Too Much Homework, Too Little Time | Teen Ink

Too Much Homework, Too Little Time

January 15, 2009
By LAXdoubleK BRONZE, Aurora, Colorado
LAXdoubleK BRONZE, Aurora, Colorado
2 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure--which is:
Try to please everybody."
-Herbert Bayard Swope


It's all over the news: kids are spending a lot of time on homework. And, according to some, it's way too much. With the current emphasis on high-stakes testing, educators are trying to do more with less, which can result in an overabundance of schoolwork outside of school. Some critics say there is no evidence to suggest that homework is helpful to student achievement; on the contrary, too much of it can overwhelm students and cause them to disengage. Others, however, claim that homework is necessary and helpful, designed so students can practice the concepts taught in class, build good study habits, and reflect on their own learning.

As an 8th grade student who is in advanced classes, I think that homework is the cause of my depleting grades. Now, you’re probably going to think that I’m like any other kid in middle school that hates homework and that to even spend another second reading this will be a complete waste of time, right? Even so, just hear me out because I have several reasons that might just change your mind.

I have thousands of assignments every week; most of them homework assignments. As a result, I’m cascaded with homework every day, causing me to stay up until 11 o’clock at night more often than not. Obviously, this is a threat to my health as a developing teenager. It could stunt my growth, and result in fatigue and stress because everyone knows that no good sleep leads to no good grades. Even if I were to go to bed at a decent time, my homework wouldn’t be finished. Either way is a couldesack at the end of a road.

Stress is very unhealthy for growing teens and statistics show that 29% of 13-year-old students report spending 2 hours or more on homework daily in the U.S. Isn’t that a bit much? More homework means more stress. Stress can cause many things including: lack of sleep, slipping grades, fatigue, unhealthy eating habits, depression, and many more other factors. A teen should not have to face depression at such a young age.

So why do teenagers still have so much homework?

One of the answers to that is that teachers often have children covering material at home by themselves that they do not discuss during school time at all. Of course, the teacher's reasoning for this is that there aren't enough hours in the day and he/she wants to cover more territory on a certain subject. But being taught how to do something by a piece of paper just isn’t the same as being taught by an actual human being. The teacher can explain things a different way if someone doesn’t grasp how to do something or they can respond to questions about the subject for better learning.

I couldn’t even count how many kids just take the easy way out and disengage from the homework given at my school. They refuse to do homework and it’s lowering their grades. But I can’t blame them because I ask myself on a daily basis why I don’t just quit already and join the rest of the crowd.

I could actually have a life then instead of doing homework all day. I could participate in extra curricular activities like I used to when I participated in lacrosse but now I can’t because my grades are slipping due to not finishing homework. I could do fun things instead of homework because it keeps me cooped up inside like a prisoner in a jail cell and I hate it!

Statistics even show that kids who participated in an extra curricular activity have less stress. The only thing is, is that they have less time for homework too. Homework takes away all of my free time to spend with friends and family; where I can just forget about all of my worries for an hour or two.

The amount of homework that teachers give sometimes is ridiculous and unnecessary. Homework can cause stress, depression, lower grades, and less time to do extra curricular activities or hang out with friends, so teachers, could you please not get so excited about homework next time?


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This article has 218 comments.


Piper Rain said...
on Nov. 30 2012 at 12:16 am
I'm also an 8th grader taking advanced classes, and let me tell you, I'm living a complete hell right now. I used to be the girl who would 24/7 be like, "YES! SCHOOL!!! I'm so excited, I want to learn, see my friends, talk to me teacher, YAY!" I used to love every teacher, every class and subject, and just love school so much. Now? I'm almost at the point where I'm just gonna stop and wing everything. I'm almost at the point where I don't care about getting decent grades, only caring about getting more than 2 hours of sleep. I want to be able to actually live a life filled with average sleeping hours and a purpose of doing something. My whole purpose this year? Just surviving until freshman year and doing homework to get grades higher than an F. Teachers seriously need to lay it off. The only class and teacher that I'm actually able to like 24/7 is L.A., because she realizes we have lives and doesn't want us to push it so far. She actually told me and my one friend today that we might not have to do the homework tonight, just for the fact that today was our musical's opening night, which we were in. My life has cycled so much since 8th grade started. Too much homework = no sleep, no sleep = tired 24/7, tired 24/7 = no energy to do homework, all of this = depression. The weekend is not a time for me to enjoy myself, it's a time for sleep and homework. I don't really socialize anymore, because 1) I'm depressed and 2) I'm spending my socializing time for homework in school. So school... call me whenever I'm allowed to be happy again.

kimkim said...
on Nov. 1 2012 at 12:01 pm
this article , is right on some things but you missed something , email me?  

El0ise123 said...
on Oct. 12 2012 at 11:17 am
I get 3-6 hours of homework a night and feel depressed constantly... The quality of my work is slipping and my teacher wants me to attend extra classes which I dont have time for... Please help me, I never get any spare time and all I want is to forget about my homework...

nadya223 said...
on Oct. 1 2012 at 1:50 pm
I'm a girl and just started 6th grade. It's awful to think how my school work had changed due to the lack of rest and time I have. Usually I have TONS of schoolwork and finish at about 1 or 2 AM in the morning and I have to wake 5 hours later. Now, kids have to have 8 hours of sleep while mines is reduced to 3 or 4 hours. I'm so vexed! 

mike101 said...
on Sep. 24 2012 at 10:23 am
I agree about what you said that we have about 6 or more hours to do it.

Nexxera said...
on Sep. 13 2012 at 8:52 pm
I have to agree with this article. In school, I have 8 teachers all together. Each teacher gives me at least 2-4 pages in my textbooks. FRONT and BACK. I get home at 2:30 P.M and start doing my homework once I get home. I end up finishing my homework around 8:00 P.M. My classmates and I also get an essay to write EVERYDAY. Sometimes I think it is a waste of time. 

on Sep. 4 2012 at 6:44 am
This may be true. However, your last sentence is very ridiculous and I think you ought to put yourselves in the shoes of those who truly have too much homework and do not go on those sites that you speak of.

on Sep. 4 2012 at 6:07 am
Homework should basically just go into non-existence. then we'll have less global warming. I give this author a standing ovation & 3000 virtual bottles of Nutella.

bigdog said...
on May. 22 2012 at 7:02 pm
Seriously guys. according to the essay 71% of students spend less than 2 hours on homework. If there are about 6 hours in the afternoon/evening before tv and going to bed then you should finish homework just fine with plenty of spare time. The main problems that causes stress, depression, and lots of homework is the internet. You guys say you are doing homework while reading this blog. I know countless people who are also on facebook while doing homework. This causes them to spend and think they spend a lot of time on homework when they really arent. Im in 8th grade and I spend an average of 1.5 hours on homework per night and get straight A's. You guys are just fooling yourselves when you say you have a lot of homework. My advice would be to sit down without distractions and just focus and get the work done instead of stalling and complaining about homework overload. Homework is not a problem in most schools however internet addiction and distractions are. Get off websites that arent homework related and you will finish in much less time than you thought. This post and essay is an absolute joke.

noble143 said...
on May. 8 2012 at 11:39 pm
i find this site and its essays very useful so i would like to join this site for various purposes

Xtreme788 said...
on Apr. 17 2012 at 10:42 pm
I am in 9th grade with many honors classes. I am currently doing hw, and almost done. Been doing it since 7:30 after i got back from boxing. I am so mad, i had to quit basketball, favorite sport sinvce the first grade and now hw is killing it all.

on Mar. 28 2012 at 5:42 am
My school gives lots of homework, and i'm yr 9, Researching a damn websotes for this... to have a speech. It's ridiculousi get between 45 mineutes and 2 and a half hours homework in AUS.

Some Girl said...
on Mar. 24 2012 at 12:31 am
I think the trouble comes from teachers not talking to each other and assigning things that are all due on or around the same time. That puts a lot of stress on the student. Some kid might have a huge English book report to write that's due on April 2, and it's March 25th. Then they go to History class and get a six page essay on the Spanish Inquisition also due on April 2. Then they go to Science class and have to write a biology report that's due on, you guessed it, April 2. Add in the classes in between that throw in busy work and it just makes homework a nightmare. Too much to do and not enough time. Teachers need to COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER more.

Xavier said...
on Mar. 15 2012 at 8:21 pm

Wooowie! I can tell you're a good student! However, I slacked off in middle school and didn't do much of anything. I had bad study habits and time management, and I slept at around twelve, but that's just my fault. 

Freshman Year:  High School. I've decided to step up my game. After all, I'm attending the top rated high school in my area, and it's going to be pretty competitive.

Unfortunately, even with my resolve, the bad habits I picked up middle school took their toll. At first, high school was fun--it was a "different" experience. I was able to receive high grades, and I was top 20 in freshman class. Not bad! At the time, I was taking Honors Geometry, Honors Bio, Honors Lit, and Spanish II Honors. 

And then came the middle of the semester. The amount of homework really started to pile on at this time; I had about four hours worth of homework on a good day. I also attended some strenuous extracurricular activities, (e.g. BSA, Debate, service hour club, et cetera) and I knew I was gonna die of exhaustion soon. I started sleeping 'til two o' clock and even three; in middle school I usually slept at twelve. Not a great change. I slept past my alarm and my grades slipped. 

Second Semester. The teachers gave a lot less homework and a lot more projects, but projects are able to be spread out over a long period of time. This was my ideal schedule. Homework only took an hour, and I had time to do the things I wanted. 

I finally got back the life I wanted. 

And then came sophomore year. Crap.


on Jan. 11 2012 at 10:47 pm
TeamPeeta4Sure BRONZE, Escondido, California
1 article 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"May the odds be ever in your favor"
-The Hunger Games

I agree, greatly! My English teacher made me do a homework assignment on this persuasive essay on too much homework! Despicable! Anywhoo, I have seen signs of depleting grades, stress, and depression because of the homework I receive everyday. Luckily, my algebra teacher (who I loved) was replaced by a younger female algebra teacher with experience as a high school math teacher. Now you must be wondering, why do I say luckily when I also mention that I love my previous algebra teacher? Because she is younger, I believe, she understands the negative effects of homework, and has began to assign less homework! Since, it has taken at least 30 minutes off of homework time and added 30 minutes to my night's sleep!

hehehehehehe said...
on Jan. 11 2012 at 7:29 am
this is so true

aaaaaaaa said...
on Jan. 11 2012 at 7:29 am
billy is awesome

soooooooooo said...
on Jan. 11 2012 at 7:28 am
my school gives so much homework

Zeosrule said...
on Dec. 9 2011 at 12:58 am
At my school (BASIS) there is a joke in my grade (6th) I used to have a life... 5 months ago.

on Dec. 8 2011 at 9:34 am
that sucks cause i dont have a lot of homework...ever