healthykids
The Case
Against
Homework
family Benefits of a
reality check
by sara Bennett
These days, beginning as early as kin-
dergarten, homework is a consuming
Opportunity is missed
nightly activity. According to a 2006
by most because it is
dressed in overalls
joint National Education Association/Leap Frog report, on average,
and looks like work. children ages 8-13 work at it from 1½ to 1¾ hours a night. Most
Thomas Edison require almost 3 hours of help a week from their parents. It’s no
wonder that parents complain about homework almost as much
as, or more than, their children.
Their complaints are well founded. A 2006 Duke University review
of more than 180 research studies found that there’s virtually no correlation
between homework and academic achievement in elementary school. Even
in middle and high school, the only correlation is that students who do their
homework do better on teacher-created tests and grades. But no proof supports
the misperception that homework helps with such long-term educational goals
as creating life-long learners who are creative and analytical thinkers.
Many short-term education goals aren’t strengthened by homework either.
Consider the time-honored tradition of weekly word study for a spelling test.
As early as the late 19th century, research has found no link between the time
spent on drills and student performance. That’s why, as so many teachers and
parents know first-hand, students who can spell a new word on Friday won’t be
able to incorporate it into their writing, or even remember how to spell it, the
following Monday.
Similarly, endless math problems serve no educational purpose. Accord-
ing to the U.S. Department of Education, children can demonstrate mastery in
just five problems. If they can’t, they need more guidance from the teacher, not
more and more problems they can’t solve.
18 Phoenix
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