Homework+Essay

A lot of people are in controversy over whether or not homework has a negative or positive effect on children and teenagers today. Some say that homework is being taken way too seriously and stressing kids out way more than they need to be, and teachers are giving out ‘busy work’ which is pointless and a waste of student’s valuable time. Others say that homework is definitely not a waste of time, it is a part of growing up, and making sure you understand the curriculum that was taught earlier in the day at home. In this essay, I will explain the pros and the cons of homework. By the end, I hope you will be informed enough to make your decision on whether homework is a good or bad thing.

Many are the persons who have claimed that homework has a negative effect on kids and teenagers all around the world. As Jessica Lahey, a teacher who assigns homework but is just now realizing its negative effects, says "Children need time to be quiet, play, read and imagine. Teachers who sacrifice these vital elements of childhood for anything less than the most valuable homework are being derelict in their duty to their students and the teaching profession." Many agree with Jessica’s thoughts and are now realizing how pointless some homework is. ‘Busy work’, which is hours of homework doing something that doesn’t do anything for the student and just wastes their time, is a big thing that parents and teachers are in controversy over. They are saying how kids and teenagers need their own time away from school and things related to it, and any teacher that is assigning something that doesn’t fully benefit the student is just plain wrong.

Donna Cushlanis, a secretary for the Galloway School District, who has watched her second-grade son burst into tears too many nights because of homework, states "How many times do you have to add seven plus two? I have no problem with doing homework, but that put us both over the edge. I got to the point where this is enough." Galloway City, New Jersey, is part of a bunch of districts across the United States trying to "remake" homework and stop stressing kids out after having to do the same thing previously in the day for six hours of school. Another mother from California says "There is simply no proof that most homework as we know it improves school performance, and by expecting kids to work a 'second shift' in what should be their downtime, the presence of schoolwork at home is negatively affecting the health of our young people and the quality of family time."

Although many people say that homework has a negative effect, there are always two sides to everything. Research says homework in small doses reinforces basic learning skills and is especially helpful to young kids. The ten-minute guideline has been used in many schools recently, which means that you can get ten minutes of homework a night for first grade, twenty minutes for second grade, and so on. Harris Cooper, a professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University believes the ten-minute guideline has generally been shown to be effective, Dr Cooper said, adding that over all, "there is a minimal relationship between how much homework young kids do and how well they test." A mother of two teenage sons says "If we coddle them when they're younger, what happens when they get into the real world? No one's going to say to them, 'you don't have to work extra hard to get that project done, just turn in what you got.' "

People have said that there is also not enough time in the school day to cover required topics, so they have to go home and learn and practice the rest, and it also reinforces classroom learning. Another big thing is that homework teaches students time management. They know that they have to do their homework when they get home, and learn how to get things done efficiently. They know that they have to do it, so it teaches them responsibility also. One more big reason people think homework is so important is that we are in a competition with China & India for academic achievement, so parents, teachers, and schools all put a ton of pressure on kids and especially teenagers that they must study more, not less, if they want to succeed.

What is my opinion on this subject? I think that both sides to this argument are right! Homework is good in SMALL DOSES. If you bombard us with homework, it is way too stressful and mainly pointless. There's already enough pressure put on children and teenagers for many things, and having a pile of homework to do after a long day at school isn't something anyone wants to go home to. On the contrary, I think that if we didn't have any homework at all, kids and teenagers would get really lazy. It's good for us to have structure, but not too much. I think the 10-minute guideline, which is perfect, because if it's any more than that people lose their train of thought and don't fully absorb the homework that they're doing. In conclusion, homework can have a negative and positive effect on kids and teenagers, it all depends on the immensity of the work and if it’s actually effective or not. I hope you have learned enough in this essay to have your own opinion on the controversy that is sweeping the nation.