Ahh, homework: It is the two-syllable noun that strikes panic and frustration into the hearts of school-going kids and teens across the country, like a thug robbing them of their afternoon plans.
It is the standard tool used by teachers in pursuit of bettering the retention level of lessons they teach in their classrooms and the “necessary evil” that parents seek out to aid in developing their children into responsible beings. But is this “necessary evil” really so, well, necessary? And what about children with reading struggles or learning disabilities?
It seems that people have many varying viewpoints as to the possible benefits and detriments of homework. Many believe that even though children and young adults are not always happy about doing their homework, it teaches them important lessons that will help them lead more balanced and capable lifestyles.
We also know that extra reading at home boosts a student’s vocabulary and comprehension.
NYU professor and writer Diane Ravitch makes a strong case in favor of homework in an article she wrote for The Huffington Post, summing her argument up with a statement about the campaign against homework:
“Its success will guarantee a steady decline in the very activities that matter most in education: independent reading; thoughtful writing; research projects.”
However, if you were to ask high school teacher and author of the book The Homework Myth, Alfie Kohn, (like in this interview he did with the School Library Journal), he would argue that burdening children with stress-inducing homework is not only counterproductive, but also depressing.
“Even if you don’t care about the kids’ happiness, the fact is that they’re unlikely to learn effectively when they’re doing something that they regard as anxiety-provoking…” Kohn believes that “the current nightmarish emphasis on ‘accountability’ and ‘tougher standards’” has “reduced education to a matter of raising scores on bad tests.”
No matter which side of the fence people fall on in the homework debate, there does seem to be an undeniable correlation between the effectiveness of homework and the age of the student.
How do you feel about the fight for or against homework? Let us know by sharing your thoughts in the comment section below.