Get Rid of Homework
- Melvin Dwight
- Aug 28, 2023
- 3 min read
By Melvin Dwight
According to recent US Census Bureau data, 17% of teens say they are “often or sometimes” unable to complete homework assignments due to lack of access to a computer or internet. Yet, some 90% of high school teachers report assigning homework that requires internet connection. Enter: the homework gap, a new phenomena that emerges as education becomes ever more reliant on technology. When completing the same homework, students in low-income households face additional challenges compared to privileged students.
Nearly a quarter of teens living in households earning less than $30,000 say lack of computer or internet access prevents them from completing their homework. Only 9% of teens whose annual family income is over $75,000 face the same issue. The homework gap is also reflected along racial lines; 25% of black teens report being unable to finish their homework because of digital barriers, compared to just 4% of white teens. When students cannot complete homework, they miss out on their teacher’s curriculum. They are more likely to fall behind in school, exacerbating socio-economic and race inequalities. Some might say that the answer to the homework gap is to simply bridge the divide in digital access; in theory, if we give all students equal access to technology, homework will no longer be a source of inequality.
In reality, though, homework violates fair education for reasons beyond the digital divide. Many of these same students who face digital challenges when completing their homework must help support their family due to economic circumstances. They might have to care for younger siblings or work at a job after school. Homework should not force students to choose whether to help with family or be successful in school. Eliminating homework altogether is the only way to ensure no student ever has to make this choice.
There are countless more benefits, too, that come with a total ban on homework. Homework results in many negative effects on students, leading to poor mental and physical health. In a recent study, “56% of teens cited homework as the primary stressor in their lives.” As stress levels increase, students may experience muscle pains, spasms, lack of motivation, and sleep loss. Dopamine, known as the “happiness hormone” is a neuro-transmitter associated with feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. The chemical is released in our bodies when one does fun activities such as going outside, exercising, playing sports, or socializing. If a student devotes all their time to homework, their body does not release dopamine, which can lead to mental illnesses like depression. Another way homework negatively impacts mental health is the isolation that comes along with it. Why would we want to continue to keep students sitting at a desk all alone for long periods of time, potentially causing more mental health issues?
Homework also takes a physical toll on one’s body, leading to poor fitness and insufficient sleep. While doing homework, students are sedentary for long periods of time. They might fall into bad nutrition habits, such as eating excessive amounts of junk food or forgetting to eat entirely. If this happens consistently along with a lack of exercise, students’ strength and cardiovascular health will be greatly harmed. Additionally, homework often results in a loss of sleep. In the short term, consequences include fatigue and concentration issues, but in the long term, sleep deficiency is linked to chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. The Center for Disease Control reports that 70% of high school students do not meet the suggested amount of sleep. A high school student survey reveals why: 85% of students said homework is the reason they give up sleep. Helping teenagers get enough sleep, through elimination of homework, would prevent behavior problems and make learning more productive.
The homework gap is just the beginning of our nation-wide homework issue. Not only is homework detrimental to a fair and equitable education system, but the massive workload is proven to have innumerable consequences, from stress and isolation, to weight loss and sleep deprivation. If schools want students to learn more, perform better, and be both physically and mentally healthy, they need to consider a no homework policy.
Melvin is a 14-year-old student athlete who enjoys surfing, playing soccer, and exploring natural waterslides.
References
Cai, Jinghong. 2019. “Digital Homework.” National School Boards Association. https://nsba.org/ASBJ/2019/June/Digital-Homework.
Enayati, Amanda. 2014. “Is homework making your child sick?” CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2014/03/21/health/homework-stress/index.html.
McLaughlin, Clare. 2016. “The Homework Gap: The 'Cruelest Part of the Digital Divide' | NEA.” National Education Association. https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/homework-gap-cruelest-part-digital-divide.
“Nearly one-in-five teens can't always finish their homework because of the digital divide.” 2018. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/10/26/nearly-one-in-five-teens-cant-always-finish-their-homework-because-of-the-digital-divide/.
“Teachers need to adhere to schoolwork limits – The Oracle.” 2020. The Oracle. https://theoracleonline.org/viewpoint/2020/10/23/teachers-need-to-adhere-to-schoolwork-limits/#.
“Sleep Deprivation and Deficiency - What Are Sleep Deprivation and Deficiency?” 2022. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-deprivation.
“Sleep in Middle and High School Students.” 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/features/students-sleep.htm.
