Homework in Education Today

Homework is a staple of American children's lives. If you ask educators the purpose of homework, you will get several likely responses: Homework allows students to finish assignments from class, practice material, read chapters in preparation for class discussions or complete projects too large for class periods, like research papers.

Present day, teachers find they assign homework and struggle to have students complete it. Educators say with pressures from increased standards, NCLB and less prepared students, they need students to work outside of class. Teachers are aware of the controversy, which includes that homework:

1.    takes away family, dinner and relaxation time.
2.    takes sleep away from students involved in extracurricular activities.
3.    hurts those who work or help with the family business.
4.    does not get completed or completed correctly because of misunderstood directions or inappropriate home study areas.

Teachers try to address these concerns differently. Some impose strict homework guidelines, while others instill make-up policies and half-credit procedures. Others provide after school hours' personal contact information. Dr. Cathy Vatterott, also known as The Homework Lady, attempts to decriminalize homework through teacher workshops and conferences. Her message focuses on teachers bringing equality to homework. She outlines the length of time students should work on homework--"maximum of 10 minutes per grade level per night" (a sixth grader should have no more than an 60 minutes of work). Dr. Vatterott suggests that teachers differentiate homework tasks, such as prioritizing subjects for some students (look at the most critical subjects for future success) and providing adapted reading packets that come with the text. She also provides several reasons why homework is not getting done, including family problems, that the "work is too hard or too lengthy for the student's working speed" or frustration with tasks.

Dr. Vatterott's designs scream for abuse, as they allow students to ignore lower prioritized classes' homework or to read the adapted reading packet instead of the real reading passage. Additionally, this situation does not create independent learners. The Homework Lady's ideas put responsibility on teachers to accommodate schedules, and track incomplete work. Her reasoning also has fault. Homework is often hard, and may take extra time that the rest of the class does not need. Lastly, these practices create larger questions dealing with equality in schools. Dr. Vatterott's goal is to create equality in homework, so that all students spend equal amounts of time working at home. The idea of creating equality by not assigning homework (or less or different amounts) is a paradox. Her beliefs beg the questions: is it possible to make all aspects of education equal? should we want to?

Homework cannot be the absolute answer for the gap between what students know and what standards expect them to know. Perhaps school districts or states should conceptualize the definition of homework or provide general guidelines. Providing students with tools for manipulation or excuses, however, should not be part of the answer.

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