Whether or not homework serves to improve the academic performance of the student has been a question of contention in the field of social sciences for decades. Homework, being the extra work given to students in the form of assignments, cannot be assigned a single definition considering that not all the students tackle the task from home (Hallam & University of London, 2004). Even so, it is referred to as homework because it is not part of class work, but rather an extension of the same. The merits and demerits of homework revolve around time and the effect of such work on the behaviors of the students. Typically, the average student does not like homework. Much as, the students resent homework for different reasons, it is an accepted presumption that all children, especially those in the lower grades view homework as a punishment rather than some kind of academic assistance. This paper seeks to examine the positive and negative impacts of homework on the academic improvements of students.
The first benefit of homework is the fact that it initiates analytical skills in the students. As opposed to sitting in class waiting for the teacher to spoon feed the student, working from home gives the student the opportunity to be creative. They have to learn ways to go about issues that may seem unclear. This makes the student much critical and analytical. Fundamentally, the difference between a student that is being spoon-fed and one that works on his own is the fact that the one that works on his own can explain why they give a certain answer (Jha, 2006). They can explain the reasoning and logic behind an answer. This is a superior way of ensuring that the student has understood a certain concept. On the contrary, a spoon fed student only knows the answer but has no ability to explain why they give such an answer. In straightforward terms, a home works instills better understanding. The work enables the student to develop analytical skills that are associated with creativity and innovativeness.
Another notable merit of homework on the behavior of students is that it makes the students develop a sense of responsibility. This is because the student has no one to supervise them in going about their duties. This way, they have no option but to manage their time well. This makes them responsible in the sense that they become better time managers who can control themselves with regard to striking a balance between play and studies (Vatterott & Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2009). Since the student learns to manage themselves early in life, the skill of time management become an integral part of their manners in such a way that in future, they learn to manage their affairs well. They, therefore become good family managers that can strike a balance between family and work in the post-modern world where work-life conflict is becoming a serious social phenomenon. Unlike a spoon-fed student, a student that handles homework on their own can be a better problem solver since their decision making ability is enhanced at an early stage.
It is a significant benefit that homework creates a link between school and home. Certainly, this is a notable importance in the sense that it helps the student erase from their minds the notion that school is a hostile environment that is devoid of the comfort that is found at home. Homework, being similar to the work done in class, creates a connection, at least psychologically, between the class environment and the home setting (Hallam & University of London, 2004). This, in essence, makes education appear like a friendly part of normal life. If education were to be restricted to the classroom environment, it would appear like something distasteful to the students. This way, the students would develop negative attitudes towards the otherwise important factor and determinant of the quality of life. This link between home and school, as well, helps the students develop a keen interest in education. This is because bringing education in the home setting makes it appear easy and interesting considering that the parents are around the student, offering necessary support.
Considering that homework encourages students to develop interest in education, it is valid to argue that it makes students, especially those in the adventurous high school age bracket, to engage in constructive ideas and activities. This can be elaborated by the fact that an individual who has a keen interest in education would rather sit down and study than engage in such mischievous activities as drug and substance abuse. The facts that the students engage in constructive studies and research work means that they can change their play time to time for further studies that can help them improve their academic performance (Jha, 2006). The improvement in the academic performance becomes an encouragement to the students and makes them work harder towards becoming useful members of the community. Where the instructors and lecturers work without giving remedial exercises to the students as part of their homework, such teachers encourage mischief since it is rather obvious that when students have too much free time, they are bound to engage in such mischievous acts as sex, drugs and unnecessary entertainment. In other words, homework is a preoccupation that keeps un-called for behaviors at bay.
Involving a parent in the studies of a student is one of the most effective ways of yielding good results. This is because, naturally, the parent is the first role model to the child. This may mean that the student can understand the parent’s explanation better and faster than any other person’s explanation. Given that homework is a school assignment that can be handled from home; the parent can be actively involved in assisting the student with any difficulties in understanding. Psychologists have established that anything taught by a parent cannot be forgotten since the bond of easiness that exists between the student and the parent makes understanding a little easier and permanent (Hallam & University of London, 2004). This way, the student gets to perform better in their education. Performing better comes as a function of the better understanding which results from parent involvement in the education life of their sons and daughters. Additionally, homework strengthens the bond between the child and the parent. This is because the parent and the son or daughter gets to interact as they discuss and contribute views to the homework. Such a bond is healthy since psychologists argue that it is the foundation and base of good parenting. In the post-modern era, a liberal parenting style is highly recommended. This is an interactive style that entails freedom between the parents and their children. Such freedom relates to interaction and sharing of ideas. This is unlike the traditional authoritarian parenting style that often sparked rebellion from teenagers.
Arguably, homework is as harmful as it is beneficial. This can be subjected to serious debate as has been the case for two decades or so, in American education systems. Debatably, homework does more harm than good to the academic performance and development of the student. It can as well impact negatively on the behaviors of the children. Homework has been explained by a majority of psychologists as a detrimental part of the education system. The arguments of the opponents to the idea of giving students homework revolve around social life, as well as the distinction between school times and play time (Vatterott & Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2009). Apparently, play is crucial to the welfare of the student, especially young students. Psychologists explain play as a way of refreshing the mind of an individual and encouraging social development among the students. A student that arrives home in the evening with a bunch of books to study, as part of homework, finds no time to play with others. This way, the child does not interact with his or her peers back home. This may incorporate antisocial tendencies in the behavior of the student. Clearly, a student with no interactive skills will remain antisocial for the rest of their lives since they lack confidence as they do not know how to conduct themselves in the presence of others.
Considering that homework consumes the play time of the student, it as well limits their capability to discover their extra-curricular talents. In the contemporary world, success is more attributable to talent than it is to educational qualifications. Talents are innate factors and capabilities that are, in most cases, unique to an individual. Such capabilities are usually discovered in the process of playing and interacting with peers (Jha, 2006). A student that cannot find time to play with others cannot easily discover their talents. This way, their possible avenues to success become shut by homework. On the contrary, a student that goes home without any extra assignment gets all the time they need to play, interact and refresh their minds. In so doing, they may increase their chances of discovering their talents. If chances occur that they discover their talents, they can concentrate and invest more time and resources into such talents.
In the school environment, class work appears easier since the student has his peers around for discussions and assistance. Similarly, the student can consult their teacher on areas that they find difficult to understand. The teacher’s assistance is of prime importance since they have a proper mastery of that which they teach. When a student is given homework, they handle it on their own with probably a little help from the parents. In the event that there is a certain homework that is difficult for both the student and the parent, the student remains devastated in such a manner that they lose morale and develop a low self esteem (Vatterott & Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2009). A student that is not adequately motivated may end up losing hope on even the otherwise easy topics and subjects. The result may be a failure in academic performance. Failure is associated with low morale and low self worth. Once homework has frustrated an individual, chances are, the students will perform dismally in their education.
The probability that a student will cheat on their homework is extremely high. Considering that the watchful eye of the teacher is away, the student finds it easy to engage in academic dishonesty through copy pasting information from the internet or copying the work done by their classmate (Vatterott & Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2009). Typically, an average student does not like struggling. They would rather be dishonest and find time to play and socialize than concentrate on understanding a concept. Academic honesty is a positive virtue that all students should embrace. It enables the teacher to evaluate the student with an aim of establishing the capability of the student. A student may cheat and perform exemplarily well. This may make a teacher evaluate the student inaccurately. When it comes to the sit-in examinations, the student performs poorly. Such inconsistencies may raise questions among the school administrators and parents. Additionally, such dishonesty brings compromise to educational standards and quality of academics.
In addition to the above discussed negative effects of homework, there are such negative effects as little seriousness in studies. The student associates the home environment with laxity and comfort. There is, therefore, an exceptionally high probability that the average students will invest exceedingly little seriousness into the education process (Hallam & University of London, 2004). Additionally, homework may come in the way of effective communication between students and their parents. This is because the little time available for interactions between the parents and their children is consumed by the homework. This may make parenting less effective. The role of the parent in the life of the student may become insignificant. Psychologists explain that the parent is the undisputable pacesetter for the child. In the absence of communication between the parent and the student, there are chances that a student could go astray for lack of guidance from the parents.
In conclusion, it is rather clear that, from the foregoing discussion, homework has both positive and negative impacts on the performance of the student. Besides impacting on the academic performance of the students, homework is, as well, likely to impact both negatively and positively on the behaviors of the students. Among the key positive effects that homework can have on the behavior of a student is the fact that homework makes a student develop a sense of responsibility. Similarly, homework encourages self confidence, time management skills, analytical skills as well as general creativity and problem solving capacity. Among the primary negative effects is the fact that homework interferes with the students’ time to play. This may make the student cheat, or do the work with little seriousness. Additionally, homework weakens the attachment between the guardian and the child. It may bring low morale and overall resentment for education.
References
Hallam, S., & University of London. (2004). Homework: The evidence. London: Institute of Education.
Jha, A. K. (2006). Homework education: A powerful tool of learning. New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors.
Vatterott, C., & Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. (2009). rethinking homework: Best practices that support diverse needs. Alexandria, Va: ASCD.
