FOR THE WEEK OF SEP. 30, 2024

'All pain, no gain:' School homework is focus of new attention on a longtime practice

Students aren't the only ones who howl about heavy homework loads and who think take-home assignments can be unhelpful. Some educators agree, and so do backers of a bill passed by the California Assembly last spring. Under "The Healthy Homework Act," districts would have to adopt homework policies by the 2027-28 school year that consider the time involved and the mental strain on students. (See video below.) Casey Cuny, an English teacher at Valencia High School and 2024's California Teacher of the Year, supports the proposal awaiting state Senate action. Language barriers, unreliable home internet, family responsibilities or other factors may contribute to a student falling behind on homework, he notes, adding: "I feel that I should teach them what I need to teach them when I'm with them in the room."

Homework adds more stress than value, some experts say, and takes time away from sports, hobbies, other relaxation or after-school jobs. Another drawback is reduced sleep if students work late on assignments. "Homework is all pain and no gain," writes Alfie Kohn, a Boston-area author of 14 books on parenting and schooling, including The Homerwork Myth. He adds: "After spending all day in school, our children are forced to begin a second shift. . . . Backpacks stuffed with assignments leave students exhausted, frustrated, less interested in intellectual pursuits and lacking time to do things they enjoy." Education speaker and workshop leader Trevor Muir of Ada, Mich., says: "Students should be given little, if any, homework. Research shows that homework has minimal impact on student learning." Improvement in grades and test scores from doing homework is "stunningly tiny," agrees Professor Joyce Epstein of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The most useful assignments, she says, are interactive and involve speaking with parents, grandparents or other students to share ideas.

Some schools around the country have a no-homework policy. "There is no pressure," comments sixth-grade Bailey Harfmann, 11, of Boca Raton, Fla. But the National PTA, based in Alexandria, Va., endorses homework with specific purposes, rather than repetitive drills or busywork practice. "Homework has the potential to be a valuable aid to help students maximize their learning experience," a policy statement says. "Evidence-based research has identified that quality homework assignments state clear objectives, are relevant to students, and are grade- and age-appropriate in terms of ability and time required."

Teacher trainer says: "I don't think teachers should be expected to take work home with them, and the same should apply to their students." – Trevor Muir, Michigan consultant

National PTA policy: "High quantities of homework not only add to stress, but do not necessarily lead to higher achievement."

Professor says: "Teachers and administrators really have little formal training on how to design homework before they assign it. This means that most just repeat what their teachers did, or they follow textbook suggestions." – Joyce Epstein, sociologist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore

Front Page Talking Points Archive

Common Core State Standard
SL.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: An essay of a current news event is provided for discussion to encourage participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the article. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event within the news, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.