Is homework essential for kids to be educated?

[HawkPerception]

Yes

No

[DrPepper12]

Teacher here. I stopped giving it EXCEPT to AP kids who NEED it because the course is a breakneck pace and must be finished by early May even though school year diesnt end here till late June. AP kids NEED IT

Now, ALL RESEARCH says it has NO statistical difference to performance during school year or after graduation. In fact it was somewhat invented to prepare kids for an expectation where they should be working from home for free. Its a disgusting scam and it should be banned for most classes. Thanks for coming to my TeD talk.

[WhiteBoyChill]

Hell yeaaa! 🔥🔥

[OhMyMan]

That is not true. Research says sometimes it helps some students, sometimes it does not:

www.readingrockets.org/.../key-lessons-what-research-says-about-value-homework

[DrPepper12]

@OhMyMan GENERALLY and statistically there is no appreciable difference. Yes, some kids, especially special education and those learning English DO BENEFIT from homework but for an unclassified regular kid it does nothing

[WhiteBoyChill]

💪💪💪

[Iron_Man]

School is about seven hours a day. I know you have lunch and you have PE and all that stuff but then you’re gonna overload the kids with another three hours of homework when they get home how are they gonna play sports and do their hobbies or chores it’s too much of an overload. They need to cut back on the homework schools are the place for education Don’t overload a 10-year-old kid or a 12-year-old or even older with loads of homework

[Iron_Man]

Thanks for most helpful award

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

I can understand wanting to make sure they’re able to learn on your own, the point of a lot of schooling is just to teach kids how to learn. However, I don’t think homework is essential to this for a variety of reasons. Firstly, no two kids learn exactly the same and the department of education has a 100 year old standard of education that honestly no longer serves the initial goal of creating factory worker-consumers as they did back in the day when the system for standardized testing was first introduced. What we need isn’t homework, but more teachers so that schools can have smaller class sizes and teachers can give appropriate attention to kids who need it. Hell, more tutors would probably be better, specializing in specific subjects to teach kids individually. It would allow for a personalized education that would easily help kids learn how to learn and take away many of the ableist pitfalls that make it hard for neurodivergent kids or disabled kids to learn in a generalized classroom setting.

[IslaTheWitch]

no, homework is a way teachers use to force kids to do at home stuff they didn't do with them at school...

there should be group or pair projects that kids can do over time and learn group work but what they need the most is free time to rest, recharge, meet friends, build social bonds...

[MisterWack]

Yes! And No.

Basically to utilize homework for short term rather than long term knowledge I think makes it basically not fulfilling a huge rule in not only children’s education however education in general.

The one true homework that I feel actually universally pushes for long term is English Class since it introduces you to structure in your writing skills that will excel you for greatness. Utilizing one’s language effectively to spread ideas onto others is truly a gift when we articulate how we think/feel then showcase it onto others. Whether that be, learning a new word by reading an article or finding the meaning through the lines contributing hints / information through the works from author to reader. Though that also has flaws like studying for a quiz for words that you won’t remember 2-5 years from now…

We need a system that doesn’t help us for short term retention, but a system for long term retention.

[SugarSugarplum]

Skill is skill and it needs practice.

You need the class to be exposed to the concepts, and then you need to practice your ass off to get good at it.

Imagine a musician, or a cobbler (look it up), or a bricklayer who listened to a lecture one hour a day for 5 weekdays for half a year vs. one who listened and then went out and worked on his skill for a few hours a day after that.

A student who practices on his own not only hones his skills faster, but he also comes back to class with better questions the next day.

[abc3643]

When I was very young, I didn't think so.

But then I was 20, a junior at RPI majoring in physics, and studying for "Circuit Theory and Electronics". By going to the library and working on the crib sheet for the big test, I worked out every possible combination of 3-element linear circuits. By doing that self-inflicted homework, something clicked about those circuits and I did well on the test and got an A in the course. Before that, I was a shitty college student. That semester and ever after, I was on the Dean's List.

[abc3643]

Let me put it another way...

Author Malcolm Gladwell, who is my age, wrote a book called "Outliers" and in it is the "10000--Hour Rule" which basically says something like once you've accumulated about 10000 hours of practice at something, you've become an expert at it. Now, in reality, other factors may be at play too like good teaching/instruction, the right opportunities. But, if you think about it, 10000 hours is about 5 work years. When you're at a job for 5 years, you pretty much know what needs to get done.

Well, homework is akin to the getting in some of those 10000 hours.

Here are two more examples from when I was in college.
First, I need to correct something. Above, I was a sophomore, not junior, when I took "CT&E" in Spring 1983.
OK, when I was a freshman in my second semester, I was taking "Math III" which is an introductory class on linear algebra and matrices. The book was a bit arcane and thin not giving much clarity or ease of understanding. The lecturer was worthless; he just quoted the book in his German accent. I fucked up and got a C. I tried hard at first, but the class became boring and nebulous so I sort of gave up a bit. I had a terrible semester too because I got dumped but that's just icing on the cake.
(more)

[abc3643]

However, 5 years later, I was in graduate school taking a class called "Systems Analysis Techniques" aka "SAT". The textbook was by "Linear Systems" by Thomas Kailath and Appendix A was like 70 pages long filled with matrix proofs as exercises to do. Our homework during that semester was to do all of those proofs. By the end of that class, it was like I went to "matrix boot camp".
Keep in mind this was 4 years after I took "CT&E" and realized the utility of self-study aka "homework". "SAT" reinforced that. I may not have gotten my 10000 hours in, but I did get a few hundred and that was good. I should have gotten an A in that class but I choked on the final and got a B. Still, a very good experience that I've valued ever since. I would not have appreciated what was "taught" in class nor would have I remembered it as well, but my having to do all those proofs burned into me many critical ideas about matrices and systems theory that made me realize its power.

[Alli112]

Not a fan when teachers give a ton of homework to the point that students are working significantly more than a full-time job. I think a little is helpful to repetition in learning, but mostly we should just be better about how class time is used if possible.

[FunkyMonkee]

If you want to play an instrument, do you just pick it and start playing concertos and sonatas? No! You have to PRACTICE!! THAT'S what homework is!!
I have a feeling that if I was a teacher, on my first day with a new class of kids, I'd ask if they really do wanna learn what I'm here to teach them. If any of them say, "No.", Okay, goodbye! Get out of my class! I'm NOT about to waste MY time trying to teach somebody something they don't wanna know when I could be using that time and effort teaching someone else who DOES want to know. I'm NOT a baby sitter, I'm a TEACHER!

[AviatorTom]

There's no time during the school day for a student to reinforce what they've learned, which is a key element in learning something. Homework allows a student the time to reinforce and better understand the topics. Having said thst, overloading a student with homework is not good. Keep it reasonable.

[NamerOfStars]

Quite the opposite- it functions to cripple their ability to remember what they've learned, since it teaches the brain to rely on a constant bombardment of information.

[DishLady]

Certain types of HW are productive learning experiences while others are gratuitous assignments that don’t do much to educate or enhance a child/young adult (from PreK age through college).

[just_a_potato]

In grade school at least, no. I don't remember a single time where homework helped me understand the material in school any better, and after middle school no one was doing it anymore anyway.

[molonski2]

For the most part complete waste of time , I never did homework , my daughter spent hours everyday on it.

[Kaneki05]

It's proven not to be. And was banned in Poland from certain young ages then after that it's an optional thing given.
So no.

[meepmeeperton]

No, maybe some brief studying but a lot of the time it’s just unneeded stress for students and parents. Especially in elementary school.

[Massageman]

Have to have it in public schools since such a big part of each day is just doing govt required junk, district required junk, meetings, etc. My second of two daughters just started homeschooling her kids because of this. My first literally wrote a book and blogs on the subject and has been homeschooling for several years.

[Guacamole409]

Yes, but brick & Mortar schools are going the way of the phone booth.

[Sasquach]

Shockingly accurate comparison

[Guacamole409]

@Sasquach

samsquanches are real.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBflQqaw0hU

[Sasquach]

😂 oh he got BEAT

[Guacamole409]

@Sasquach

Yesss

[thenerdone]

The modern education system is, pardon my French, utter bullshit.

You go to school at 7:00 or 8:00 AM and leave at 3:30 PM. That's 7 and a half to 8 and a half hours every day, with an hour of homework on top of that. And you know what? 64% of fourth graders aren't proficient in reading. The majority of American ten-year-olds aren't fully literate.

Thankfully I'm homeschooled so I don't have to put up with that BS.

[foxsquirrell]

Not sure. I think doing your own research and work is essential to learning. What is detrimental to learning is being forced to do work you do not want to do.

[Dongie]

Yes. But don't overdue it. A kid needs time to play and expand his or her mind naturally. Don't burn them out.

[OfMiceandMen]

I think it is to a certain extent. Taking it home teaches them work ethic. It doesn't have to be hours and hours, but it can be somewhat fun and relatable depending on the educator.

[genericname85]

I think the ability to self study is essential. where they do it shouldn't matter.

[TerrySilver]

Not really. If they won't learn during the 6/7 hours during the day, they won't learn at home.

[Kingofkings1992]

I’m cautious making changes of that nature, but in my opinion, no it’s not necessary. Excellent question

[DaBiggestBird]

As long as there isn’t too much and it actually relates to the lessons rather than them throwing some random bullsh*t and a paper and saying “get to work”, then sure.

[Staximus]

In 9th grade history I did none of the homework and got A's on every test and passed with a C.

[Nerdvana]

Yes, but it does much more then help with education.

[nawtee_me]

It teaches them life skills as well as helping them to get better grades….

[Unit1]

No, school and education are a sham.

[WhiteBoyChill]

No. Its stupid and pointless.

[OhLongJohnsoning]

Re-education through labor

[Vegasrunner]

Obviously

[HawkPerception]

A lot of people seem to disagree with "obviously"

[Vegasrunner]

@HawkPerception I'm not sure why you believe that, considering homework is standard at all levels of education.

[HawkPerception]

Just because something is normalized does not mean it's good. Sugar, salt, and alcohol are all normalized, but bad for you (salt only in excess, but most people are going over the required amount by a lot).

Just because a whole society is raised to believe something, doesn't mean it's correct.

[Vegasrunner]

@HawkPerception You asked if it was "essential" who said anything about being "good or bad"? Also sugar, alcohol and salt aren't "normalized" that's why there are metrics designed to educate the user on the amount of the intake.

[HawkPerception]

@Vegasrunner Just because there are metrics and daily intake recommendations does not mean they're not normalized.

And how do you not see the relevance of whether something is good or bad and it being normalized in society?

[Vegasrunner]

@HawkPerception If it was normal you wouldn't need to indicate people of its presence in products. Because good and bad are subjective. What you think is good another person may see as bad, normalized simply means to return to standard and doesn't have an emotion tied to it.