Opinion: Is Homework Really Helpful?

Homework for teens is at the bottom of our priorities. Many students don’t get home until 10 pm, sometimes 11 due to work. How are young adults supposed to have experiences, work,  shower, clean, have free time, socialize with family, and do hours worth of homework?

Many teenage students don’t like homework. There’s always a handful of students that never complete their homework, or take their sweet time doing it. Students most of the time cheat on their homework, and that’s one of the reasons why homework is not helpful.

First of all, homework doesn’t help young kids meet developmental needs. They are not as likely to socialize as much as other kids who don’t have homework. This includes hanging out with family, friends, or engaging in hobbies. Kids who don’t socialize are the ones who stay quiet. Quiet is okay, but when it comes to participation or even making friends, that’s an issue.

 Secondly, the pressure to be a hard worker and overachieve can take a toll because if they don’t do that 110% effort in their work, they feel as if they did nothing. Every day is a new day, but for overachievers it can be hard when having a normal day like everyone else. 

Lastly, students normally cheat on their assignments. First thing teens do is use google, or text their friends and ask for the answers. If everyone will cheat in the end and not even take the time to learn pointless boring things, what even is the point in assigning anything? Some students even do it either in the morning or right before class starts as well!

Many people may say that homework is pointless to many kids, it does allow more learning time for students who struggle with understanding what they learned in class. It helps them have their own time to go over and take as much time as they need to finally understand it, without the pressure of finishing before the bell rings. 

On the other hand, 9 times out of 10 students are lazy nowadays and would do so much research to find answers instead of doing the work. Young adults already have so much pressure, especially the ones who have 2 jobs! Teachers and admin basically pressure students that if they don’t go to college, they won’t be in “the real world” but personally I was told by my manager that as soon as I come in to work, I am an adult because it is an adult world I am working in. 

Overall, homework really is not helpful, and the most it will benefit are those behind, or struggling to understand. Homework should not be assigned unless it’s for those who need to learn on their own time.