Why homework still matters in a child’s growth and education.
The first thing I ask a child after greeting and playing with him or her is, "Were you given any homework from school?” This is because I believe they ought to be given homework to get busy with at home, and when such a child says no, I would ask, “Why? Is it that your teacher refused to give you or that you forgot it at school?” I always expected every child should go home with homework or assignments.
Where I served, the homework issue was always talked about and emphasized several times, and as a teacher, I don’t hesitate to give them homework to go home with and be busy with instead of going home empty-handed even as a lesson teacher. They are meant to practice all that has been done in the school or after-school session, and most parents believe their kids should always come home with something they’d try on their own as a way to measure progress and as proof that they are being taught and not just playing.
There were times I have seen parents come to school to ask why their children aren’t being given homework because that’s what makes up being a pupil or student, and failure to do this could be blamed on the teacher who is handling them and even the school itself.
Homework is truly essential in a child’s life. This is because it reinforces learning in them, and it helps them to develop themselves for the future in handling situations through independent learning. It also helps teachers assess their comprehension. When students are given homework, it gives room for teachers to know whether they understood everything they are being taught in the classroom.
In another scenario where students are given technical homework, this is to test their abilities and how far they can think creatively and independently on their own, and this is done to provide them with every resource they need to tackle life skills in the future. However, this takes a gradual step, and the result isn’t obvious on time, but it pays off in their growth later as they continue to move forward in life.
Homework allows parents to monitor their children’s work and also provides the opportunity to intervene early if needed. But when there is no homework given to them, this doesn’t help them, and when parents, too, aren’t helping them by encouraging homework to be given to them, it affects their academic life, and the possibility to think creatively would be deprived.
When kids aren’t given homework from school, it’s wrong, mostly for the school system, because they are not encouraging the kids to prepare for the future. This also puts the school in a kind of bad position where their images are easily tainted because homework is like a good foundation for a child’s academic success, and without it, it hampers their moral, mental, and intellectual development.
Homework gives a child a sense of responsibility. As young as a child is, if given homework, he or she knows they have to make sure they are done, especially for those kinds of kids that fear their teachers and would not want to see them being punished for not doing their homework. So, this gives them something to do at home even if they don’t want to. This creates a sense of responsibility for them, which then helps them develop their skills for the future.
However, while homework is important and I wouldn't want to advocate scrapping it from the school system, there should be a sense of balance and moderation in how children are given homework. Sometimes, they come home with loads of assignments, leaving them with no time to rest or play with their peers, which is just as important as learning.
Teachers should be careful not to overload them with too much homework, especially on weekdays. Instead, more assignments can be given during weekends and holidays when children have more time to study without pressure, while still creating space for relaxation and peer interaction at home.
This balance also helps parents, so that the responsibility of monitoring their children's homework doesn't feel too overwhelming.
Homework teaches kids the importance of planning, staying organized, and taking action. Without it, such an important life opportunity is taken away from them. This is where you see a child become excited when they go home with homework and are eager to finish it even before anything else. Kids love grades, especially when they see 10/10 marks on their books. This makes them feel that homework is a part of them and that they are always ready to do their best.
When a school system prohibits homework, they have deprived parents of being engaged with their children’s education. They are responsible for the decrease in academic achievement of the child when he or she struggles with developing study habits or time management. The absence of homework could deter the child from the ability to develop responsibility and an opportunity for building lasting independent learning skills.
This also affects the school system because once people notice this, they try to withdraw their kids away from such schools when they aren’t seeing positive growth in their lives. This is why even illiterate parents would be happy when their kids are given homework because they know how important and beneficial it is in their kids’ lives.
So, I believe a school system should encourage homework for their students and not just for teaching or learning to be confined in the school premises alone but with a minimal consideration.