Исследовательская работа "Do schools need homework?"

Student Scientific Society

English Language Section

« Do schools need homework? »

Borkov Artyom, form 5 V

Municipal State- Financed Educational Establishment

 «Lyceum №6 named after I.Z. Shuklin»

Guided by: Krechetova M.N

Gorno-Altaisk

2023

Contents

Introductio………………………………………………………………………..3

1. History of homework…………………………………………………………..4

   2. Why homework was invented        5

3. The Benefits of homework        6

4. The other side: why homework is bad…………………………………………8

   5. Types of homework        9

    6. Research………………………………………………………………………11

Conclusion        12

List of literature        13

Introduction

School ends when the bell for the last period rings but for children, it continues even after they go back home. Because they have to complete homework assigned to them by their teachers.

For some people homework is a very important aspect of learning, whereas some others think that homework is unnecessary stress that a child does not need.

 Should students have homework? Have a closer look into the arguments on both sides to decide for yourself.

So, the subject of our research was the necessity of homework for pupils.

The main goal of our research was to find information about the aims and importance of homework.

To reach the goal we were:

•        to study the history of homework;

•        to realize why teachers assign homework;

•        to find out what pros and cons homework has;

•        to learn the types of homework;

•        to reveal my peers’ and adults’ attitude to homework.

The hypothesis of this study states that homework benefits pupils.

The author used such methods of researching as literature analysis, opinion poll, comparison and generalization.

1. History of homework

Homework has been as old as the concept of education. Have you ever wondered who was that "good man" who invented a bunch of problems for students all over the world who need to do homework?  First mentions of the term ‘homework’ refer back to Ancient Rome. In the first century AD, an oratory teacher Pliny the Younger asked his students to take part in home activities. Such practice aimed to improve speaking skills in a casual atmosphere. Results of such exercises were outstanding, and others implemented the approach.

The first written record on homework dates back to 1905.  A teacher by the name Roberto Nevilis lived in the city of Venice, and he is credited as the person who invented homework. He invented at-home assignments as a form of punishment. It is after that this practise started to show positive effects, giving homework to students became a regular practise throughout the whole world. However, there isn’t much information about Nevilis, and there is a chance that such a person has never existed. Moreover, it is quite difficult to imagine that no one has created an effective system of homework before 1905.

Actually, it is thought that homework is an integral part of education and has existed since the creation of learning. This means that not only students of the 19th century but also Romans, Middle Age monks, and Enlightenment philosophers read, sang and memorized pieces well before the process was given a definition ‘homework’.

2. Why homework was invented

So why was homework created?

 to work without a hurry:

you can learn at your own speed and rhythm without any hurry;

 to work without being estimated:

you can make as many mistakes and drafts as needed, and no one will grade you for failed attempts;

 to choose your own rhythm:

you get a chance to plan breaks;

to plan work independently:

you can always find the necessary material online.

Homework helps you to consolidate what you already know and greatly contributes to revisions. In addition, it gives you a chance to practice and to use all the possible tools and instruments, which are not available in class. Moreover, you develop your creativity, will, and discipline.

3. The benefits of homework

Now, it is the right time to enumerate the main benefits of homework:

1. Homework encourages practice

Many people believe that one of the positive effects of homework is that it encourages the discipline of practice. While it may be time consuming and boring compared to other activities, repetition is needed to get better at skills. Homework helps make concepts more clear, and gives students more opportunities when starting their career.

2. Homework gets parents involved

Homework can be something that gets parents involved in their children’s lives if the environment is a healthy one. A parent helping their child with homework makes them take part in their academic success, and allows for the parent to keep up with what the child is doing in school. It can also be a chance to connect together.

3. Homework teaches time management

Homework is much more than just completing the assigned tasks. Homework can develop time management skills, forcing students to plan their time and make sure that all of their homework assignments are done on time. By learning to manage their time, students also practice their problem-solving skills and independent thinking. One of the positive effects of homework is that it forces decision making and compromises to be made.

4. Homework opens a bridge of communication

Homework creates a connection between the student, the teacher, the school, and the parents. It allows everyone to get to know each other better, and parents can see where their children are struggling. In the same sense, parents can also see where their children are excelling. Homework in turn can allow for a better, more targeted educational plan for the student.

5. Homework allows for more learning time

Homework allows for more time to complete the learning process. School hours are not always enough time for students to really understand core concepts, and homework can counter the effects of time shortages, benefiting students in the long run, even if they can’t see it in the moment.

6. Homework reduces screen time

Many students in North America spend far too many hours watching TV. If they weren’t in school, these numbers would likely increase even more. Although homework is usually undesired, it encourages better study habits and discourages spending time in front of the TV. Homework can be seen as another extracurricular activity, and many families already invest a lot of time and money in different clubs and lessons to fill up their children’s extra time. Just like extracurricular activities, homework can be fit into one’s schedule.

4. The Other Side: Why Homework Is Bad

1. Homework encourages a sedentary lifestyle

Children are already sitting long hours in the classroom, and homework assignments only add to these hours. Sedentary lifestyles can be dangerous and can cause health problems such as obesity. Homework takes away from time that could be spent investing in physical activity.

2. Homework isn’t healthy in every home

Not all homes provide a healthy environment, and there may be very little investment from parents. Some parents do not provide any kind of support or homework help, and even if they would like to, due to personal barriers, they sometimes cannot. Homework can create friction between children and their parents, which is one of the reasons why homework is bad.

3. Homework adds to an already full-time job

School is already a full-time job for students, as they generally spend over 6 hours each day in class. Students also often have extracurricular activities such as sports, music, or art that are just as important as their traditional courses. Adding on extra hours to all of these demands is a lot for children to manage, and prevents students’ self discovery and having the time to learn new skills outside of the school system.

4. Homework has not been proven to provide results

Endless surveys have found that homework creates a negative attitude towards school, and homework has not been found to be linked to a higher level of academic success. Many students would rather cheat in class to avoid doing their homework at home, and children often just copy off of each other or from what they read on the internet.

5. Homework assignments are overdone

The general agreement is that students should not be given more than 10 minutes a day per grade level. What this means is that a first grader should be given a maximum of 10 minutes of homework, while a second grader receives 20 minutes, etc. Many students are given a lot more homework than the recommended amount, however.

1. Types of Homework

Even if you doubt whether homework is necessary, you should still get familiar with its types. There are seven types of homework. Each type of homework has its own role for students learning. They are:

1. Practice 

Practice is the most common task students have when they are given homework. It entails attempting to reinforce information learned in school so that students will commit it to long-term memory.

2. Preparation

Preparation homework is given to students before a lesson so they have the important information at hand before class.

3. Extension

Extension homework involves providing students with tasks that are based upon what was learned in class, but goes over and above those tasks.

4. Integration

Integration homework requires students to bring together, or ‘integrate’, knowledge from various subjects and knowledge areas into one project.

5.  Research

Research homework involves using your time after school and on weekends to gather data that will be discussed in class.

6.  Application

Application homework involves taking knowledge learned in class and applying it to real-world settings.

7. Flipped homework

The flipped learning movement is a movement that involves making students learn at home on their own then come to class to practice it.

Homework in different countries

Homework in The USA

On average, elementary school students in America receive around 10 hours of homework per week, middle schoolers get roughly 13 hours, high schoolers work on about 17 hours of assigned tasks each week, and college-bound teenagers work an additional 12 hours on homework each week.

Homework in Israel

Teachers do not give homework or allow students to do extra credit work to students from 1st to 6th classes since all students need to master the material presented in class.

Homework in Japan

In Japan, homework is not necessary only for primary school pupils.

Homework in Finland

Unlike Japan, homework is considered to be a key element of education in Finland. Students are expected to spend at least three hours on their homework each night.

Homework in South Korea

Korean high school students are one of the most overworked student populations in the world. Each day, Korean students spend seven hours at school and an additional four hours doing homework after classes end.

Homework in China

Self-study is very common among Chinese students because many have to commute significant distances every day just to attend school. For this reason, they spend long hours studying outside of class so that they can perform well on tests which are necessary for gaining admission into college and securing a good job later on in life.

Homework in Brazil

On average, Brazilian teachers give between two and five hours of homework each week which is usually just an extension of classwork that requires additional time and practice to master.

Homework in England

In England, homework is usually assigned only when the teacher feels it is necessary for students to create new materials or write an essay based on their classroom lessons.  On average, English children spend around three hours per night doing schoolwork at home so that they can keep up with the demands of their classes without sacrificing sleep or family time.

2. Research

I asked my classmates about their attitude to homework and found out that 38% spend more than 2 hours to do it. More than half of my classmates (61%)  do homework with the help of parents and friends. I was shocked to know that 92% of interviewees do not always understand homework. That is why I think half of my classmates cheat. It was interesting to know that 75% of my classmates don’t want to have any homework at all whereas only 4% want to.

Conclusion

We all know that too much of anything can be bad. Homework is no different. If the workload of the students is too much, then it can lead to unnecessary stress. But when given in moderation homework can be a useful tool to help kids learn and grow. That way, students will be able to enjoy their free time and actually enjoy doing homework instead of seeing it as a burden.

List of literature

1. Katherine Lee Should students get homework? The pros and  cons of bringing school work home [электронный ресурс]URL: https://www.througheducation.com/should-students-get-homework/ (date of application: 21.11.2022.)
2.  Nord Anglia  Why is Homework Important? [электронный ресурс]URL: https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/news/2021/03/31/why-is-homework-important (date of application: 19.11.2022.)
3. Rohia Munavar  6 Reasons Why Students Need Homework And Why They Do Not [электронный ресурс]URL: https://theteachersdigest.com/6-reasons-why-students-need-homework-and-6-reasons-why-they-do-not/ (date of application: 25.11.2022.)
4. The Many Benefits of Homework – And Some Cons [электронный ресурс]URL: https://myhomeworkdone.com/blog/benefits-of-doing-homework/ (date of application: 26.11.2022.)
5. Why is Homework Important to Children, Parents, and School Teachers? [электронный ресурс]URL: https://homeworkhelper.net/blog/why-is-homework-important (date of application: 29.11.2022.)

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