Homework is Weighing Down Children

Homework is like a see-saw. The more a student has on their to-do list, the more it is going to weigh on their stress levels. The less they balance, less stress will increase. Katelyn Patterson, journalist, when providing basic information on homework, finds that “Homework, in practice, is a chance for students to work through lessons and make sure that they comprehend what is being taught in class. However, in most situations, all it tends to do is add stress and result in resentment for learning” (Homework Isn't Helpful...).

As the controversy of homework has been debated, a 10 minute rule has been put in place for many schools across the United States. Patterson, in a study of homework given to each grade, discovers, “Education experts say the ‘10-minute rule’ is the standard. It recommends a daily maximum of 10 minutes of homework per grade level.” (Patterson). Students should be assigned less homework because it causes students to miss key moments in their childhood, changes the way they perform in school, and harms their mental and physical health.

First and foremost, students should be assigned less homework because it causes students of all ages to miss out on important parts of their childhood. Emmy Kang, mental health counselor and former teacher, says, "Most students, especially at these high achieving schools, they're doing a minimum of three hours, and it's taking away time from their friends, from their families, their extracurricularactivities" (qtd. in Moniuszko). Homework is holding back on what a child should be able to do during their personal time. Katelyn Patterson, journalist, when coming to a conclusion of how homework is harming students, realizes,“Students should not have to sacrifice anything to feel as if they have succeeded in school. They should not resent learning because they were taught to treat school as a job that they just need to finish...” Students may have a harder time participating/enjoying school if they have to throw away their outside life just to succeed in school. Homework deprives extracurricular purpose in a child, to express any interests they might have. For instance, a young boy may not be able to compete in his lacrosse tourtament that could potentially impress college scouts, if he has bucketloads of homework and assignment to take care of. This may also lead to feelings of loneliness and depression within the child if they feel that they are missing out on some of their life's greatest moments.

Furthermore, students should be assigned less homework because the way students are assigned homework everyday changes how they view and perform overall in school. This reason is supported throughout the research provided. As stated before, in an article conducted by Katelyn Patterson, she notes that, "They should not resent learning because they were taught to treat school as a job that they just need to finish..." (Patterson). Patterson highlights the importance of many children finding that while they may be exceeding in their academics, they may now view their schooling as a job or chore to finish. This is true, and because of this fact, many students may find they are now struggling with mental health and cognitive issues while enrolled in their academics. Dr. Nicholas Kardaras, a psychologist and CEO of Omega Recovery treatment center states, "COVID was just a disaster in terms of the lack of structure. Everything just deteriorated….School acts as an anchor for a lot of children, as a stabilizing force, and that disappeared.” (qtd. in Moniuszko). Kardaras clarifies how cognitive issues are also increasing because of this. If students are already struggling focusing in school, doing complex work by yourself at your home is even tougher, as there is nobody there to help you, and more distractions.

Equally important, students should be assigned less homework as much as they are, because as homework drives into the daily routine and thinking of a young adult, the more it damages mental and physical health. Geoff Johnson, journalist and teacher, considers the mental health impacts that homework may have, “In fact, taking work home may be a form of workaholic neurosis that reverses any personal physical and mental-health benefits that should be the part of life after work.” Many teachers, including Johnson, suffer from workaholic neurosis, while being put under as much pressure as a student, but in different situations; they have more resources while doing “homework”. Students, who are by themselves most of the time after school, have none. Homework puts more pressure on students so they will overwork themselves just to get the assignment done. Geoff Johnson, in multiple studies of health related issues due to excessive work, finds that, “There is an indisputable and growing amount of research indicating that for kids, spending more than the prescribed 5-6 hours a day sitting…could eventually be the source of lifestyle diseases such as obesity…” Students are more likely to have a more stressful time in class, due to an increase in precautions they might need to make in order to keep healthy if they have a lifestyle disease. As a result, with health (both mental and physical) increasing, that also puts a toll of stress and anxiety on families, who must help pay and support the child.

Although there are infinitely more reasons to be opposed to homework, some people may believe homework is beneficial and should be kept highly active in grades 1-12, and some colleges. Jay Kang, a journalist and teacher, states when exploring the effects of homework for children, that in his experience, is, “That takes homework and the acknowledgment that sometimes a student can get a question wrong and, with proper instruction, eventually get it right” (Kang). In this article, the opposing article supports how homework does help students grow in how effectively they learn. Kang shows that homework can be used as a way to get things on homework wrong, only to learn and improve it a day later with instruction. Essentially, Geoff Johnson, in a study of brain function in children, he finds that, “According to child psychologists, active play improves brain function, stimulates the mind and boosts creativity….”. He brings to attention that imaginative thinking allows for children to strengthen their problem solving skills. If children are allowed to spend their time playin more often, they could grow up to be strategically more intelligent when growing up compared to being given questions and problems for homework each day. With that, the children (who are now adults) can then do well in their job and profit off it, which will lead to better lives for them and their family. Homework, in all, may dull the creative thinking of a child.

Students should not be assigning as much homework because it causes students to miss out on their childhood, changes the way students view/perform in school, and harms their mental health. Students are constantly put in school and doing homework and assignments, which makes for less time for hobbies and extracurriculars. Also, if a student is constantly working with problems and equations they may never use in life, their opinion on how useful school is will change over time. When students are put under constant stress and frustration that added work like homework causes, they are much more likley to be focused on a negative mindset instead of school. The more work children do in and out of school, the more dangerous it will be to continue with thesame work patttern, without it causing major failure. Homework should be minimized to 30 minutes a day for all grades, with a choice of independent reading or critical thinking drills.

Works Cited

Johnson, Geoff. "Piling Homework on Kids Is a Mistake That Undermines Work/Life Balance." Times-Colonist, 09/05 2021. ProQuest; SIRS Issues Researcher, https://explore.proquest.com.

Kang, Jay C. "The Movement to End Homework Is Wrong." New York Times, 07/31 2022. ProQuest; SIRS Issues Researcher,

https://explore.proquest.com.

Moniuszko, Sara M. "Heavy Homework Load May Be Detrimental to Health." USA TODAY, 08/23 2021. ProQuest; SIRS Issues Researcher,

https://explore.proquest.com.

Patterson, Katelyn. "Homework Isn't Helpful in First Grade Or in College." University Wire, 11/09 2021. ProQuest; SIRS Issues Researcher,

https://explore.proquest.com.