The Homework Assignment (HW) controversy has been going on for decades. Before we can answer the question “Is it necessary?” However, there are three different issues to consider: (1) educational changes, (2) social changes, and (3) purpose of homework.

(1) Educational changes:

Over the decades, our society has become obsessed with evaluation. Our country has fallen from the # 1 position in all educational areas to a position near the bottom of a long list of countries. This has happened with high school math test results, high school graduation rates, the percentage of students entering college, and basically every other measure used to compare the educational practices of various countries.

During the 1980s, it was decided that the solution to the problem was to test students more. (I don’t know why “experts” think trying more will have any impact on learning. Their emphasis is on the wrong side of the problem!) The monstrosity called No Child Left Behind was created to be the solution to our education. . problems. With NCLB came more and more emphasis on math and English in the classroom (and less emphasis on everything else) and increasingly harsh penalties for teachers and schools that don’t show sufficient improvement.

The constant drive to improve math and English test scores, coupled with the sacrifices that have been made in the school day to allow the extra time for these two subjects, has made homework even more necessary at all levels. educational.

(2) Social changes:

We have become a society of very busy people. With a divorce rate of about 50%, many parents spend a lot of time moving their children from one place to another. Most families now need both adults to work. Our youngest children participate in many extracurricular activities such as sports, music lessons, dance lessons, gymnastics, etc. A large percentage of our teens now have jobs after school to maintain a car or to save for college.

Now we have entire families that come home with little or no energy; so even in homes that place a high value on education, the homework is simply not done. The time and energy that families have left are used for family time, not for school work. Unfortunately, these students suffer negative consequences at school because of the family’s decision to devalue homework.

(3) Purpose of the task:

In educational terms, the purpose of homework is practice what was taught in class that day. Traditional teaching practices have long been to teach (give lectures) throughout the class period and then send students home to practice what they saw in class. Does this practice really have to be done at home? Under our current time constraints for each day and the length of the school year, that answer is “yes.”

Obviously, the subject of homework is very complicated. Educationally, it seems that HW is necessary, but society is beginning to take a different view. Perhaps, if we do the following, we can eliminate the problems related to the task:

First: remove the term “task” as it is no longer appropriate. Our students need the PRACTICE that the word implies, but it is not necessary for them to do it at home.

Second: Eliminate the Massive Amount of Evidence that robs our students of valuable class time.

Third: extend the school year without adding to the curriculum so that teachers have time to dedicate to class practice.

Fourth: train teachers in brain-based techniques. for frequent comprehension checks so that the practice in class is correct and effective.

What is your answer? Is homework necessary? In our current society, the answer should be “yes”, but hopefully, we can change that sooner rather than later.