Understanding Homework: Pros and Cons for Students

Homework is a very touchy subject when it comes to students and teachers. I can confidently say that the majority of students strongly dislike homework. We are already in the classroom six hours a day. Why can’t we just ignore school at home? We tend to always look at what’s so wrong about it, but are there some things that make homework good for us?

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Image by LUM3N from Pixabay

I interviewed sophomore Graham Butcher and senior Gabriel Howard and asked them several questions about homework. For many students, homework is almost like a chore. They treat it as something on their to-do list and don’t get much out of it. Sophomore Graham Butcher said that when he gets a bigger assignment, such as packets of questions based on a reading, he tends to struggle to focus and stay engaged. But if he’s doing an assignment with a video and questions along the way, such as an Edpuzzle, it’s easier because it’s more engaging and helps him understand the topic better. Senior Gabriel Howard completely agrees. He says homework is something helpful when it’s not an “excessive amount.” He says if teachers are stacking up pages of homework, he finds it hard to complete and doesn’t learn anything. But with simple assignments that help you practice but aren’t too much work, then he learns a lot.

The Student’s Perspective

As a student, I usually don’t focus on homework too much at home because that’s my time off, and I enjoy a nice, long break from schoolwork. Sophomore Graham Butcher said he “usually tries to get it done as soon as he gets home,” but if he has a bigger project, he’ll put it off until later. Senior Gabriel Howard backs Graham up and says he “usually gets it done during his time off,” but sometimes if he has a lot of work or has a busy schedule, it falls to the last minute.

All students love time off from school, and we all rush home after the dismissal bell rings. We finally get home after a long day of school, but we don’t get much time off because we have to go right back to work with all the assignments we were given to complete at home. Sophomore Graham Butcher said that an average night of homework takes him about “30-45” minutes per night if he isn’t procrastinating. Senior Gabriel Howard says it takes him around “an hour” for an average night, which students will agree is too much of our off time.

A person with long hair is sitting at a desk, writing in a notebook with a black marker. A pencil case filled with various school supplies, including scissors and markers, is visible on the desk.

Image by Standsome from Pixabay

We’ve all been in the situation as a student where we don’t know how to solve a problem, and we go to a friend or AI. It should be used as help, but sometimes students use those sources to do it for us. Sophomore Graham Butcher said if he’s struggling with a topic, he will “ask a friend to help better understand the topic better, or use AI to help summarize it.” He doesn’t like the idea of using AI to do the work for you, but to use it to help guide you. Senior Gabriel Howard says that when he’s struggling, he will “skip the question and move on till later,” and then once done, he will call a friend for help. He primarily uses a friend in the class to help him with a question he struggles with and doesn’t ever ask his parents for help.

We’ve been dealing with homework our whole lives as students. Sophomore Graham Butcher says it should be kept in the school’s systems if used properly. He says, “Too much of it is overwhelming, and it shouldn’t be an everyday thing, but if you want students to understand the topic, twice or three times a week” with minimal work. Senior Gabriel Howard stated, “It’s a good usage of time within reason.” He says if students receive a proper amount of work that helps them get better but doesn’t overcomplicate things to a point where they can’t do it anymore, then it’s a useful tool.

The Teacher’s Perspective

After hearing students’ perspectives on homework, I asked Theology teacher at Mount St. Joe, Mr. Bonham, a couple of questions about homework to see what a teacher thinks. Mr. Bonham says he gives out around two assignments per week. He says homework is something positive if not used as “busy work and punishment.” He also states, “I think it can be very helpful in reinforcing terms and ideas.” As a teacher, Mr. Bonham is not a fan of AI usage and does not accept it from anyone. If someone does use it, it is an automatic zero.

A study desk featuring an open notebook with notes, an iPad displaying a social media page, and an iPhone with a communication app, surrounded by various colored pens and printed documents.

Image by Liane Kwoll from Pixabay

As a Theology teacher, Mr. Bonham likes to use homework to practice principles and apply them to the real world. He says, “It can help reaffirm some ideas we talk about in class. It also gives them practice doing examples or incorporating it into their lives.” Overall, teachers don’t see homework as a punishment for students and don’t think about it as a waste of time. It can help students build knowledge and life skills and develop discipline.

The point is that homework won’t magically go away. Students will always have some homework at some point, and there’s nothing we can do about it. Hearing from both perspectives, homework can be used as a good and helpful tool to better ourselves; we just have to see it in that way.