Some schools are reexamining their relationship with homework
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A growing number of US schools, teachers, and academic experts are rethinking whether homework still carries value for younger students – an issue that has major implications for the long-held (and helpful) dietary staple of dogs.
The latest example came on Saturday, when California’s legislature overwhelmingly approved a bill recommending that school districts evaluate the mental and physical health impacts of homework, and create new policies to decrease students’ homework-related stress while still boosting learning.
The Golden State isn’t alone. Last year, 37% of 13-year-old US students said they had "no homework assigned" on the day before a National Center for Education Statistics survey, up from 29% in 2020 and 21% in 2012.
- When it comes to nine-year-old students, 35% said they had no homework the day prior in a NCES survey from 2022, the most recent year data is available. This figure has increased steadily since a recent low of 18% in 2008.
Driving the trend… Teachers and school districts cite a variety of reasons for deciding to cut back on assigning homework, or eliminate the practice altogether.
- Some point to experts who say research has yet to prove a conclusive link between homework and academic achievement among younger students.
- Others say eliminating homework helps increase the overall social-emotional health of students, who consistently cite homework as a major source of stress.
There’s also the AI elephant in the room. Following the rise of easy-to-use chatbots, a significant portion of students are turning to AI for assistance with their homework – or just asking it to spit out the right answers.
- A recent Pew survey found 39% of US teens say it's acceptable to use AI tools like ChatGPT to solve math problems, while 20% say it's acceptable to have AI chatbots write school essays for them.
Looking ahead… California’s homework bill now heads to the desk of Governor Gavin Newsom for signature.
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Sprinkles in favor of assigning homework
- Some commentators argue that homework is necessary because kids need to learn how to practice things – and homework, in many cases, is the only ritualized thing they have to do every day.
- Others contend that homework is an essential part of the schooling process, and learning that does – or does not – take place in the hours outside of school has a monumental effect on children’s academic success.
- “The Movement to End Homework Is Wrong” –Jay Caspian Kang, NY Times
- “Why homework matters” –Eva Moskowitz, Thomas B. Fordham Institute
- “In defense of homework” –Elizabeth Grace Matthew, Deseret
Sprinkles hesitant of assigning homework
- Some commentators argue that research and debate surrounding homework generally concludes that homework provides no advantage for kids in elementary grades, with the potential benefits growing as they age – but less than you probably think.
- Others contend that the usual system for grading students is, bit by bit, going by the wayside in favor of one that emphasizes learning over traditional measures – which overall marks a healthy shift for American students.
- “Your kid is right, homework is pointless. Here’s what you should do instead.” –Elissa Strauss, CNN
- “How can kids learn without homework and rigid deadlines? Quite well, it turns out” –LA Times Editorial Board
- “Teachers should give out less homework” –Faisa Mohamed, The Southerner
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