Homework

If you want to start an immediate controversy, bring up the subject of homework! Most high school teachers (and many researchers) have strongly-held views … either for or against.

“Pro” teachers believe that meaningful, carefully-planned homework has the potential to enhance the overall learning experience for their students. But due to its potential to impact family life, such homework must also be balanced, reasonable, and implemented in a coordinated way district-wide. Yet according to some researchers, this is not what occurs in actual practice (Bennett & Kalish, 2006; Kralovec & Buell, 2000).

“Con” teachers believe that most homework should be abolished. This view begin to gain traction about 15 years ago, and a primary focus is the harm traditional homework does to economically disadvantaged students (Kohn, 2006; Kralovec & Buell, 2000).

If your school is struggling with this issue, here’s a sample District Homework Policy that reflects the latest research on homework, as well as specific recommendations from educational organizations that have given serious study to this issue (National Education Association, National Parent Teacher Association, etc.). It may be useful in developing a reasonable compromise for your school.

In addition, you’ll want to read this recent ASCD article, Does Homework Help? The author makes a number of valid points about how homework views may need to change to reflect our changing society. (For example, the meaning of the word “home” itself is ambiguous for the vast majority of children who live in poverty.)

If you’d like to explore this topic further, here are some thought-provoking videos about homework …

The Homework Gap – a sociology experiment

Teens and Undue Stress – field-based observations from international homework expert, Kathy Vatterott

Do Kids Really Need Homework? – one child’s battle against homework

Success with No Homework – a veteran teacher’s story

Don’t Give Homework! – an interview with Alfie Kohn

References:

Bennett, S., & Kalish, N. (2006). The case against homework: How homework is hurting our children and what we can do about it. New York: Crown.

Kohn, A. (2006). The homework myth: Why our kids get too much of a bad thing. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press.

Kralovec, E., & Buell, J. (2000). The end of homework: How homework disrupts families, overburdens children, and limits learning. Boston: Beacon.

Vatterott, C. (2019). The Teens Are Not Alright, Educational Leadership. [online] ASCD.org.