Homework should not be banned

America's education system is failing. Finland on the other hand, ranks very high in international rankings. Why is that the case? Even though the United States does more homework, it still fails. Finland has moved away from the homework model. Let us examine the reasons why Finland has moved away from homework. 1. According to world-recognised neurological development academic Dr Michael Nagel, the adult brain did not fully mature until the third decade of life and too much stimulation could cause unnecessary stress. 2. There isn't a shred of evidence to support the folk wisdom that homework provides nonacademic benefits at any age -- for example, that it builds character, promotes self-discipline, or teaches good work habits. We're all familiar with the downside of homework: the frustration and exhaustion, the family conflict, time lost for other activities, and possible diminution of children's interest in learning. But the stubborn belief that all of this must be worth it, that the gain must outweigh the pain, relies on faith rather than evidence. 3. Homework Teaches Bad Work Habits: I know this sounds crazy, because it"s precisely the reason that so many people give for offering homework. However, homework doesn"t teach good study habits. It teaches kids to study, because they have to rather than need to. Similarly, homework doesn"t help children become hard workers, because the work is not self-directed. Want to watch a child work hard and take ownership of learning? Watch a child build a bridge for fun. Let a child read a book for fun (without the bribery of fried dough) and see just how hard a kid will work when there is a meaningful goal. Hard work is a product of motivation. It is an internal drive. When we a parent steps in an makes a child work hard, the work ethic diminishes. 4. It is possible to provides students with meaningful learning experiences after school. However, if that"s the case, why make it mandatory? Why not say, "I offer tutoring if you need help" or "here"s an idea of something you might want to pursue on your own?" When I was in high school, I wrote pages upon pages of poetry, a novel (never even told an adult) and countless short stories. It was, on some level, self-directed homework. And honestly, I would have allowed a teacher that I trusted to provide feedback. However, if the process had been formalized, I would have kept all of that even more underground. Alternatives: Emphasize the idea that learning can and will happen naturally at home or elsewhere in a child"s world. Visit a skate park and watch the learning that happens. Spend some time watching kids develop new games in the neighborhood. If parents really want homework, let teachers give workshops (might be a great time to bridge the gap with homeschoolers / unschoolers by doing a co-teaching workshop) on how to engage children at home in authentic learning. Provide ideas and support for students who are interested in doing more. If a teacher had said, "Hey, I"d like to meet with you on that novel you"re writing," I would have met one-on-one or in a small writing circle. Treat homework as an extracurricular activity: Students in my class voluntarily do homework when we create documentaries. They take pictures, film interviews, complete community surveys, work on neighborhood ethnographic studies and volunteer with local charities. The key here is that it is not graded and is treated as an extracurricular activity. Ultimately, we need to tackle injustice. If parents can"t be home with kids after school, there is a systemic flaw that needs to be addressed socially, culturally and politically.