List of Pros and Cons of Homework

As educational experts continue to gather more and more information about the necessity of homework, the debate rages on as to whether giving our children work to take home each night is effective for their overall development. Parents and teachers often stand on opposite sides of the debate, as teachers believe that homework makes for students who are better prepared to handle standardized tests and the responsibilities of the working world, while parents see homework as an unneeded distraction for their child’s growing mind.

Important Pros of Homework

1. Teachers And Students Working Together
If a student is having trouble completing their homework assignments, they are able to consult with their teacher about the specific aspects that are confusing to them, which leads to a more cooperative learning experience. Without homework, children would left to their own devices for figuring out their schoolwork, which would cause children who learn unconventionally to be left behind.

Expecting a child to take home a textbook and learn its contents on their own, without the use of homework assignments, is considered to be a problematic strategy. By assigning homework, a teacher allows the student to work at their own pace and ask questions before and after classes as needed.

2. Brings Families Closer Together
In a world where more and more parents are working and spending less time bonding with their children, homework is a great way to bring the family together. Older siblings can also get involved by helping their younger brothers and sisters with their homework assignments. This can lead to far greater peace and harmony in families where there is a significant age gap between siblings.

This gives students the chance to develop a much more firm understanding of their learning materials, while also giving parents and older siblings that may not typically have much involvement in their loved one’s day to day educational living the opportunity to become a larger part of their child and/or sibling’s life.

3. Teaches The Child How To Be Responsible
When a child is forced to complete regular homework assignments, it gives them a far greater sense of responsibility and accomplishment. There are precious few other areas in a young child’s life where these lessons are able to imparted. Being assigned work to take home and complete also provides a preview of what adult life will be like, as the child is unable to make excuses to get out doing things that they do not wish to do.

Their sense of punctuality is also sharpened by having to adhere to deadlines. Knowing that their grades and potential future depend on their ability to turn work in on time does wonder for their personal accountability. They are able to learn at a young age that there are no shortcuts in life and the only way to get ahead is to put their nose to the grindstone and get work done.

Important Cons of Homework

1. The Child Needs Relaxation Time
It is believed by many that a young mind requires a certain amount of rest and relaxation after a long day at school. Those who advocate against homework assignments cite the amount of pressure that it puts on children to complete a different assignment each night. They believe that a child needs to be able to come home and relax their body and mind.

Expecting a child to come home after a seven hour day of school and continue to work for an additional hour or two can be hazardous to their long term development, as they are burned out on learning and fail to develop a passion for acquiring new knowledge. A young mind needs to be nurtured, not pushed.

2. Decrease In Socialization
When a child is developing, it is just as important for them to have the time they need to socialize and work on those necessary skills. If the child is forced to go straight home after school to finish yet another mountain of homework, these skills do not receive the development that they need.

A lack of time spent around friends or hanging out with family can lead to larger issues down the road. Family time and time spent with friends are both crucial aspects of a child’s development. Unless the child is able to stretch their wings and fly, there is a risk that they will not become as well rounded as they could be.

3. Increase In Conflicts Between Parent And Child
Assigning homework forces a person to take on added disciplinary responsibilities. Should the child come home and decide that they would rather watch television or play with friends than do their homework, it is up to the parent to lay down the law and make sure that the homework is completed before the child can have fun. In many instances, the parent does not even agree with the rules they are making.

In turn, a child who is being forced to do their homework may simply decide to cheat and copy another student’s work to avoid having to argue with their parents, which shortchanges their educational development as well as their personal development. When the cheating is inevitably discovered, this leads to even more conflict between all parties involved. Or they get away with the cheating, which only serves to enforce bad study habits at a young age.