Piscataway, New Jersey, certainly has noticed that homework has become a problem. They have issued a policy that limits week night homework to 30 minutes for elementary children and 2 hours for high school students. Other school districts are also looking into the extreme homework situation and asking a simple question. Something is going on here that demands a closer look.
Homework is an important component to a child's educational experience.
It serves several key functions that allow children to improve on academic achievement. Review, enrichment and practice over the days lesson is a productive tool for students to solidify concepts, facts and skills. Homework is supposed to give extra practice in order to gain proficiency through repetition of the days topics in order to ensure students are prepared for the concepts that lie ahead. Some teachers will say the debate over too much homework is an attempt to shelter students from having to work hard. Others will argue it is a response from parents who would rather have their children practicing to become the next superstar.