Is Homework More Harmful Than It is Helpful?

Caption: A middle school student sets aside time to work on homework after a long bus ride home. [by Rafaela Miglio]

by Rafaela Miglio

Homework is a normal part of school life, but many students have different opinions about it. Some believe it helps reinforce what we learn in class, while others feel it causes too much stress. As a ninth grade student, I think it is important to question whether homework truly helps us succeed or if it sometimes does more harm than good.

The Oxford Dictionary defines homework simply as “schoolwork that a student is required to do at home.” 

So, the question is what should a teacher require of students to do at home that they cannot do in the classroom?  

In my opinion, homework can be helpful when it supports what is taught in class. According to the National Society of High School Scholars, homework helps students practice skills and build responsibility and time management. Students who complete regular homework often perform better on tests and understand lessons more clearly. 

Another benefit that is often listed by those who support homework is that these tasks provide a clear link between classroom learning and independent learning of individual students. 

However, I have also observed that too much homework can create serious problems. Research from Stanford University shows that excessive homework can lead to stress, lack of sleep, and health issues like anxiety and exhaustion.

This research was specifically found among students of high-achieving families who are more involved in their communities in other ways beyond simply going to school and doing their homework when the day is over.

The second observation in this study is that the homework that caused the most stress was activities assigned out of routine habit and not for a specific purpose for the growth of a student’s learning.  These tasks were more stressful because students could not understand why they were assigned in the light of the other meaningful tasks required of them outside of schoolwork.  

This is the problem that I have personally observed in my life and the lives of my friends and classmates. I know that students at PACA are not only balancing homework at the end of a normal school day. Many of us also participate in extracurricular activities such as sports, clubs, music, and other classes that take up hours after school. 

For example, I do community service hours with Little Warriors and also play soccer, which means my afternoons are usually very busy. After spending time helping others and going to soccer practice, I often feel tired by the time I get home, and it becomes harder to focus on homework.

It’s not that I want to complain about my choices for after-school activities.  After all, these activities are important for personal growth and teamwork, but they reduce the time available to complete homework. As a result, it can feel overwhelming to try to manage everything.  Being overwhelmed can affect both one’s academic performance and mental health.

In the end, I think that homework is not completely good or bad.  It depends on how much is given and how it is assigned throughout the school year. While homework can support learning, too much of it, combined with busy schedules from sports and clubs, can cause stress. Schools should focus on finding ways to assign meaningful and balanced homework so students can succeed both in the classroom and in their personal lives.