Resolving the homework myth

Homework! This is a word which kids avoid the most. However, this word has started being a topic of discussion among adults. Whenever you ask a student who does not like doing homework, he/she will call it “homework myth”.

Homework myth actually refers to the idea that homework does not produce a noticeable increase in a student’s academic success. It is suggested that many teachers give hours of work a night and that it is not beneficial to students because they either cannot do it, choose not to do it, copy someone else’s paper, or spend all night doing it just to forget it the next day. For children and parents, homework can sometimes seem like a burden that can cause frustration and tears. It may also take time away from families having fun together.

Now, resolving the myth of homework, it has been argued that all these arguments against homework are really a myth and homework is actually very important for a student’s overall development. It has been argued that first of all, homework allows students the chance to practice what they have learned during the school day. Overall, homework does appear to result in higher levels of achievement for older students (at the secondary level). Also, we should not forget that practice makes a man perfect.

According to a teacher of St. Peters school, “As educators, we have a big problem with the argument that when we give homework it is useless because students will cheat or just not do it. Our responsibility as teachers is to do everything that we know how to do in order to give students the tools they need to succeed. Within limit, homework is critical to this process.”

It has also been argued that though it’s not good to give students more work when they can devote time in sports or extra-curricular activities, yet there is a responsibility that comes from making a choice to do an assignment at home to make the student more knowledgeable or confident about a subject. Moreover, if everything has a regular timetable whether its homework or sports or anything else, there will be no problem at all and the child’s growth will be complete. It’s just that parents have to devote some time for children.

At last, The Homework Myth – that it is of no use to students is only true when the homework is not being approached correctly. Otherwise, if the homework is being approached correctly, it’s not only useful but important for a student’s growth.