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Schools Need to Learn to Stop Giving Too Much Homework


I think one of the things I want to write about education right now is the problem of too much homework. It almost didn't matter which school you went to in the Philippines or in some area--there's hardly a policy that discourages the regulation of homework. I'm not saying that homework should be abolished altogether compared to class ranking. I still think that regulated homework is the key. 

The benefits of homework are told by the Global Indian International School from Singapore:

What is the Purpose of Homework? 

Homework is an essential part of every student's education. The purpose of homework for students is to practice what they have learned in class. It also gives students an opportunity to practice time management skills.

Homework can also help build character by teaching children how to cope with frustration and how to manage their stress levels when they encounter difficulties or setbacks.

Homework is a part of the school day, but it's also a huge part of a child's education. It is meant to reinforce what has been taught in class, not to replace class time. 

How Does Homework Help Students Learn? 

Homework can be very beneficial for students because it helps them learn new things more quickly and reinforces what they have already learned in school.

It also gives parents an opportunity to work with their children at home by discussing assignments, providing additional practice, and encouraging their children's efforts.

Students who do homework generally do better in school than those who don't because doing homework helps them understand the material better than if they just listened during class or read a textbook on their own.

I can agree that homework can teach certain values. Sitting down in the classroom all day isn't the end of it all. Though the benefits can only be reaped if the right amount is given to the students. Homework can be beneficial, but it can also be destructive. Too much of a good thing can become toxic. In toxicology, it's the dose that makes the toxin.  Too much homework can be compared to too much of a specific vitamin or mineral. It reminded me of how I once had too much soy protein, and I had joint pain and bloating. I had too much Vitamin C and I hurt my stomach. Too much Vitamin A will be stored in the liver, making it toxic. Too much salt will destroy the kidneys. These things are beneficial, but too much will hurt the human body. Too little of anything beneficial can cause stuff like sodium deficiency. I still believe that no homework is just as bad as too much homework.

What are my key takeaways? I decided to propose the following measures on how to carry out homework effectively:

  1. Teachers should coordinate with each other to avoid excessive homework. Lesson plans will include homework. Some teachers may be piling work after work. It's really a pain when a teacher says, "If you complain about too much homework then you're not a student." However, too much of a good thing can be bad. Complaining about homework is different from complaining about too much homework. It should also mean homework shouldn't be too long and be set on realistic schedules. 
  2. I suggest that no homework should be given after exam periods, weekends, and holidays. It's because there should be time to take a rest or to study at their own pace. Saturdays and Sundays can be devoted to family activities, reading lessons in advance, or practicing any skills required without being graded. Holidays should be a time to spend with the family too. Though this doesn't mean encouraging students to stay home all day playing computer games, surfing the Internet, watching TV, etc. Sure, let them have one to two hours, and that's it. The rest should be devoted to family activities, like learning how to do chores. Also, it's very important to catch up on sleep, too.
  3. Teachers and parents need to coordinate on how to adjust to homework. Homework, as beneficial as they are, should be treated like fertilizer. Put too much fertilizer in your plants, and they can die from an overload. 
I still support homework. However, as said, homework can be damaging to one's health if done in excess. Just remember that anything good in excess becomes junk. It's just like junk food contains too much salt or too much sugar. Both salt and sugar are good, but too much can cause tooth decay, diabetes, and kidney dysfunction. 

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