Education · Reading practice · B2
Should homework be banned?
Some schools have scrapped it altogether. Others give more than ever. What does the research actually say?
By Levoop · 4-minute read · 373 words · Tap the underlined words to see what they mean
Few topics cause as many arguments at the dinner table as homework. Parents complain that their children have too much of it, or too little. Teachers disagree about whether it helps. And students, unsurprisingly, would mostly be happy to see it disappear. In recent years, a number of schools in different countries have done exactly that, replacing homework with reading for pleasure or simply more free time.
Supporters of homework argue that it what students learn in class, teaches them to work independently and helps to develop good study habits. It also gives parents a window into what their children are learning.
Critics reply that too much homework causes stress, takes time away from sport, hobbies and family life, and can make children see learning as a . They also point out that homework can increase : a student with a quiet room and parents who can help has a clear advantage over one who shares a crowded flat or has to look after younger .
So who is right? Large reviews of the research suggest that the answer depends heavily on age. For teenagers, there seems to be a positive link between homework and , at least up to a point; beyond about two hours a night, the benefits appear to level off. For younger children, the link is much weaker, and some researchers argue that the main at primary level is helping children get used to the idea of studying at home.
Many experts now argue that the real question is not how much homework students get, but what kind. Long lists of exercises are less useful than short, tasks: reading, practising a skill that was taught that day, or preparing for the next lesson. Homework that students can do without help, and that teachers actually check and , also seems to work better.
Some schools have found a middle way, setting a small amount of homework that students can choose from, or weekly tasks rather than daily ones.
Banning homework completely may not be the answer, then. But neither is giving more and more of it. As with so much in education, it is quality, not quantity, that seems to make the biggest difference.
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