5 Reasons Why College Homework Should Not Be Banned
Homework is an extra activity given to students to do outside school that builds on what they learn in class. They often resent it and feel it’s a waste of time. There is plenty of debate over the topic among educational experts. Some want to ban homework because they believe it takes up too much time. They believe banning it would give students more time to spend with family, rest, and recharge. Others believe banning it would be a mistake. Here are some of the reasons they give for why homework should not be banned.
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- Reinforces learning
One of the reasons why homework is important is that it allows students to practice and reinforce what they learn in class. The repetition helps to solidify what they learn and improve their retention. They can’t improve their math skills unless they practice doing math problems. Writing essays helps them to improve their writing skills. Without practice on a daily basis, it is almost impossible to improve the skills they need in school, on a college campus, and in their future careers.
- Prepares students for exams
Homework provides an opportunity to review and practice the material students cover in class. This can improve their performance on tests and exams. Consistent practice always leads to a good understanding of a subject. Those who don’t ever do their homework often do badly on tests.
Students who battle to do their homework can solve the problem by paying for homework to be done for them. This is much better than not doing the homework at all. The benefit is that the homework is done by professionals who know how to do research and carefully follow instructions. Learning how an expert handles a paper can teach them a great deal. Improving their understanding can help them to perform excellently on tests and get high grades.
- Teaches self-reliance
Students need to do their homework on their own and find answers for themselves. They can ask parents or siblings for help and support but they shouldn’t do the work for them. This defeats its purpose. Doing it on their own makes them more self-reliant. They take more ownership of their education.
Struggling to find answers to problems and learning from good examples is where most learning can take place. When they know they can come up with the solutions themselves, this makes them more confident learners.
- Teaches discipline
No student looks forward to the prospect of going home from school and having to hit the books. They would rather watch Netflix or hang out with friends. It takes discipline to do homework. This can teach them that doing tasks they may not enjoy is a necessary part of life.
Students can also learn how to manage their time more effectively. They know that if they want to finish their homework quickly they need to set priorities and can’t afford to procrastinate. Time management skills are essential for success in school and the workplace.
- Encourages parental involvement
Parents have an opportunity to get involved when they help children with homework. They can review their work, see where they are battling, and give them support. Encouraging children to think for themselves is better than just giving them the answers. It means they don’t become too reliant on them. The goal of support from parents is to build children up to the point where they don’t need their help anymore.
Debates about homework in schools and colleges
A common argument in the field of education about why we shouldn’t have homework is that it takes up too much time. Children don’t have the chance to ‘just be kids’. They need time to socialize, exercise, or just relax and have fun.
The counterargument to this is that instead of abolishing homework teachers could simply make sure they set a reasonable amount. Instead of giving students 50 math problems for the week, setting only 20 would still give them practice and not take too much time every day.
Another argument against homework is that it increases stress on students without really serving much purpose. Teachers should be able to cover all the material in class. The truth of this argument depends on the quality of the homework teachers assign. Mind-numbingly boring homework that doesn’t really achieve any purpose should be banned. Assigning the right type and quantity is important to achieve its purpose.
Conclusion
Homework can be an important tool for enhancing the learning process. It can help students develop important skills they need in life. Many of the arguments to ban it relate to issues of quantity and quality. As long as teachers are conscious of the quantity and quality of the homework they set, there are many reasons why not to ban it.
