Homework Should Be Abolished

Time for the final round, the rebuttal round. Let me tell you what happened in this debate. Firstly, I told you that homework is beneficial in moderate amounts. My opponent then tried to rebut this argument, saying that “moderate is a relative term, and how can you ensure that this MODERATE happens” however, I have already answered this, I regard moderate as one or two pieces of small homework due in two or three days and the occasional large coursework or studying for a test. Furthermore, the title of this debate is “Homework Should Be Abolished”, not “Homework Should Be Regulated”. Ensuring that “moderate happens” is irrelevant. Also, just because some teachers can be mean and give large amounts of homework doesn’t mean all homework should be banned. That is a rather extreme response to such a small thing, don’t you think? I think so. Also, my worthy opponent said that “any benefits homework might have given a child doesn't work as the child won't have done the homework because there isn't enough time in their schedule”, however, as I have already shown you, moderate amounts will allow the child to do the homework. My opponent then tried to tell you that homework is time consuming, it can put unnecessary pressure on a student, and the student doesn't always do the homework. However, I have already answered the first point, as I have kept saying “in moderate amounts” which my opponent keeps brushing aside with a few remarks. Furthermore, my opponent said “pupils will have to wake up early in the morning at say, 6:00 just to get to school on time”, however, it takes an average of 45 minutes-> 1 hour to get ready. Taking the latest time, the student will be able to get to school at 7:00. Normally, school starts at 8:30, is there really no local school, and it takes 1 hour and a half to get to school!? Also, my opponent gave the example of a schedule. She gave the times 6:00am->9:00pm at the latest. If the student has such an extreme schedule such as this, the student is clearly overworking him/herself and should consider dropping a few extra-curriculars. But the majority of students don’t have such extreme schedules such as this. My opponent’s second point, again, has been rebutted as most schools don’t give out heaps of homework, merely moderate amounts. My opponent’s third point, however, is an extreme case. How many student’s parents would do their work for them? Not many. The majority of parents are responsible, and would therefore make the child do their homework themselves. Your case is an extreme case, and not the majority, so your argument doesn’t hold much credibility. Then I went on to tell you that homework enables school days to be shorter. Once again, my worthy opponent tried to rebut my argument. She said that “Also, teachers are known for giving their students a review sheet to do in class so they can be sure a student has fully grasped the concept. With this structure, homework is made obsolete. Therefore, a school day would simply remain the same length as homework would become non-existent.” However, this doesn’t answer my point at all. She has claimed that with a review sheet in class, homework is made obsolete, so the school days would remain the same length. However, what about all the coursework and studying done at home, not to mention all the finished classwork. We can’t guarantee the student will do it. So my opponent has not properly addressed my point. After all, one measly review sheet can’t add up to work being done at home. In Round 3, my opponent tried to tell you that there is no need for homework and children can still work at home. To back up her point, my opponent tried to use my own source against me. She pointed out that “The value of homework has been the subject of various research studies over the years, yet there is still no conclusive evidence that it makes a big difference in helping students improve achievement. The most often-cited studies are those that conclude that there is virtually no evidence that it helps in elementary school but some evidence that it does improve academic performance in later grades. Yet this newest study looked at 10th graders and found no correlation”, but very conveniently didn’t emphasize a point in there, if you take a closer look, you will find in that quote these words “but some evidence that it does improve academic performance in later grades”, so in fact, my opponent is helping my case, and supporting my case! Then, in the second part of my worthy opponent’s quote, she said “Researchers who looked at data from more than 18,000 10th-graders found there was little correlation between the time students spent doing homework and better grades in math and science courses.” However, if you continue reading the article she found this from, (https://www.washingtonpost.com...,) you will find these words “But,according to a study on the research, they did find a positive relationship between standardized test performance and the amount of time spent on homework.” As you can see, my opponent is cherry-picking from the article, choosing quotes which support her case, but leaving out the rest if it points otherwise. My opponent then went on to say that students can do work by themselves. However, let’s be honest. How many of us would actually do that? How many of us, would, if given the choice, do work at home? Not many of us. Not I, and probably, not you. So homework must be mandatory to get things done. As you can see, I have addressed all of my worthy opponent’s points. However, when it came to addressing mine, my opponent fell painfully short. She has not told us why:~homework does not have benefits, merely why the benefits are obsolete, which I have rebutted~there is not work done at home such as classwork, studying, and coursework that take up a lot of time collectively~students would do work at home given the choice, and teachers could trust them to do it and not have to stretch the school day So now, I will leave you with a quote to think over:"Nothing is more powerful for your future than being a gatherer of good ideas and information. That's called doing your homework." -Jim Rohn