Homework… What is it Good For? Absolutely Nothing!

The issue of homework has been a thorn in my side since I started teaching.

The standard thinking is that it develops independent learning skills, extends the work  of the school into the home and give opportunities to reinforce the curriculum.

I’m all for developing independent learning skills, but I’m not sure homework is an appropriate way to do it! It makes assumptions about the home learning environment and the  resources within it. Not every child has access to a quiet and warm place to work, not every child has parental support or access to books and a computer. We make assumptions when homework is set which might be entirely unrealistic for individual children. Most importantly, not every child is able to work independently because of a range of learning conditions such as dyslexia or sensory processing disorders.

Then there is the additional workload imposed on the teacher with the marking…