Should teachers assign students homework assignments?

It began with students complaining about the routine of allocating them with an economic assignment to do at home in the evening. Besides, parents and teachers believed that economics homework is an essential tool in educating school-going children. However, studies on the effectiveness of homework assignments have been inconclusive and conflicting; this has resulted in some adults argue that assignments should be dropped.

Research findings on homework assignments

According to Harris Cooper, students must have homework assignments. In his research analysis, there is a correlation between academic excellence and finishing homework assignments in higher grades of study. Cooper recommends that teachers follow the ten-minute guideline. However, in his studies, Cooper did not prove that improved scores are due to the successful completion of homework assignments. It only showed a correlation. Besides, this means children who complete homework assignments are likely to perform better in school. Cooper also reported that homework assignments lead to emotional and physical stress, and lead to the development of negative attitudes towards learning.

Other scholars contend that the question should be the type of and the number of homework assignments students have, and to be effective homework should meet student’s needs. Researchers have found out that science and math homework assignments have the potential to improve standardized exam grades. Explicitly, they theorize that homework does not result in content mastery, but more familiarity with the type of questions on standardized tests.

Challenges of homework

Samantha Hulsman notes that she regularly heard parents protest that 30-minute homework becomes a three-hour struggle with children. Samantha now faces the same challenges with her children, and she is now rethinking her previous belief in homework. Samantha considers that parents anticipate their kids to have homework every night and that teachers judiciously allocate homework each day because it being a daily routine. According to Samantha, it essential to understand how to solve problems and collaborate with knowing individual facts.

According to Kenneth Barish, a child psychologist, children struggle with homework assignments that do not result in better scores. He also notes that children who fail to do homework are not lazy but may be anxious, discouraged, and frustrated. Barish further recommends that children and parents have a joined homework plan that restricts the amount of time spent on homework assignments. In the plan, the parent should switch off all devices in the house. Alfie Kohn, a known homework critic, notes that people believe that children are similar to vending machines where we put assignments and get learning.

Homework bans

Recently, public schools in Florida adopted no homework assignment policy for all elementary students and introduced a night bedtime reading taking 20 minutes only. This radical shift is due to Cooper’s research showing that elementary students gain more from reading and gain less from homework assignments. Orchard primary school from Vermont implemented the same policy of banning homework and introducing reading. The school Principal noted that homework comprises four parts: read nightly, play outside, take supper with the family, and enjoy night sleep. However, the majority of elementary schools are contemplating adopting a no-homework policy, but high schools and middle schools are reluctant to drop assigning homework to students. Schools note that parents like homework and teachers understand it is useful if it was particular and follows specific guidelines. Teachers should appreciate that not all children have home support, space, and time to attempt homework assignments, and it should not count as part of students’ scores.