I know this topic has been debated more than enough times, but what are the real reasons for homework?

Question

What is the real need for homework? I completely understand that it's great practice and shows that you know what you are learning, but it gets in the way of so many things. I mean, for one, I was just at school for six hours, running on little sleep because I had so much homework. I don't need to come home and do more for three hours. Also, so many kids are in sports and clubs and some kind of after school activity, so it is not easy to balance out both. Plus, if I didn't have homework, then I would be awake when I came home from school and I'd have a chance to exercise. I always want to, but homework and having some time for friends and after school activities get in the way. I'm not completely against homework, but I don't always find it necessary. I mean, in all honesty, why can't we just do work in the classroom? Why do we need all this work? It's getting in the way of being healthy, getting enough sleep, having time to yourself and with friends, and just overall living.

I know, I despise books.
And the homework just keeps coming and coming.

Actually, I recently missed two days of school, and my teacher is getting really upset because I have a lot of work to catch up on.

I am never on the phone. I hardly hang out with my friends, but when I do it's hard because I have too much homework. I haven't been on all day.

Answer 1

Some people need homework other may not. but you are right about being up late doing it everyday.
what i cant understand is why every year the book get bigger and heavier?

Answer 2

Here are some basics...

1) LOADS of time is wasted in school. Conduct an experiment and see for yourself. You might be there for six hours, but exactly how much time is actually spent doing anything productive in a given week? Ever miss a couple days from being sick? Didn't miss much did you?

I suggest you fight for more effecient use of the school day!

2) Homework should be assigned ONLY on an as needed basis for ONLY the students who need some extra practice or need to finish what they weren't able to finish in class.

3) You're in school. This is part of life. Friends can be on the weekend. Exercise can occur as soon as you're done with your homework... or in the morning... or as soon as you get home from school so that you've got loads of energy to do your homework.

Answer 3

You may not like my answer, but here goes...

Without homework, you don't learn. Without being educated, you don't earn money. Without money, you won't eat unless you beg. If you beg, you won't eat well and you're life will seem miserable.

On a more serious note about the reasons for learning...

There are entire countries that are poor and starving, because their citizens are not educated. Look at www.worldvision.org or call World Vision on their toll-free phone number. Ask them about why education is important to helping countries get out of poverty.

Perhaps you're question isn't why homework and learning is so important, but rather that you are frustrated that you have to do so much homework when you've already learned the concepts.

If this is the case, try to get into harder things, such as advancing a grade level or taking advanced placement classes. Talk to your parents and teachers about whether you're qualified to do so.

Answer 4

It really depends on your goals in life. Homework is a way for you to master certain skills which you may or may not consider necessary in order to be successful, but your teachers (should) chose assignments for you that are actually meaningful and worth your time. If you don't need to do the homework to understand the concepts being taught, great. You will really enjoy college if you are really smart because homework won't be necessary for your learning process, but most college teachers don't assign ordinary "homework" in the first place. Most work, aside from papers, lab reports, and big assignments, is simply recommended for you to do, but not actually graded, and in many classes, the ONLY work for you to do is studying and take tests, and for most students, studying takes up at least as much time as ordinary "homework." Anyway, hopefully you will find some subject that you enjoy enough so that you will be happy to learn as much as possible about it, and will not find assignments a burden, but as a way of getting one step closer to success. Most truly "successful" students (i.e. those who go on to do great exciting things with their lives) do not do most of their learning in the classroom, but by themselves. A teacher is a big help, but you must learn to teach yourself many things and to work problems for yourself. A teacher is meant to introduce and clarify, but it is up to YOU to master the concepts they teach. They can't just magically put knowledge into your head. This is hopefully one goal teachers have in mind when they assign you out of class assignments.

Answer 5

To help burn seemingly important information into your brain. You know, things like addition and subtraction, the basics of the English language, and other stuff of questionable importance.

Perhaps if you spend less time on the phone, hanging out with friends, and fooling around on yahoo answers, you would get more sleep.

Answer 6

Just grit your teeth and do the best you can. One day it will be over. (The homework I mean)

Answer 7

they have homework so that we can remember things and ask for help if we need it
also it helps us learn about responsibility

Answer 8

study study learn learn...

you learn 20% prob in school...

college most of learning outside of classroom....