Students are saying that the homework load is too much but do teachers agree?

Students and teachers from BHS both participated in a recent survey about the homework load students are assigned. Students are could be over exaggerating about the amount of time it takes them to get it done but teachers could also be giving too much without knowing. Many teachers have the same viewpoint about homework.

“Review, opportunity to add and enrich the learning” a teacher said.

Out of the students surveyed 50 percent say they are receiving 1-2 hours of homework each night, while 75 percent of teachers say that they only assign 0-30 minutes. However, teachers could believe they are giving this amount of homework, when in reality they are giving more because students may struggle with the material. Also, when multiple teachers assign the same amount of homework, it tends to pile up.

“It is not that bad, it is what school is for” a student said.

The majority, 85 percent of students, claim that the homework load interferes with their extracurricular activities. Homework can cause stress and nights without sleep, which can affect how  students play in sports. Also, homework can interfere with the mood and performance of the student it other activities such as, jobs,volunteer work, and in class itself.

“Homework can cause me stress and sleepless nights.” a sophomore said.

When surveyed 75 percent said that homework helps students understand the class, which improves students test grades.  67 percent of students say homework does not help them understand the class. Students could be saying this because they do not like homework and they think it is boring and pointless.

“I think homework can be helpful sometimes” a senior said, “however, other times the teachers assign an unreasonable amount of work, so therefore I can’t be well rested or perform at my best in class.”

Students were mostly unanimous in their surveys, fully showing us that homework can be helpful, as long as the teachers keep in mind that students have other classes with the same amount of work. Teachers believed that they give the necessary amount of homework for students to learn the material efficiently. Teachers and students have never agreed on homework and they never will.