From TB Sups Blog

http://blogs.tampabay.com/classroom/

Does Homework Increase Student Achievement or Does Homework Increase Student (and parent) Apathy Towards Schoolwork?

Several books have been published recently that continue to fuel the debate about the value of homework. The Homework Myth by Alfie Kohn, The Case Against Homework by Sara Bennett and Nancy Kalish, and The Overachievers, by Alexandra Robbins all challenge the presumed benefits of homework especially for young children. The homework question has also been the topic lately for talk shows and news magazines. The cover story for Newsweek’s September 11^th edition read, “The New First Grade: Are Kids Getting Pushed Too Fast, Too Soon?” The St. Petersburg Times ran a story on September 17^th titled: “It’s Not Just Kids Who Question Homework.”

On the other hand, Education Week reported last month the results of an August 24^th poll from the Pew Research Center that showed most Americans thought parents didn’t put enough pressure on students to do well in school. Proponents for that position point to the tendency of American students scoring below many of their counterparts in Asia and Europe on mathematics and science examinations. In addition, American students aren’t pursuing advanced degrees in mathematics and science at the same rate as other international students. Is there a case whether or not homework played a role in those discrepancies?

Ultimately the question remains, “Does homework improve student achievement?” We also need to agree with the purpose of homework: Is it to review or to learn new concepts? Is homework really necessary? If so, should there be limits to how much a second-grade student or a tenth-grade student has nightly? I hope that students, teachers, parents, and everyone who’s done a homework assignment at some time feels welcome to respond!