by Reese Dobson

Homework in schools is a controversy. Going to school five times a week for seven hours is a lot of work for a student. Should students really be assigned more work to do after these hours? 

According to a Stanford report, 56 percent of students considered homework a primary source of stress, according to the survey data.

After school hours are mainly spent on sports practices, rehearsals, eating dinner with family, and occasionally relaxing. 

Students should have these few hours so they can do as they want, not stress about their extra homework assignments.

Some students have the resources and the technology to complete work from home; however, some students do not, and I think that is way overlooked. 

According to Pew Research Center in 2021, “Some 15% of U.S. households with school-age children do not have a high-speed internet connection at home, according to an analysis of 2015 U.S. Census Bureau data.”

This is unfair to students who cannot control their at home life and creates a large disadvantage to those who may still have limited access 10 years later. 

The University of the People’s article “The Pros and Cons of Homework” states, “While some might have a quiet space and access to the internet, others might struggle with distractions and lack of resources. This disparity can put certain students at a disadvantage, making homework more of a burden than a learning tool.”

For the equality of all students, homework at home should at least be optional if a student does want that extra practice

An average high school student has about seven class periods a day. If each teacher assigns even 20 minutes of homework each night, that adds up to 140 minutes of homework, which is about two-and-a-half hours. 

Students normally work on an assignment during class time. If a student does not finish, they should have the opportunity to complete it at home. However, teachers should not assign another assignment just for home.

If a student doesn’t know how to do the material at home, it’s impossible to complete, which is why I think they should only do it in school, in case they need help. 

An article from Healthline shared, “Research suggests that when students are pushed to handle a workload that’s out of sync with their development level, it can lead to significant stress — for children and their parents.”

Kids and teenagers go through enough stress in their every day lives. Going to school takes a lot out of students, and homework adds to the stress significantly. 

Homework is just unnecessary and stressful. If a student wants extra practice, I think it should be optional, not mandatory.