Homework: To Be Or Not To Be

By: Sharon White
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:26:59
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First, many teachers are used to assign homework for students because the education system foresees such tasks in order to make children study out of school. That is the only purpose which teachers can explain and, therefore homework assignments are not properly done and clearly explained. In such cases students do not succeed in their homework because they cannot understand what is expected from them and how the task can be performed. Thus, if a teacher cannot explain each of his/her students why the student must do this task at home, it is better for him/her to not assign any homework at all. Whether the task has been given or not the result is the same: students do not succeed and many just fail doing the task. For good teacher assignments are seen as not very large tasks (large assignments are hard to be explained and are usually not specific) which are clearly aimed and explained. Sometimes individual homework tasks are to be given due to students’ different abilities and knowledge level. Of course, such homework attitude is much more complicated for teachers to follow but they should bear in mind that this attitude is the only way to make homework effective for student’s education achievement and improvement.

The second group uninterested in homework most is students. They do not want to waste their free time by doing something they do not really understand. Here the purpose of homework should not be explained by simply saying ‘it is important and you cannot avoid it’. Both teachers and parents should be involved in homework purpose presentation. Here teachers-parents co-operation is vital because each presentation must be individual depending on each student’s attitude to his/her education, future career, income and even environment. Homework purpose presentation should be based on each student’s psychological, physical and mental particularities.

Parents often think homework is the matter of their children and teachers’ responsibility. They often see their responsibilities in children’s financial support, food and shelter provision etc. Such attitude does not even depend on parents’ educational background, social class, income, job position etc. Sometimes parents with lower income have children more successful in education because they clearly understand the purpose of homework and are interested in helping their children. Better grades, higher scores, more perspectives and higher salaries are the matter of discussion between parents and children in order to achieve better results in education and children’s interest in homework.

Article source: Expert Articles