When we teach our students persuasive writing, there’s a popular topic: should students have homework? And what we’ve seen is very interesting. Around 70% say no, they’d argue homework adds pressure, eats into playtime and family time, and honestly, it’s boring. Only about 30% of more studious students argue it’s important. And that 30% number keeps shrinking. These days, it’s very rare to find a student who’ll say ‘yes we should have homework’.
So, should students have homework?
There’s plenty of research showing that homework, on its own, doesn’t automatically improve learning. And we agree that piles of repetitive, poorly designed homework can kill a child’s love of learning, creativity, social time, sport, and all the other skills kids need to develop.
Why do we still think homework matters?
The truth is that many schools move their curriculums fast. Class time is short, and there’s a lot of distraction in a room of 20 plus kids. Students are expected to master a concept in a lesson or two but without time to revisit it at home. So, what happens is when they walk back into school the following week having forgotten most of it. Then the next topic builds on the one they don’t retain. Eventually, the gaps get too big and they fall behind to the point it does affect their self-confidence and self-esteem.
Only a small number of students are naturally focused, or they’ve seen the material before, and they can master a concept in class and remember it. Majority of students, just like us, need repeated exposure in different context and actually do the work themselves before it actually sticks.
So the question is not ‘should students have homework’ but how much homework and what kind of support students should have.
For primary school students, 30 minutes a day of reading and number practice isn’t a big ask, especially compared to the 2 to 3 hours many kids spend on screens. For high school students, around an hour a day (depending on the school) is a reasonable expectation.
The key word here is consistency. Cramming everything the night before a test doesn’t work nearly as effectively as studying a little bit every day. When you revisit material regularly, you actually digest it, reflect on it, and remember it.
Many times we find that students want to do their homework but don’t know how. That early stage is crucial, so if you can, sit with them, show them how to do the work with patience. We know every parent is busy and tired by the end of the day. If home isn’t the right environment for it, that’s where a friend, relative, or tutor can step in to give kids the consistent, guided support they need.