12/8/2019 Should Homework Be Banned?

6 Arguments For and Against It

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Should Homework Be Banned? 6

Arguments For and Against It
by Victoria Caine | Oct 18, 2019 | kidsdeservebest.com, Transfer Complete | 0 comments

As I stand in front of my students at the beginning of every school year, they always ask
one question: Will there be homework? Every year, at that moment, I wonder, ” Should
homework be banned?”

Should Homework Be Banned?

So, should homework be banned? Here’s what every teacher wants you to know.

Every day in the classroom is a brand-new day, but the debate regarding whether or not
homework should be banned echos through classrooms and homes daily.

Some parents may not like to question tradition, but others ask and want to see evidence
that homework is helpful. After having repeated arguments with your child over
completing work and missing assignments, it takes a toll on a family. It makes sense to
wonder if it is worth it.

Teachers also nd themselves questioning if what they are assigning is, in fact, best for
students and their families.

Experts often disagree over whether or not teachers should ban homework. Therefore,
looking at the evidence is critical, so parents and teachers stay informed. The truth is,
there is research that supports both points of view.

Should Homework Be Banned? 6 Reasons to Keep It

Below are six reasons why homework should not be banned.

1. Considering practice and perfection

Teachers typically assign homework for students to practice after school.

This is useful because it creates an opportunity for a student to practice a skill repetitively,
and it gives them time to process the learning.
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12/8/2019 Should Homework Be Banned? 6 Arguments For and Against It

It leads to the mastery of that skill. Teachers do not always have enough time to both
introduce a new skill and still have time for students to demonstrate they have mastered a
concept.

Just like the practice musicians and athletes put into their skill, there is evidence that
academic abilities can bene t from the on-task practice.

2. Habits are hard

Those who believe homework should not be banned say homework helps students
develop habits that will assist them later in life. Students are required to develop the
discipline to be consistent with homework. The development of the habit is just as
important as the homework itself.

Homework prepares students to cope with the demands of the real world. By setting
students up with higher expectations, we’re preparing them for the demands of
adulthood.

Even more relevant to students are the requirements of college. The college application
process is competitive, as are the expectations of independent work.

3. I would rather play Minecraft

One challenge parents and teachers face is competition when it comes to homework time.
We live in a world where we will never escape from technology, and many teachers
welcome technology in their classroom.

When it comes to those who support homework in the debate surrounding the banning of
homework, research shows there is a use for technology to create and learn. Technology
has its place in education, but we often nd students passing the time playing video games
or watching YouTube.

By increasing expectations for homework, students will have opportunities to develop

habits that are in line with educational goals without the consumption of unnecessary
technology.

4. You want me to do what?

Motivation in students is a funny thing. As adults, we have several motivators. Some of
them are external motivations, and others are internal. Often, students need to learn the
value of becoming motivated to work even if the work is hard.

In the debate where teachers ponder if homework should be banned, comes a point
regarding motivation.

There is research in support of homework that points out students have a perfect
opportunity to internalize motivation while doing homework.

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Students learn the value of e ort and learning from mistakes by working with adults.
These adults, meaning teachers and parents, help foster a belief system that in uences
student’s attitudes about learning and achievement.

When we set high expectations and demand a work ethic regarding academics, students
will as well.

5. Where is the proof?

In the “Should homework be banned?” debate comes some hard evidence linking success
and homework. The research shows students impacted their performance as much as 50
percent.

Furthermore, it is essential to note that when homework included not just extra practice
but an option to x previous mistakes, the students demonstrated even more.

6. Homework and achievement

There is a positive association between student’s grades due to homework, noted in the
research linked above.

Knowing that there is a relationship between the performance of students academically

and homework, parents, and teachers often push for students to continue their academics
outside of school hours.

Although some research is positive, does it take into account the fact that homework in
these situations is almost always factored into their grade? So if the students don’t do the
homework, they will have a lower grade despite their understanding and test
performance.

That’s another side of this debate.

Should Homework Be Banned? 6 Reasons It Should

There are critics of homework in this debate. Those who are not fans of teachers
extending their classrooms after school hours have a compelling argument. There is just
as much evidence to support the negative impact as there is in favor of homework.

1. I don’t get it
As a teacher myself, I can attest to the argument proposed by those in support of a ban on
homework due to students losing interest.

Students who did not understand the material in the rst place are going to have a di cult
time working independently. Not understanding the skill necessary for homework is
especially frustrating for parents and students.

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Often, homework factors into a student’s grade. If a student does not understand the
material, homework will not make them successful. Furthermore, it will lower their grade.

I think this is an experience we can all relate to, even in our adult lives.

Losing interest in the task assigned for homework can lead to frustration in students.
Throwing more homework on this pile of frustration will not solve this problem, as it will
only create apathy. When students struggle, teachers must reteach and support students.
This action will support student success.

As a life-long adult learner, even I still become frustrated when I’m working with a topic
beyond my scope of abilities. I can relate to my students.

2. I still don’t get it

Education standards and policy are a moving target. What we taught in the classroom in
the past has evolved. It has become increasingly complex, and it is now routine to have
students as we tackle complex topics. We expect more from students.

Teachers must adjust how they teach to help students facing setbacks. Those who oppose
homework point to students needing guidance, not excessive independent work, as they
acquire the skills necessary to achieve mastery.

3. Strain on families
Those in support of a ban of homework note the hardships homework has on families. In
the “Should homework be banned?” debate, parents take a hard hit.

Research shows parental pressure about homework leads to negative family relationships,
but it also leads to avoidance and stress of the student. Parents are worried about student
anxiety.

Parents also discuss the imposition of family life, including missed meals and events, due
to copious demands of homework.

Even in the research supporting the importance of homework, there is some variety in the
recommended amount of homework. Those in support of a ban on homework notice the
time the students need to complete homework. They wonder if the sacri ce is worth it.

4. Would you rather…

Students are not only losing time with their families, but they are also losing valuable time
for other worthwhile opportunities. Many of these opportunities teach discipline, time
management, and prepare students for the expectations of adulthood.

Those in support of homework note these are positive outcomes.

5. Thank you, coach!

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Research notes that the involvement of students in athletics has a strong positive impact
on student achievement.

The impact of sports on our youth is also visible in character development, speci cally the
positive social skills and behavior skills. These skills are often di cult to teach e ectively in
the classroom.

I see evidence of this research in my classes. I have witnessed incredible pro-social

behavior and academic e orts from my athletic students.

6. Challenge me, please

In the traditional school curriculum often overlooks creativity. Those in support of banning
homework point out creativity leads to success.

Music and art teachers will tell you the value of challenging a mind to be creative. Leaders
in business will say to you creative problem-solvers are in demand when handling real-life
problems.

Thinking outside the box is a skill that needs developing. Excessive homework does not
give students the space to think, challenge, research, and wonder. These skills and
experiences lead to students being able to think and employ problem-solving skills.

Don’t Lose Your Balance

There are solid arguments for both sides of the debate about banning homework.
The answer might be somewhere between the two extremes.

The research on both sides agrees on one signi cant point: it’s not the quantity of the
homework; it is the quality of the work that’s important.

Teachers must be mindful of the purpose of the work they assign. Aside from having a
strong intent to extend the current learning, it should be concise. Homework should also
be an extension of the student’s existing skills previously learned in the classroom.

New knowledge and addressing the needs of a struggling learner needs to happen at
school.

As I stand in front of my class and answer a student’s question regarding assigning

homework, I respond by saying, “Only if it will help you.”

School districts often make basic rules about homework, but many parents will nd
teachers assign homework di erently. If you are worried about how much homework your
student has at night, talk to them.

Once your family discusses the positive and negative impacts of homework, conference
with your student’s teacher. By being clear about student struggles, you can work together

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to nd a solution that works with a balance.

What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below.

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