “Two parents once told me they refused to believe their child had a learning disability until homework revealed it to them.” [ 12 ] Read More

Con 1 Too much homework can be harmful. A poll of California high school students found that 59% thought they had too much homework. 82% of respondents said that they were “often or always stressed by schoolwork.” High-achieving high school students said too much homework leads to sleep deprivation and other health problems such as headaches, exhaustion, weight loss, and stomach problems. [ 24 ] [ 28 ] [ 29 ] Alfie Kohn, an education and parenting expert, said, “Kids should have a chance to just be kids… it’s absurd to insist that children must be engaged in constructive activities right up until their heads hit the pillow.” [ 27 ] Emmy Kang, a mental health counselor, explained, “More than half of students say that homework is their primary source of stress, and we know what stress can do on our bodies.” [ 48 ] Excessive homework can also lead to cheating: 90% of middle school students and 67% of high school students admit to copying someone else’s homework, and 43% of college students engaged in “unauthorized collaboration” on out-of-class assignments. Even parents take shortcuts on homework: 43% of those surveyed admitted to having completed a child’s assignment for them. [ 30 ] [ 31 ] [ 32 ] Read More

Con 2 Homework exacerbates the digital divide or homework gap. Kiara Taylor, financial expert, defined the digital divide as “the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communications technology and those that don’t. Though the term now encompasses the technical and financial ability to utilize available technology—along with access (or a lack of access) to the Internet—the gap it refers to is constantly shifting with the development of technology.” For students, this is often called the homework gap. [ 50 ] [ 51 ] 30% (about 15 to 16 million) public school students either did not have an adequate internet connection or an appropriate device, or both, for distance learning. Completing homework for these students is more complicated (having to find a safe place with an internet connection, or borrowing a laptop, for example) or impossible. [ 51 ] A Hispanic Heritage Foundation study found that 96.5% of students across the country needed to use the internet for homework, and nearly half reported they were sometimes unable to complete their homework due to lack of access to the internet or a computer, which often resulted in lower grades. [ 37 ] [ 38 ] One study concluded that homework increases social inequality because it “potentially serves as a mechanism to further advantage those students who already experience some privilege in the school system while further disadvantaging those who may already be in a marginalized position.” [ 39 ] Read More

Con 3 Homework does not help younger students, and may not help high school students. We’ve known for a while that homework does not help elementary students. A 2006 study found that “homework had no association with achievement gains” when measured by standardized tests results or grades. [ 7 ] Fourth grade students who did no homework got roughly the same score on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) math exam as those who did 30 minutes of homework a night. Students who did 45 minutes or more of homework a night actually did worse. [ 41 ] Temple University professor Kathryn Hirsh-Pasek said that homework is not the most effective tool for young learners to apply new information: “They’re learning way more important skills when they’re not doing their homework.” [ 42 ] In fact, homework may not be helpful at the high school level either. Alfie Kohn, author of The Homework Myth, stated, “I interviewed high school teachers who completely stopped giving homework and there was no downside, it was all upside.” He explains, “just because the same kids who get more homework do a little better on tests, doesn’t mean the homework made that happen.” [ 52 ] Read More

Discussion Questions

1. Is homework beneficial? Consider the study data, your personal experience, and other types of information. Explain your answer(s).

2. If homework were banned, what other educational strategies would help students learn classroom material? Explain your answer(s).

3. How has homework been helpful to you personally? How has homework been unhelpful to you personally? Make carefully considered lists for both sides.

Take Action

1. Examine an argument in favor of quality homework assignments from Janine Bempechat.

2. Explore Oxford Learning’s infographic on the effects of homework on students.

3. Consider Joseph Lathan’s argument that homework promotes inequality .

4. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. After reading the pros and cons on this topic, has your thinking changed? If so, how? List two to three ways. If your thoughts have not changed, list two to three ways your better understanding of the “other side of the issue” now helps you better argue your position.

5. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives .

More School Debate Topics

Should K-12 Students Dissect Animals in Science Classrooms? – Proponents say dissecting real animals is a better learning experience. Opponents say the practice is bad for the environment.

Should Students Have to Wear School Uniforms? – Proponents say uniforms may increase student safety. Opponents say uniforms restrict expression.

Should Corporal Punishment Be Used in K-12 Schools? – Proponents say corporal punishment is an appropriate discipline. Opponents say it inflicts long-lasting physical and mental harm on students.

ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA

Natalie Leppard Managing Editor [email protected]

© 2023 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved

• Social Media
• Death Penalty
• School Uniforms
• Video Games
• Animal Testing
• Gun Control
• Banned Books
• Teachers’ Corner

Cite This Page

ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. Below are the proper citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order): the Modern Language Association Style Manual (MLA), the Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago), the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), and Kate Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Turabian). Here are the proper bibliographic citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order):

[Editor's Note: The APA citation style requires double spacing within entries.]

[Editor’s Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries.]

Norske og internasjonale forskningsnyheter

Forskningsnyheter for unge

Science news from Norway in English

Meninger, debatt og blogger skrevet av forskere

Forskning.nos stillingsmarked

You might be looking for...

THIS ARTICLE/PRESS RELEASE IS PAID FOR AND PRESENTED BY NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology - read more

Is homework useful or necessary?

An updated norwegian education act is currently being considered. several researchers are sceptical about the benefits of homework..

We are used to homework being part of a school’s learning programme, but homework is not mandated by the state and is only one of several options that schools have.

The Education Act currently includes no clear authorisation for assigning homework. It is therefore up to individual municipalities, schools and teachers whether they want to use homework as part of the educational scheme.

The Norwegian Ministry of Education believes that the new Education Act should specify that an individual school can require students to do assignments and homework outside of school hours.

Researchers and teachers in the field of pedagogy in the university and college sector met to discuss and submit their response to the proposed new Education Act:

“We wonder what knowledge the Ministry has based its statement on. A decision authorising homework would be a serious setback for the development of homework-free/homework-aware schools and especially for researching the topic.”

More about their input is included later in this article.

Changed opinion about homework usefulness

Opinions about homework in school vary widely, and more research is needed on the effect that homework has on learning. A research project at NTNU on homework-free schools has captured interesting results.

Per Egil Mjaavatn is a researcher and associate professor affiliated with NTNU. He previously supported homework as a positive tool for the learning outcomes of children and adolescents. During the course of the research project, he changed his mind.

Need more knowledge

The city council in Trondheim wanted to try out a homework-free project in some of the city’s elementary schools in order to gain experience with a different way of working in schools. NTNU’s Department of Education and Lifelong Learning was asked to evaluate the experiment.

The purpose of the project was to improve the knowledge base about attitudes towards, and experiences with homework in primary school – and about the effects of homework.

Although the homework-free project had to be scaled back and eventually discontinued due to the COVID pandemic, the researchers made several interesting discoveries.

In the 2019/2020 school year, Flatåsen and Stabbursmoen schools were homework-free with two extra school hours a week, while Byåsen and Romulslia schools were homework-free with no change in the timetable.

All four schools were in Trondheim municipality. Four control schools that gave traditional homework assignments as well as homework help at school were also involved in the trial project. Pupils in 5th through 7th grade participated.

Homework-free option reduced family conflicts

90 per cent of the children in schools with no homework experienced having more time to spend with family and friends. They also found that the level of conflict at home was less, as did more than half of the parents.

The parent of a child in a homework-free school with an extended school day said: “Fewer conflicts around homework, no need to fuss and follow up on whether homework was done. Better atmosphere in the home."

Another parent said: “Good for the family, but little control over my child’s development."

The parent of a child in a homework-free school with no timetable changes said: “There was less arguing about homework and when it had to be done. But I also think that the school hours should be extended if the no-homework policy continues next year."

Does homework promote or inhibit motivation?

A lot of students are tired of homework. A whopping 83.8 per cent of the pupils who took part in the trial project responded that they get bored with school because of homework.

Fewer than half the teachers believed that homework helps make pupils more interested in their schoolwork. The majority of parents (79 per cent) and teachers (89 per cent) believed that giving pupils homework is primarily dictated by tradition in Norwegian schools.

Some parents reported in their comments that pupils became more motivated about school and performed better during the homework-free period. Other parents said the opposite: the lack of homework made pupil motivation and performance worse.

Parents with an immigrant background were more positive about homework than the general parent average.

Girls missed homework

Only 28 per cent of the pupils in the homework-free schools believed that homework is necessary for them to learn everything that is expected of them. 20 per cent responded that they missed homework, and especially the girls at the homework-free schools missed having homework.

In the control schools with traditional homework, 70 per cent of the pupils would prefer not to have homework, yet 74.5 per cent of these pupils agreed with the statement that homework is necessary for learning.

Mathematics seems to be in a special position: a clear majority in all three informant groups believed that mathematics homework is necessary to get enough problem-solving practice.

Parents and teachers prefer different solutions

More than half of the parents would like to have an arrangement of an extended school day and no homework. Such a solution would satisfy both their desire for no homework and less homework stress at home.

A clear majority of the teachers preferred an ordinary school day with homework.

A pupil at a homework-free school with an extended school day said: "Not having homework was great. I'd rather be at school longer than have problems with homework at home."

Does homework contribute to increased inequality?

One task of schools is to reduce social differences in society. A clear majority of parents (75 per cent) believed that homework leads to greater differences between children of parents with different educational backgrounds.

The teachers disagreed with the parents in this regard. Only 39 per cent of the teachers believed that homework contributes to increased differences between children with different socio-economic backgrounds.

Homework should be a repetition of familiar material. Nevertheless, 95 per cent of the pupils answered that they got help at home to do their homework in Norwegian and mathematics.

“In other words, students aren’t able to do a lot of the homework that’s being assigned on their own, which seems demotivating. The pupils who had homework were less interested in these subjects than the pupils who didn’t have homework,” Mjaavatn says.

75 per cent of parents said they had to help their children with homework.

“Parents have different levels of preparation for helping their children with homework, and this can result in different learning conditions for children,” Mjaavatn says.

A majority of parents believed that homework also leads to greater differences between students’ academic levels.

Here too, the parent responses differed from those of the teachers. Only a third of the teachers shared the parents’ opinion.

How much time should children spend on homework?

Parents expect more homework with increasing age. The parents’ responses differed significantly here, with fathers wanting more time per week for homework than mothers.

Teachers’ homework expectations were slightly higher than those of parents in terms of what they perceive to be an appropriate amount of time spent on homework in a normal school week.

On average, the teachers suggested 3.27 hours per week for 5th graders and 3.55 hours for 7th graders.

Responses scattered

The researchers write in their report that they do not have measures of the impact that can show whether the homework-free project had an effect on the pupils’ effort and learning.

“But we’ve gained an understanding of the opinions held by pupils, parents and teachers on this issue. The answers vary widely, and we’ve concluded that the question of whether homework promotes learning and motivation depends on whom you ask.”

New Education Act

Now, back to the new Norwegian Education Act, which is out for review. Just over 30 pedagogical researchers and teachers in the university and college sector have gathered to craft a response relating to homework in particular.

“The answer to the question of whether homework is useful and necessary depends on who is given it and for what purpose. Whose perspectives are taken into account when issues relating to homework are formulated? Homework is a complex phenomenon that involves a lot of different players,” Elisabeth Rønningen at NTNU says. She is one of the authors of the text.

How teachers justify their views on homework

A qualitative study that examined how and why teachers give homework in elementary school showed that teachers justify homework by saying that:

• homework provides more learning.
• pupils should make the learning their own.
• homework helps students develop good work habits.
• homework is a good way to collaborate with children’s homes.
• schools depend on parent participation to meet all the competency targets.
• homework gives students time and peace to reflect on, repeat and automate their basic skills.

Thin knowledge base

The problem is that the knowledge base for these justifications is very thin, the researchers write in their response. For example, research shows no clear connection between homework and learning.

Australian school researcher John Hattie refers to 161 studies which conclude that homework has little or no effect on learning, least of all in primary school.

The literature review on homework research from the Norwegian Directorate of Education and Training (2021) includes no reference to studies that can document a strong connection between homework and pupils’ learning.

The review states that Norway showed no significant correlation between the time pupils spend on homework and their results in mathematics, according to the PISA survey.

Homework can lead to poor work habits

Nor does the research show any clear connection between homework and the development of good work habits in pupils. In Harris Cooper and colleagues' research summary, they found that homework can lead to developing bad work habits just as well as good ones.

Homework can lead to rushing assignments, doing tasks with little commitment and care, copying from the internet or getting others to do the tasks for them.

Stress and conflict-filled family relationships

In the experts' response, they argue that there needs to be a clear connection between homework and the development of good work habits if it is to be used as an argument for the Education Act to authorise schools to be able to require pupils to do school work after school hours.

The practice of giving homework assignments can be counterproductive . Holte’s research from 2016 showed that homework can contribute to destroying close and positive relationships between parents and children, because homework can lead to increased stress levels and conflict-filled relationships at home.

In their response, the researchers and teachers propose that the wording of the new law be changed to:

The school cannot require pupils to do assignments outside of school hours (homework).

A formulation like this sets a clear boundary against a teaching practice for which no good evidence exists and which can have very negative consequences both at an individual and societal level. This formulation is most in line with what we know today, they write

Read the full consultation response here (link in Norwegian).

Harris Cooper et al. 'Does Homework Improve Academic Achievement? A Synthesis of Research, 1987–2003', Review of Educational Research , 2006. Abstract.

K.L. Holte. Homework in Primary School: Could It Be Made More Child-Friendly? Studia paedagogica: Childhood , 2017.

This article/press release is paid for and presented by NTNU

This content is created by NTNU's communication staff, who use this platform to communicate science and share results from research with the public. NTNU is one of more than 80 owners of ScienceNorway.no. Read more here .

Read more content from NTNU:

"Loneliness increases the risk of developing psychosis and depression"

Pregnant women with obesity talk about difficult childhood experiences

Adolescents who are most active on social media are also the most active offline

Climate emissions from air travel is 50 per cent higher than official reports

4×4 interval training is popular and controversial

Artificial intelligence makes smarter use of seaweed and kelp

Physical and social activities are healthy for everyone. What's life like when you can't tolerate them?

Offering products 'for him' or 'for her' is risky business

Were women who lived together in the past lesbians or just close friends?

1 in 3 Norwegian adolescents did not use contraception the first time they had sex

What happens to young children who become malnourished?

Mostly babies were burried here over 2000 years ago. What have the archaeologists discovered?

Archaeologists sound the alarm: Urgent action needed to preserve this Norwegian Viking ship

Over 30 mysterious children's graves uncovered in Norway

Does the Gulf Stream exist?

How can we get more people to cycle?

Health data is difficult for users to access

This is what we now know about working from home

This beetle lives only in Norway, on an endangered flower

Overweight and obesity increased among boys in Norway during the pandemic

Denmark-Norway engaged in the slave trade to provide workers for their colony's plantations. Some ended up in Norway

New Viking ship discovered in Norway

The unknown story of the liberation of Norway: The Germans first surrendered to a group of journalists

Why do we actually wear ties?

"Imagine being the first person to hold something like this in over 1,000 years"

Unique find: The oldest fossil of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere

Soy is used in pizza, stews, chocolate icing, and vegetarian food. What's so special about this super bean?

How can an ordinary lawn become a wildflower meadow?

Rape, electric shocks, exorcisms, and collective prayer: Queer individuals share their experiences of conversion therapy in Norway

How often will European cities experience temperatures above 30°C in the future?

The Caravan

Students shouldn’t have homework on weekends.

Jonathan Kuptel '22 , Staff Writer | November 7, 2021

Jonathan Kuptel

MC senior Imari Price works on a assignment for 21st-Century Media class.

Teachers and students have different opinions about homework. Saying it is not fair is the usual argument, but being fair is not the issue. It is about students being prepared. Daily homework assignments can be difficult, and weekends homework assignments are worse. Students operate best when they are well-rested and ready to go. A weekend with no homework would help them to be fresh and ready on Monday morning. Weekend assignments tend to be longer and more difficult. 

The students have a difficult day with classes, practices, and going to school. By Friday, (test day) they are near exhaustion. Most tests are given on Fridays. Homework on Monday-Thursday is time-consuming. Some weekends will include assignments in more than 1 class. Those who go to Mount Carmel are near the end of their rope by 2:40 PM on Friday. I have had other discussions with the senior class and we all feel pretty tired at the end of the day at 2:40 PM. A free weekend helps to get prepared for the next grind to start. No homework weekends assures better sleep cycles and a body that has recovered and refreshed. Weekends include chores around the house and family commitments. This plus weekends assignments lead to a lack of sleep. This means Monday will have a positive attitude. No homework on weekends also means more family time. This is a bonus. 

Alfie Kohn in his book The Homework Myth: Why Are Kids Get Too Much Of A Bad Thing says, “There is no evidence to demonstrate that homework benefits students.” The homework on weekends starts in elementary school and continues throughout high school. 

Mr. Kohn states that homework on weekends starts in elementary school and continues throughout high school. This supports the argument that weekend homework starts in elementary school and now students at Mount Carmel High School have to deal with weekend assignments. The weekend assignments take too much time and are a waste of students’ time. 

Nancy Kalish , author of The Case Against Homework: How Homework Is Hurting Our Children And What We Can Do About It, says “simply busy work” makes learning “a chore rather than a positive, constructive experience.” 

Receiving weekend homework that is not discussed in class and counts only as “busy work” is counterproductive. Students finish the assignments because they are required to be done. When the homework is not reviewed on Monday, it leads to frustration. Busy homework that serves no purpose is never a good idea. 

Gerald LeTender of Penn State’s Education Policy Studies Department points out the “shotgun approach to homework when students receive the same photocopied assignment which is then checked as complete rather than discussed is not very effective.” Some teachers discuss the homework assignments and that validates the assignment. Some teachers however just check homework assignments for completion. LeTender goes on to say, “If there’s no feedback and no monitoring, the homework is probably not effective.” Researchers from the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia had similar findings in their study “ When Is Homework Worth The Time?” Researchers reported no substantive difference in the grades of students who had homework completion. Adam Maltese, a researcher , noted , “Our results hint that maybe homework is not being used as well as it could be. Even one teacher who assigns busy shotgun homework is enough to be a bad idea. 

Students come to know when homework is the “shotgun approach.” They find this kind of assignment dull. Students have no respect for assignments like this. Quality assignments are appreciated by students. 

Etta Kralovec and John Buell in their book How Homework Disrupts Families, Overburdens Children, And Limits Learning assert that homework contributes to a corporate style, competitive U.S. culture that overvalued work to the detriment of personal and familial well being. They go on to call for an end to homework, but to extend the school day. 

Cooper, Robinson, and Patalc, in 2006 warned that homework could become counter productive. Homework is counterproductive when it is a (shotgun) assignment. To reiterate, not all homework is bad. Bad homework which is not reviewed in class just plain “busy work” is not positive and could be counterproductive. 

Sara Croll, Literacy Coach and Author, believes too much homework causes stress for students. Diana Stelin, teacher, artist, and mother says, “I’m absolutely in favor of this ban. Homework is homework, it doesn’t matter what class it comes from. What it does is create negative associations in students of all ages, takes away their innate desire to learn, and makes the subject a dreaded chore.” 

When students come to dread their homework, they do not do a great job on these assignments. Making students do a lot of homework isn’t beneficial because they get drowsy when they work at it for hours and hours at a time. It is hard for the brain to function properly when it is tired and boring. 

Pat Wayman, Teacher and CEO of HowtoLearn.com says, “Many kids are working as many hours as their overscheduled parents and it is taking a toll.” “Their brains and their bodies need time to be curious, have fun, be creative and just be a kid.” 

No homework on weekends is not just a wish, but it is supported by all of these educators and authors. They all champion limiting homework are totally opposed to homework assignments. Educators and students agree that no homework on weekends is a good idea. Meaningful homework, a longer school day, and discussion of homework are what these educators and authors encourage. 

The best athletic year of this century

Summer camps open the door for future members of the Caravan

My dreaded, but also rewarding, junior year

Appreciating some of MC’s most dedicated workers

Surrounded by my brothers: a senior reflection

Is it time to eliminate class rankings?

Running a 10k for the first time alongside my brothers

Straggling students need to step up for Walkathon fundraising

Mount Carmel benefits from trimesters

Students would benefit from financial planning, life skills

The student news site of Mount Carmel High School

• Journalism at Mount Carmel
• pollsarchive
• Sports Center

• Subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine
• Previous Issues
• Future tech
• Everyday science
• Planet Earth
• Newsletters

Should homework be banned?

Social media has sparked into life about whether children should be given homework - should students be freed from this daily chore? Dr Gerald Letendre, a professor of education at Pennsylvania State University, investigates.

We’ve all done it: pretended to leave an essay at home, or stayed up until 2am to finish a piece of coursework we’ve been ignoring for weeks. Homework, for some people, is seen as a chore that’s ‘wrecking kids’ or ‘killing parents’, while others think it is an essential part of a well-rounded education. The problem is far from new: public debates about homework have been raging since at least the early-1900s, and recently spilled over into a Twitter feud between Gary Lineker and Piers Morgan.

Ironically, the conversation surrounding homework often ignores the scientific ‘homework’ that researchers have carried out. Many detailed studies have been conducted, and can guide parents, teachers and administrators to make sensible decisions about how much work should be completed by students outside of the classroom.

So why does homework stir up such strong emotions? One reason is that, by its very nature, it is an intrusion of schoolwork into family life. I carried out a study in 2005, and found that the amount of time that children and adolescents spend in school, from nursery right up to the end of compulsory education, has greatly increased over the last century . This means that more of a child’s time is taken up with education, so family time is reduced. This increases pressure on the boundary between the family and the school.

Plus, the amount of homework that students receive appears to be increasing, especially in the early years when parents are keen for their children to play with friends and spend time with the family.

Finally, success in school has become increasingly important to success in life. Parents can use homework to promote, or exercise control over, their child’s academic trajectory, and hopefully ensure their future educational success. But this often leaves parents conflicted – they want their children to be successful in school, but they don’t want them to be stressed or upset because of an unmanageable workload.

However, the issue isn’t simply down to the opinions of parents, children and their teachers – governments also like to get involved. In the autumn of 2012, French president François Hollande hit world headlines after making a comment about banning homework, ostensibly because it promoted inequality. The Chinese government has also toyed with a ban, because of concerns about excessive academic pressure being put on children.

The problem is, some politicians and national administrators regard regulatory policy in education as a solution for a wide array of social, economic and political issues, perhaps without considering the consequences for students and parents.

Does homework work?

Homework seems to generally have a positive effect for high school students, according to an extensive range of empirical literature. For example, Duke University’s Prof Harris Cooper carried out a meta-analysis using data from US schools, covering a period from 1987 to 2003. He found that homework offered a general beneficial impact on test scores and improvements in attitude, with a greater effect seen in older students. But dig deeper into the issue and a complex set of factors quickly emerges, related to how much homework students do, and exactly how they feel about it.

In 2009, Prof Ulrich Trautwein and his team at the University of Tübingen found that in order to establish whether homework is having any effect, researchers must take into account the differences both between and within classes . For example, a teacher may assign a good deal of homework to a lower-level class, producing an association between more homework and lower levels of achievement. Yet, within the same class, individual students may vary significantly in how much homework improves their baseline performance. Plus, there is the fact that some students are simply more efficient at completing their homework than others, and it becomes quite difficult to pinpoint just what type of homework, and how much of it, will affect overall academic performance.

Over the last century, the amount of time that children and adolescents spend in school has greatly increased

Gender is also a major factor. For example, a study of US high school students carried out by Prof Gary Natriello in the 1980s revealed that girls devote more time to homework than boys, while a follow-up study found that US girls tend to spend more time on mathematics homework than boys. Another study, this time of African-American students in the US, found that eighth grade (ages 13-14) girls were more likely to successfully manage both their tasks and emotions around schoolwork, and were more likely to finish homework.

So why do girls seem to respond more positively to homework? One possible answer proposed by Eunsook Hong of the University of Nevada in 2011 is that teachers tend to rate girls’ habits and attitudes towards work more favourably than boys’. This perception could potentially set up a positive feedback loop between teacher expectations and the children’s capacity for academic work based on gender, resulting in girls outperforming boys. All of this makes it particularly difficult to determine the extent to which homework is helping, though it is clear that simply increasing the time spent on assignments does not directly correspond to a universal increase in learning.

Can homework cause damage?

The lack of empirical data supporting homework in the early years of education, along with an emerging trend to assign more work to this age range, appears to be fuelling parental concerns about potential negative effects. But, aside from anecdotes of increased tension in the household, is there any evidence of this? Can doing too much homework actually damage children?

Evidence suggests extreme amounts of homework can indeed have serious effects on students’ health and well-being. A Chinese study carried out in 2010 found a link between excessive homework and sleep disruption: children who had less homework had better routines and more stable sleep schedules. A Canadian study carried out in 2015 by Isabelle Michaud found that high levels of homework were associated with a greater risk of obesity among boys, if they were already feeling stressed about school in general.

For useful revision guides and video clips to assist with learning, visit BBC Bitesize . This is a free online study resource for UK students from early years up to GCSEs and Scottish Highers.

It is also worth noting that too much homework can create negative effects that may undermine any positives. These negative consequences may not only affect the child, but also could also pile on the stress for the whole family, according to a recent study by Robert Pressman of the New England Centre for Pediatric Psychology. Parents were particularly affected when their perception of their own capacity to assist their children decreased.

What then, is the tipping point, and when does homework simply become too much for parents and children? Guidelines typically suggest that children in the first grade (six years old) should have no more that 10 minutes per night, and that this amount should increase by 10 minutes per school year. However, cultural norms may greatly affect what constitutes too much.

A study of children aged between 8 and 10 in Quebec defined high levels of homework as more than 30 minutes a night, but a study in China of children aged 5 to 11 deemed that two or more hours per night was excessive. It is therefore difficult to create a clear standard for what constitutes as too much homework, because cultural differences, school-related stress, and negative emotions within the family all appear to interact with how homework affects children.

Should we stop setting homework?

In my opinion, even though there are potential risks of negative effects, homework should not be banned. Small amounts, assigned with specific learning goals in mind and with proper parental support, can help to improve students’ performance. While some studies have generally found little evidence that homework has a positive effect on young children overall, a 2008 study by Norwegian researcher Marte Rønning found that even some very young children do receive some benefit. So simply banning homework would mean that any particularly gifted or motivated pupils would not be able to benefit from increased study. However, at the earliest ages, very little homework should be assigned. The decisions about how much and what type are best left to teachers and parents.

As a parent, it is important to clarify what goals your child’s teacher has for homework assignments. Teachers can assign work for different reasons – as an academic drill to foster better study habits, and unfortunately, as a punishment. The goals for each assignment should be made clear, and should encourage positive engagement with academic routines.

Parents should inform the teachers of how long the homework is taking, as teachers often incorrectly estimate the amount of time needed to complete an assignment, and how it is affecting household routines. For young children, positive teacher support and feedback is critical in establishing a student’s positive perception of homework and other academic routines. Teachers and parents need to be vigilant and ensure that homework routines do not start to generate patterns of negative interaction that erode students’ motivation.

Likewise, any positive effects of homework are dependent on several complex interactive factors, including the child’s personal motivation, the type of assignment, parental support and teacher goals. Creating an overarching policy to address every single situation is not realistic, and so homework policies tend to be fixated on the time the homework takes to complete. But rather than focusing on this, everyone would be better off if schools worked on fostering stronger communication between parents, teachers and students, allowing them to respond more sensitively to the child’s emotional and academic needs.

• Five brilliant science books for kids
• Will e-learning replace teachers?

Follow Science Focus on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram and Flipboard

Share this article

• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy policy
• Cookies policy
• Code of conduct
• Magazine subscriptions
• Manage preferences

Education Endowment Foundation:Homework

Keep-up-to date with our latest news and resources.

Our News Alerts are e‑mailed to 45,000+ subscribers regularly.

Page generated on: Friday, 5 July 2024 at 14:03 (E)

The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) is a charity and a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England, Number 114 2111 © 2024, Education Endowment Foundation, all rights reserved.

Site search

Setting homework: the arguments for, against and some recommendations, you are viewing free content from a subscription product.

Croner-i is a comprehensive knowledge and resource platform that enables professionals to stay ahead of change in their industry, with legislation, trends and best practice. Call 0800 231 5199 to learn more.

• Printable version

Last reviewed 1 March 2013

Policies in most secondary schools and many primary schools dictate that pupils must spend a significant amount of time learning core subjects through homework activities. Yet homework remains a constant source of stress and frustration for teachers, pupils and parents alike, reports Luci Boella.

Teachers complain about valuable lesson time being wasted collecting or checking homework; they despair about having to chase those who have missed deadlines and having to use lunch hours or break times to run detentions for homework avoiders. Parents, on the other hand, often report arguing with their children about homework issues or feel they lack the skills to help their children. Finally, pupils complain that homework prevents them from spending time on their leisure activities, and has even caused them to give up hobbies.

In March 2012, Michael Gove scrapped the national guidelines on the recommended time children should spend on homework each night. Previously, the guidelines stated children should receive an hour a week at age five, increasing to as much as 2.5 hours a day for children over the age of 14. Currently, Heads are left to decide the homework policy in their school; a decision not made any easier by findings from studies that contradict the widespread belief that time spent on homework results in greater academic achievement.

The argument for homework

There is some fairly compelling evidence to support the case for setting homework. In a large-scale study, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) collected data from 32 countries on homework habits and achievement levels in primary and secondary level education. Pupils who spent more time on homework were found to have a fairly significant increase in reading achievement compared with those who spent little time on homework.

Moreover, the Institute of Education recently reported the results of one of the largest childhood studies undertaken in the UK. Some 3000 children were followed from entry into Key Stage 1 to the end of Key Stage 3. One finding of key importance was that any amount of time spent weekly on homework was associated with increased achievement levels. As the amount of time on homework increased so did achievement level. Pupils who reported that they spent two to three hours a night on homework were more likely to do well in the core subjects by as much as one to two national curriculum levels. Additionally, these same pupils were more likely to be better behaved and less impulsive. It is also worth noting these gains were further to what would be expected from socio-economic backgrounds and school characteristics.

The argument against homework

Despite there being a fairly compelling body of research supporting homework, there are notable problems with research such as that mentioned above. First, most research cannot account for influences such as teacher effects and second, it is difficult to ascertain cause and effect.

Higher achieving pupils may well be more motivated in general and therefore more likely to spend longer on homework tasks. Additionally, better teachers may also enforce more rigorous homework policies.

Using the data from the PISA study, German researchers attempted to disentangle homework time from all other influences on pupil achievement. Interestingly, and somewhat worryingly, they found that pupils who spent more time on homework did not make the academic gains suggested. In fact, those spending more time on homework tended to achieve less when other factors, such as teacher ability, were accounted for. They suggested the reason for this may be less able pupils spend more time than necessary completing tasks they do not understand.

However, they did find the more frequently homework was set, the higher the achievement levels. They also found the more that pupils reported putting effort into homework, then the greater their academic achievement. Nevertheless, it cannot be ascertained if these pupils put more effort into homework because they were high achievers or vice versa.

So, the relationship between the amount of homework set and achievement is not clear cut.

However, there is one negative effect of homework that most children, teenagers and their parents would agree has a clear cause and effect — stress!

It is not uncommon for children as young as five to be set weekly homework and to be given detentions for missed deadlines. As an adult, it is easy to underestimate the impact this has on youngsters. It is also easy to underestimate how tiring it can be for young minds to spend five to six hours a day learning before adding homework on top of that.

Research has shown that pupils who report having the most homework, and having homework tasks that lack relevance or perceived usefulness, also report the most stress. Additionally, they also report physical symptoms related to stress; for example, insomnia, headaches and high anxiety.

These pupils are also most likely to give up hobbies and extracurricular activities to cope with workload. If previous government guidelines are followed and Key Stage 4 pupils complete up to 2.5 hours of homework per night, it is not hard to imagine how school work might become all-consuming and prevent them from partaking in sports and family activities.

Despite growing popularity for the abolition of homework (in primary schools at least), the evidence suggests that homework results in greater achievement and progress and it may be a mistake for schools to scrap it altogether. Instead, teachers should stick to the following simple guidelines.

Frequency rather than volume: shorter tasks set more often.

Relevance: teachers should not feel under pressure to comply with school policies on the amount of homework set and should only set homework that has a real and perceived value to learning.

Purpose: make the benefits of a homework task explicit.

Practice: develop a skill or process that pupils are not yet fluent in but that they can complete independently.

Reinforce: learn new content or deepen knowledge of a topic covered in class or to recap or check knowledge by completing some form of revision questions

Positive: where possible (and especially for younger children) homework should encourage children to explore their interests and foster a love of learning, rather than a fear of failure

Differentiation: Tasks need to be of a level that is challenging to each child but which can be completed independently without requiring parents’ help.

There is no doubt that when teachers set meaningful and carefully planned independent tasks, homework can be a useful tool in helping pupils to achieve their potential and real gains can be seen in core skills, such as reading.

For secondary school pupils, homework is undoubtedly good preparation for those intending to enter further education as it fosters independence, responsibility for meeting deadlines and self-motivation.

However, overloading pupils with homework and setting work that only serves to meet a school policy is a source of unnecessary stress for pupils, parents and teachers alike.

Teachers should be especially careful they do not cause young children to fear homework and the amount set should not prevent pupils of any age from participating in sport or other hobbies that may enrich them in ways that homework cannot.

• Our senses and multi-sensory learning
• When less is more — limiting teacher intervention
• PowerPoint — is it a matured technology?
• TEMI — Teaching Enquiry with Mysteries Incorporated
• Maintaining pupils’ interest in science

Questions and Answers

• Religious education curriculum
• Classroom observation protocol
• What is the new National Education Nature Park
• Teaching phonics

Some people believe that school children should not be given homework by their teachers, whereas others argue that homework plays an important role in the education of children. Discuss both of these views and give your own opinion.

More and more people think that giving homework to children is not necessary and at this time other people say that homework is on of important things that children have to do. However, most parents believe that for their children’s future doing repetitive exercises are not important by their pedagogue, other parents giving opposite meaning. […] Read More Band 4+

Homework has been an important claim in our education but now the news methodologies are doing that we start to ask about their utility. On the one hand, homework is an extra task after work that take a lot of time to do and kids spend a lot of their free time. In my opinion, […] Read More Band 4+

As a student I believe that homework is an important role for the students. But a fair amount of people feel that given homework by their school teachers they feel under pressure and also sometimes get too much nervous due to extra homework. However, according to others point of view practice is pivotal part in […] Read More Band 4+

the importance of the school children homework cannot be overlope is it significantly influence us how we perceive and engage with the world around us.A common argument is that homework is an unnecessary burden on children. while they are exist a believe among certain individuals that homework is an significant part in the education of […] Read More Band 4+

It is argued that home assignments play a crucial part in a student’s educational career, while others think that the instructors should not assign home tasks to the children. Giving homework has both potential benefits and drawbacks. It allows students to enhance their ability to practice and develop management skills, but it limits the students’ […] Read More Band 6+

It is argued that home assignments play a crucial part in a student’s educational career, while others think that the instructors should not assign home tasks to the children. Giving home assignments has both potential benefits and drawbacks. It allows kids to enhance their ability to practice and develop management skills, but it limits the […] Read More Band 6+

It is widely debated whether academic homework should be eliminated so that young students can take up time for other meaningful activities, or it should be assigned to them. My perspective, however, aligns with the belief that home tasks are inseparable parts of students’ academic and mental development. It is undeniable that homework is a […] Read More Band 6+

There is a debate over the importance of homework, with some saying it shouldn’t be incorporated into studying process and others arguing it must remain as inseparable part of process. While it is true that home assignments can be beneficial for children, I believe there are other more practical options than homework. Some people argue […] Read More Band 6+

Disagreement prevails regarding the question of weather homework should be assigned to students or they should be given some freedom after the lessons finish. While my perspective aligns with the belief that home tasks are essential part of students’ academic and mental development, the negative impact of loading students with excess activities should not be […] Read More Band 7+

It could be argued by some that academic assignments should be eliminated for young students. In my opinion, however, homework significantly affects the way we teach children. On the one hand, there are a number of reasons why some believe that teachers should not assign their students. The first reason is that children do not […] Read More Band 7+

Homeworks has been a great tool to makes sure that children are actually learning and gaining knowledge constantly. Some argue that children should not get a task as a homework while others consider them as an important tool. It is true that having no homework can be beneficial to children as it offers more freedom […] Read More Band 5+

While some people argue that teachers should not give an assignment for young children, other people hold the view that homework plays a crucial role in the education system. In my opinion, it is better for children to be given homework. On one side of the argument, a section of society would rather not to […] Read More Band 6+

Some people think that there should not be homework offered to young pupils at school, however, others claim that assignments for children play a major role in their education development. This essay will examine both perspectives, ultimately contending the importance of homework in young children’s academic. On the one hand, there are many beneficial things […] Read More Band 5+

It is widely debated whether teachers should refrain from assigning homework to students or whether homework should be an integral part of the education system. This essay will critically examine both perspectives and assert its support for the latter viewpoint. Proponents of assigning homework argue that it plays a crucial role in enhancing students’ learning […] Read More Band 7+

It is often contended that teachers ought not to give tasks to students to do at home. Conversely, some individuals argue homework should be given to children since it is important in academic systems. This essay will explore both viewpoints, ultimately advocating for the latter stance. On the one hand, homework assignment plays an important […] Read More Band 5+

Nowadays, every student hopes to get excellent result and accepted by top university. In order to get distinction in their result, homework plays an essential role. Even though some parents think that homework is just an extra thing in their children’s education, but actually is not. One of the importance of homework is that it […] Read More Band 5+

Plans & Pricing

IELTS Mentor "IELTS Preparation & Sample Answer"

• Skip to content
• Jump to main navigation and login

Nav view search

• IELTS Sample

IELTS Writing Task 2/ Essay Topics with sample answer.

Ielts essay # 1070 - giving homework daily to school children works well, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, many people feel that giving homework daily to school children works well for them, while others feel that it is an unnecessary burden on them., discuss both views and give your opinion., same or almost similar essay topic:, some people believe that children should not be given homework by their teachers at school, whereas others argue that homework plays an important role in the education of children., discuss both of these views and give your opinion..

• IELTS Essay
• IELTS Writing Task 2
• Discuss both views

IELTS Materials

• IELTS Bar Graph
• IELTS Line Graph
• IELTS Table Chart
• IELTS Flow Chart
• IELTS Pie Chart
• IELTS Letter Writing
• Academic Reading

Useful Links

• IELTS Secrets
• Band Score Calculator
• Exam Specific Tips
• Useful Websites
• IELTS Preparation Tips
• Academic Reading Tips
• Academic Writing Tips
• GT Writing Tips
• Listening Tips
• Speaking Tips
• IELTS Grammar Review
• IELTS Vocabulary
• IELTS Cue Cards
• IELTS Life Skills
• Letter Types

• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Copyright Notice
• HTML Sitemap

June 7, 2024

Some people believe that children should not be given homework everyday, while others believe that

Some people believe that children should not be given homework everyday, while others believe that they must get homework everyday in order to be successful at school. discuss both sides and give your opinion., sample answer:.

There is a long-standing debate about the necessity of giving homework to children on a daily basis. Some argue that it is detrimental to a child’s well-being and learning, while others believe it is essential for academic success. Both sides have valid points, and in my opinion, a balanced approach is necessary.

Those who oppose daily homework argue that it can have negative effects on a child’s mental and physical health. They believe that children need time to play, relax, and spend quality time with their families after a long day at school. Additionally, they argue that excessive homework can lead to stress, anxiety, and burnout, which can ultimately hinder a child’s overall development.

On the other hand, proponents of daily homework argue that it is crucial for reinforcing classroom learning and developing important study habits. They believe that regular homework assignments help children to review and practice what they have learned in school, leading to better retention of information. Furthermore, they argue that homework teaches children important skills such as time management, responsibility, and self-discipline, which are essential for success in school and beyond.

In my opinion, both sides have valid points, and a middle ground is necessary. While it is important for children to have time to relax and pursue other interests outside of school, homework can also play a valuable role in their education. Therefore, I believe that homework should be given in moderation, with a focus on quality over quantity. Teachers should carefully consider the purpose and impact of each assignment, ensuring that it is meaningful and manageable for students.

In conclusion, the debate over daily homework for children is complex, and there are valid arguments on both sides. A balanced approach that takes into account the well-being and educational needs of children is crucial in addressing this issue.

More Writing Task 2 Sample Essay

Be First to Comment

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

IELTS General Training

A hub for IELTS GT test takers to help them reach their goal.

Essay 294 – Students should not be given homework every day

Gt writing task 2 / essay sample # 294.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Some people believe that students should not be given homework every day. However, few others think that children of all grades should be given homework on a daily basis.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of giving homework to students every day and give your opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer:

Regular homework for young learners has sparked off an intense debate among academics. Many think that pupils ought not to be assigned homework daily, whereas others opine that students of all classes should get homework on a regular basis. This essay will first discuss how homework brings advantages and then talk about how it also confers disadvantages, followed by an honest opinion.

To commence with, homework provides students with the opportunity to put what they have learned in the classroom into practice. Very often, the short spell of time they have during class to grasp new concepts is simply not enough. The repetition of classroom concepts at home aids to cement in students’ minds the things they learned. For instance, students have most probably discerned the significance of homework when it comes down to mathematics. A new concept introduced in class might seem difficult at first. With recapitulation through homework, however, pupils can reinforce what they were taught in class and it sticks with them.

On the other hand, homework also brings drawbacks. This is because it is the same as being in class even after students get home. Consequently, homework deprives students of recreation and extra-curricular activities as well and causes stress as a result. However, in my opinion, only older students should receive a small number of assignments twice a week. According to a recent study, for instance, homework is useful for students who have reached the middle level. So daily homework should be given to such students only.

In the light of the above arguments, a handful of homework is advantageous to the older student only. Teachers, however, need to ensure that students are not burdened with an unreasonable amount of assignments.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Privacy Overview

IELTS discussion essay: model answer and analysis

Updated : February 2024

Below is an IELTS question for writing task 2 and my model answer. It is on the topic of Education. After analysing the question, I can see that it’s about whether homework is a good idea or not in helping kids in their educational development . It asks me to discuss both views and also asks for my opinion .

In this case, you must state your opinion in the introduction, the body and conclusion.

In this essay I will need to do 3 things:

• Write about why some people think school children should not be given homework by their teachers.
• Write about why other people think homework plays an important role in the education of children.
• Give my opinion on the issue and explain.

Task Question

Some people believe that school children should not be given homework by their teachers, whereas others argue that homework plays an important role in the education of children. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Model Answer

Some people think it is not a good idea for teachers to assign home study tasks to school children, while others say it is an essential part of learning. I believe pupils need homework to achieve better exam results as it gives them a chance of entering higher education.

On the one hand, some believe that homework is of no benefit and becomes a burden to school children. This is because pupils spend their whole day studying, taking part in after school clubs and feel exhausted after returning home. For instance, in Japan, the majority of minors are under pressure to complete vast amounts of homework along with extracurricular activities. If they fail to finish their assignments they may not do well in exams, meaning they would be unable to get into a good high school. I think home assignments are beneficial but children should not be put under this kind of pressure.

On the other hand, it is widely believed that homework plays a vital role in the development of knowledge for students and I agree with this. In other words, home study tasks help pupils understand school subjects better which allows them to attain higher grades. For example, according to extensive research, children aged between 10 and 16 who are given a large amount of mathematics homework do far better in tests than those who are not given any home assignments. I believe that home study tasks improve a child’s chances of entering tertiary education which leads to a rewarding career.

To conclude, although views differ concerning children being assigned homework, I would argue that home assignments are necessary to help pupils get high grades, enabling them to secure a place at university and improve their career chances.

Click this blue button to see an analysis of the model answer.

Word count is 290 words. I advise keeping it under 300 words as you may not have the time to write a long essay in the exam and it is not necessary to write a very long essay.

The structure is:

• Introduction: Paraphrased task question with a thesis statement (opinion)
• Main body 1:  Discussed first view, explained and gave an example with my opinion.
• Main body 2:  Discussed second view, agreed,  explained and gave an example.
• Conclusion:  Referred to the differing views, opinion rephrased

Make sure to check the task question again before writing your essay. you could lose a band score if it goes off-topic.

Planning time is crucial here, allow 10 minutes to plan an essay and make sure you have some good supporting points to back up your topic sentences.

With a discussion essay, you have to state others views and give supporting sentences with detail and specific examples. Discussion essays often ask your opinion. Click here to see this lesson  about stating an opinion.

When we state others views, especially in IELTS Discussion essays, there is specific language that should be used. For more detail on this, click here to see this lesson.

There is a lot of confusion about whether to use personal pronouns in IELTS essays (I, me, my, our, etc..) but if the question asks to ‘what extent do you agree?’  or ‘give your own opinion’ then you need to write personal pronouns… click here to see a lesson on this .

Note on paraphrasing: I have paraphrased the word ‘ homework’ in this essay with the phrases ‘ home study tasks ‘ and ‘ home assignments’ . Sometimes there is no way to avoid repetition but if you have a good understanding of synonyms and referencing you can avoid too much repetition. There are often words that are hard to paraphrase such as ‘people’ or ‘children’.

Not every word from the task question needs paraphrasing and you can repeat words as long as you can demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary. Be very careful not to over paraphrase.

Any Comments? leave them below

3 thoughts on “IELTS discussion essay: model answer and analysis”

Thanks to analysing for this essay,as it helps me very well as I want

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Some people believe that school children should not be given homework by their teachers, whereas others argue that homework plays an important role in the education of children. Discuss both of these views and give your opinion.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Writing9 with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

• Instills discipline
• Deepen understanding
• Independent learning
• Reinforcement
• Parental involvement
• Curriculum insight
• Student stress
• Leisure time
• Relevance of assignments
• Project-based learning
• Interactive learning
• Individual learning styles
• Conducive study environment
• Homework policy
• Balanced approach
• Check your IELTS essay »
• Find essays with the same topic
• View collections of IELTS Writing Samples
• Show IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics

Some people believe that professionals, such as doctors and engineers, should be required to work in the country where they did their training. Others believe they should be free to work in another country if they wish. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Students nowadays can get large quantities of information from mobile phones. despite this, many people think that they should not be allowed to use them in the classroom. to what extent do you agree ar disagree, one of the consequence of improved medical care is that people are living longer and living expectancy is increasing. do you think the advantaged of this development outweigh disadvantages, technological advancements and their impact on society, you should spend about 20 minutes on this task. you are due to start a new job next week but you will not be able to because you have some problems. write a letter to your new employer. in your letter • explain your situation • describe your problems • tell him/her when you think you can start. you should write at least 150 words. you do not need to write your own address..