There are too many distractions, and not enough time, to get all schoolwork done at school. So what’s the answer? Homework. But is that really a realistic solution?
Many people think homework is unnecessary, while others think homework is helpful and helps them understand the lesson better. No matter what, students complain when it’s assigned, and the majority of students don’t take the time to complete homework at home.
The reasons behind dodging homework include a lack of time, unstable home life, and sometimes shifting priorities. A lot of student-athletes get stressed because keeping up with work and sports simultaneously. It’s not only sports that consume a student’s time–any other activity or club will make it difficult to squeeze in time for more school after the last bell has rung. Work, the gym, or taking care of someone also takes the time off someone’s day to think about finishing schoolwork. Some students have an unstable life at home with a negative environment that just wouldn’t allow them to do it. Adding homework to a mix of those things would not help the student who is already struggling.
The time crunch it takes to stay involved and complete homework can cause major stress on students, leading to headaches, exhaustion, weight loss, and stomach problems. With an already-high rate of negative mental health, the anxiety of homework is not helping teenagers cope with their daily struggle. There is a current belief that homework is outdated, and many studies have been conducted to prove that homework doesn’t do anything except stress out the students who are trying desperately to stay on top of it.
“Sometimes I am too busy and forget about the homework I have during the weekend,” said Marshfield High School student Axel Castillo-Osorio.
However, homework can lead to many positive outcomes. It can help students revisit what they have learned during class. Students usually forget what they learned in class, and homework can be a good way to refresh the memory, focus on learning targets, and mentally prepare for the next day or lesson. It could also teach students key life skills that they will need as an adult. Time management and self-direction are great skills to develop, and being able to manage time and accept responsibility will help in the real world, where problem-solving is a must.
“Homework does refresh my memory about the topic,” said MHS student Amina Palacios.
Another important thing homework is beneficial with is it can help metacognition. Being aware of your own thought processes, learning to understand them, and translating the comprehension of the text or video can get the idea in your head a lot quicker. Work becomes so much easier when you know how to learn a thing the first time because you are aware of what you are thinking while being taught. Planning how to approach a learning task and using strategies to solve a problem is good brain exercise.
“Homework does help me before tests,” said Anycha Reyes, another student at MHS.
Parents could get involved with their children’s learning and learn their academic strengths and weaknesses. This would lead to higher academic performance by getting more help from another adult who is not a teacher. Feeling supported by the guardians or parents could help the confidence and goals for school. If this type of support is not available or does not work, try seeking out a tutor who can help with a specific subject.