We Shouldn't have homework!

I will start by refuting your websites: 1. The livescience.com link just stated that "too much" homework is bad for kids. It did not advocate for no homework at all. This is an important distinction because this evidence really doesn't support Pro's claim. 2. I could not access the centerforpubliceducation.org link. Perhaps you copied it wrong? Until it is corrected, I am unable to refute it. Please correct this problem, Pro. 3. The alfiekohn.org link led me to an opinion piece which really isn't "evidence" because of its inherent subjectivity. I agree with this author that there is such a thing a bad homework. Needless repetition of an easily mastered concept is one. However, for every bad homework, there is one that is provably good. Take mathematics, for instance. The reasons that mathematic homework includes many problems is to test for application of supposedly learns formulas. A student may know that that 1 x -2 = -2, but what is -1 x -2? This simple illustration shows the countless nuanced cases that homework helps students to recognize and solve. In short, good homework is paramount. Now I will refute the text of your arguments: 1. "While it is true kids would rather avoid their families, most kids have parental time limits on their computer..." Ah, but what about TVs, Ipods, cell phones, etc.? Also, there plenty of non-electric ways to avoid familial interaction. Given that the average Americans in particular are spending upwards of 6 hours in front of some sort of screen, I think that your argument is outdated and therefore incorrect. 2. "I am a middle schooler, and I am one of those kids with a short attention span." Wow, I am impressed that you're debating online already. I never researched or argued at your age. Remarkable! But regarding your argument, I think it falls into being a part-to-whole fallacy. Here's what I mean: Just because you struggle with homework does not mean that everyone else struggles. Thus, your argument is far too limited to merit the abolition of homework. 3. "I myself am a doer-learner... I have already finished the worksheet and have to wait for everyone else to catch up." Good, I believe that your admission actually helps my case. Your worksheet is homework, right? As a doer-learner, you need tangible instruction in order to learn. Therefore, homework is of use to you. Your personal account bolsters my argument and contradicts your own. 4. "... [We] waste time checking [homework] in class." I am sorry to hear that. I sympathize for you; I HATE in-class verification. Now, I was homeschooled throughout high-school, so I got to check my own work (with parental oversight, of course). As a college student, my professors graded my work outside of class, which is what I think you'll find in both public highschool and college. But maybe I'm wrong. In any case, I agree with you. In-class verification sucks! It distracts from precious instruction time. Even so, this is not a reason to abolish homework because in-class verification can easily be reformed. As I like to say, "If there's a wooden sliver in the leg, don't amputate the limb! Pluck it out with tweezers instead!" Similarly, the problem in in-class verification, not good homework. I conclude my rebuttal and await Round 3!