Is Homework Necessary?

Summary

The video script from Above the Noise explores the contentious topic of homework in high school, highlighting the stress it can cause for students and the debate over its educational value. It compares homework loads globally, noting the U.S. has more than South Korea, which ranks higher in education. The script features student perspectives, teacher insights, and research findings that suggest a positive link between homework and academic performance, but also the potential negative impacts of excessive amounts. The discussion calls for a balanced approach, considering students' real-world needs and the purpose of homework.

Takeaways

• 📚 Homelessness is widely disliked, with a plethora of memes reflecting this sentiment.
• 🤯 Homework is considered a significant source of stress for students due to its time-consuming nature.
• 📉 There is an ongoing debate about the value of homework, with critics arguing it contributes to educational inequity, especially for low-income students.
• 🌐 The amount of homework varies greatly, both within the US and internationally, with no standard amount set.
• 🏆 South Korea, which has the top-ranked education system, assigns significantly less homework than the US, which ranks 17th.
• 📊 A graph in the script illustrates the varying amounts of homework assigned in different countries.
• 🗣️ The script highlights the importance of hearing from students on the topic of homework, as they are the ones directly affected.
• 👩‍🏫 The script features a teacher who does not assign homework, recognizing the challenges students face with jobs and other obligations.
• 📈 Studies show a positive correlation between homework and academic achievement, suggesting homework can be beneficial.
• 🚫 However, excessive homework can lead to increased stress and health issues, and may detract from family and extracurricular activities.
• 📝 The National Education Association and the National Parent Teacher Association recommend a '10-minute rule' for homework assignments.
• 🤔 The script poses questions about the balance between the potential benefits of homework and the real-world needs and constraints of students.

Q & A

What is the general perception of homework among students according to the script?

Homework is generally disliked by students, as evidenced by the abundance of memes about hating homework and the stress it causes in their daily lives.

What is the debate surrounding the value of homework in education?

There is a growing debate over whether homework is beneficial or just an unnecessary stressor that contributes to educational inequity, especially for low-income students.

How does the amount of homework vary in the US and around the world?

In the US, the amount of homework high school students receive varies by teacher and school, with no standard amount. The script also mentions that the US students get over twice as much homework as South Korea, which has a highly ranked education system.

What is the All City Council mentioned in the script, and what is its role?

The All City Council is the student union for the Oakland School District, representing 37,000 students within the public education system. It advocates for students' needs and concerns, including those related to homework.

How do students feel about the relationship between homework and their extracurricular activities?

Students feel that balancing homework with extracurricular activities is challenging, and they often have to prioritize one over the other due to time constraints and other obligations.

What is Kathleen Bailey's perspective on assigning homework to her students?

Kathleen Bailey, a teacher at Oakland Technical High School, does not assign homework to her students, recognizing the challenges they face with jobs and other commitments.

What does the meta-analysis from 1987 to 2003 suggest about the relationship between homework and student achievement?

The meta-analysis concluded that there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between the amount of homework students do and their achievement outcomes, indicating that homework helps students perform better.

What are the potential negative effects of excessive homework according to the script?

Excessive homework can lead to greater stress, compromised health, and less time for family, friends, and other extracurricular activities, as found in a study of over 4,000 students in California.

What is the '10-minute rule' recommended by the National Education Association and the National Parent Teacher Association?

The '10-minute rule' suggests that students should receive only 10 minutes of homework per grade level per night, aiming to balance academic demands with students' other needs.

How does Bob Kelly, a teacher with 21 years of experience, view the role of homework in education?

Bob Kelly believes that homework can be a valuable tool for certain students and classes, especially in advanced courses where it helps students prepare for the intensity of college classes. However, he emphasizes the importance of students understanding why they are doing homework.

What is the script's final call to action for viewers regarding the topic of homework?

The script invites viewers to share their thoughts on how homework should be handled and what constitutes a fair amount of homework in the comments section below.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Struggle with Homework

The video script opens with a humorous acknowledgment of the universal dislike for homework, supported by the prevalence of related memes. It delves into the stress that homework imposes on students' lives, suggesting that it may not only be a matter of laziness but also a potential cause of educational inequity, especially for low-income students. The script raises the question of how much homework is excessive in high school, highlighting the lack of a standardized homework policy in the US and contrasting it with varying global practices. The video introduces student reporters from Youth Beat in Oakland, California, who contribute to the episode by sharing insights from their peers about the burdens of homework alongside extracurricular activities and work commitments. The segment also includes commentary from Kathleen Bailey, a teacher who has observed the impact of homework on students with jobs and the digital divide that affects homework completion.

05:01

🤔 Balancing Homework and Real-Life Demands

This paragraph explores the debate on the necessity and effectiveness of homework, presenting evidence from a meta-analysis that suggests a positive correlation between homework and academic achievement. It also addresses the potential downsides of excessive homework, such as increased stress and health issues, as well as the reduction of time for family, friends, and other activities. The National Education Association and the National Parent Teacher Association's '10-minute rule' is mentioned as a guideline for assigning homework. The paragraph further discusses the importance of homework relevance to classroom learning and the need for students to understand the purpose of their assignments. It includes perspectives from Bob Kelly, a teacher with 21 years of experience, who differentiates between the homework policies for regular and AP classes, emphasizing the preparatory value of rigorous homework for college. The script concludes by posing questions about the fairness of homework assignments and inviting viewers to share their thoughts in the comments section, while also promoting other videos from the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs.

Keywords

💡Homework

Homework refers to the tasks or assignments given by teachers to students to be completed outside of regular class hours. In the context of the video, it is a significant source of stress for students and a topic of debate regarding its effectiveness and fairness. The script discusses varying opinions on the necessity and quantity of homework, highlighting the challenges faced by students who have additional obligations outside of school.

💡Stress

Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. The video script mentions that homework is a 'big source of stress' in students' lives, suggesting that the workload and expectations can negatively impact their well-being. The script also implies that the debate over homework involves considering its impact on students' mental health.

💡Inequity in Education

Inequity in education refers to the unfair or unequal treatment or access to educational resources and opportunities. The script points out that homework can contribute to such inequity, particularly for low-income students who may not have the same access to resources or support to complete their homework, thus putting them at a disadvantage.

💡Homework Debate

The 'homework debate' is a discussion or argument about the value, effectiveness, and appropriateness of assigning homework to students. The video script presents this debate by showcasing different perspectives, including those who see homework as a necessary part of education and those who view it as an unnecessary stressor.

💡Education System Ranking

Education system ranking refers to the comparative evaluation of different countries' educational systems based on various criteria such as student performance, resources, and outcomes. The script uses the example of South Korea, which has a lighter homework load than the US but ranks higher in education quality, to question the correlation between homework quantity and educational success.

💡Youth Beat

Youth Beat is a program mentioned in the script that involves student reporters from PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs. These students are involved in researching, writing, and producing content related to issues that affect them, such as homework. Their involvement in the video script illustrates the importance of student voices in educational discussions.

💡All City Council

All City Council is described in the script as the student union for the Oakland School District, representing over 37,000 students. It is used as an example of student governance and advocacy, where students can voice their concerns about issues like homework and its impact on their lives.

💡10-Minute Rule

The '10-Minute Rule' is a recommendation by the National Education Association and the National Parent Teacher Association, suggesting that students should receive only 10 minutes of homework per night for each grade level. The script discusses this rule as a potential guideline for balancing academic expectations with students' time and well-being.

💡Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular activities are pursuits undertaken outside of the regular curriculum, such as sports, clubs, or community service. The video script highlights how these activities can be important for students' personal development but can also create a conflict with the time required for homework, leading to a discussion on how to balance these commitments.

💡Homework and Academic Performance

The relationship between homework and academic performance is a central theme in the video. While some studies, as mentioned in the script, show a positive correlation, suggesting that homework can improve student outcomes, the video also discusses the potential negative effects of excessive homework, such as increased stress and health issues.

💡Homework as Busywork

Busywork refers to tasks that are given to keep people occupied but have little value or educational purpose. The script touches on the idea that homework should not merely be busywork but should have a clear connection to what students are learning in class, implying that the quality and relevance of homework are as important as the quantity.

Highlights

Homework is a significant source of stress for students, with a wide array of memes reflecting this sentiment.

There is a debate over the necessity and value of homework, with arguments that it contributes to educational inequity, especially for low-income students.

The amount of homework in the US varies greatly, with no standard amount set for high school students.

The US has over twice as much homework compared to South Korea, which has a higher education ranking.

Italian students receive 8.7 hours of homework per week, yet Italy ranks lower in education systems compared to the US.

Students from Youth Beat in Oakland, California, shared their experiences and perspectives on homework.

Jonathan, a student involved in multiple extracurricular activities, finds it challenging to balance homework with other commitments.

Access to technology is a concern for students trying to complete online homework, especially for those without computers or tablets.

Some teachers, like Kathleen Bailey, have started to notice the impact of homework on students' lives and have adjusted their assignments accordingly.

Homework can be beneficial, as supported by a meta-analysis showing a positive relationship between homework and student achievement.

However, excessive homework can lead to increased stress, compromised health, and less time for family and other activities.

The National Education Association and the National Parent Teacher Association recommend the '10-minute rule' for homework assignments.

Homework should have a clear connection to classroom learning and not be a form of busywork.

Bob Kelly, a teacher with 21 years of experience, believes homework can be valuable if it is purposeful and contributes to students' understanding.

Advanced classes may require more rigorous homework to prepare students for the intensity of college classes.

The balance between the potential benefits of homework and the real-world needs of students is a complex issue.

The video concludes by inviting viewers to share their thoughts on how homework should be handled and what constitutes a fair amount.

A shoutout to the student reporters at Youth Beat for their contribution to the video.

Transcripts

(light ambient music)

- Let's face it:

Homework is never going to win any popularity contests.

In fact, there's a whole genre of memes

about how much people hate homework.

I mean, just look at--

Oh my god, there's so many of 'em.

Look at all--

(laughing) There's so many memes.

(record scratching)

It's no secret that homework is a big source of stress

in the daily lives of students.

Assignments can feel so tedious when they take hours to do.

And there's growing debate over the value of homework.

It's not just about students being lazy.

There's opponents that think it's an unnecessary stressor

and actually contributes to inequity in education,

particularly for low-income students.

Today we're asking:

How much homework in high school is too much?

So, in the US, there isn't really

a standard amount of homework high school students get.

It varies teacher by teacher, school by school.

The amount even varies all over the world.

Just look at this graph.

Check it out.

In the US,

we get over twice as much homework as South Korea.

South Korea's ranked the number-one best education system

by a Pearson review.

And, well, we're number 17.

And, like, what's up with Italy over here?

They're getting 8.7 hours per week, and they're number 25.

Must be rough over there in Italy.

Man.

Okay, now back to America.

We figured it was pretty important

to hear straight from students about this topic,

since they're the ones actually doing the homework,

so we turned to our friends

from Youth Beat in Oakland, California.

They're student reporters

with PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs.

This is Jonathan,

Olin-- - Yo!

- And Serina.

They helped research, write, and produce this episode.

First, I checked in with Jonathan,

who's not exactly a slacker.

He's on All City Council and reporting this episode

on top of all his regular homework.

So, Jonathan, what's All City Council

and what are you hearing from students?

- All City Council is the student union

for the Oakland School District,

and we represent the 37,000 students

who are within the public education system.

Man, we are tired of doing homework.

A lotta students have obligations outside of school.

There's students who've come to me like,

"Yo, I can't go to this meeting

"'cause I have to work and do homework."

There's some assignments that are online

'cause teachers are using Google Classroom.

Not everyone has access to technology,

to a computer or a tablet,

so how do you get that homework done

and keep up with the workload

when you don't have access to those materials?

- Some teachers are starting to take notice.

The reporters talked to Kathleen Bailey,

a teacher at Oakland Technical High School

in Oakland, California,

who doesn't really assign her students any homework.

- I just asked my students today how many of them have jobs.

There were nine students in one class that had jobs,

there were 11 students in another.

And if you're going home from school

and you gotta get from one place to another in Oakland,

you've gotta get to work, you get home at 10:30

and you're thinking about homework,

that's just like a recipe for a mental breakdown, I think.

- I don't really enjoy doing homework.

Personally, I have a lotta extracurriculars

that I participate in,

like I'm the Black Student Union president at Skyline,

I'm the media director for All City Council Student Union,

and I've partaken KDOL Youth Beat.

And so, with all those different things

going on for me after school,

it gets hard for me to focus on just one thing.

And I do realize academics are important, right?

But I feel like these extracurriculars

help me build as a person and also build out my resume.

- I can see how it could be hard for students

to figure out what to prioritize.

So, no homework is probably sounding

pretty good to you right about now,

but we have to acknowledge that homework isn't all bad.

Take it from our Youth Beat student reporter, Olin.

- There are actually a lotta studies

that show there are benefits to doing homework.

- Like this meta-analysis

that looked at a whole bunch of research on homework

from 1987 to 2003.

The authors concluded that, "With only rare exceptions,

"the relationship between

"the amount of homework students do

"and their achievement outcomes

"was found to be positive and statistically significant."

This just means that homework helps students perform better.

And in case y'all are wondering what a meta-analysis is,

it's basically a study

that looks at a lotta different studies in a systematic way.

- But it might be

that only a certain amount of homework is beneficial.

We looked at a study that found that too much homework

can actually hurt students.

- Check this out.

Researchers surveyed over 4,000 students

in 10 high-performing wealthy high schools in California.

The students surveyed

averaged over three hours of homework a night,

and the researchers found that more time spent on homework

is associated with greater stress, more compromised health,

and less time for family, friends,

and other extracurricular pursuits.

The authors cautioned against

assigning heavy homework loads.

- And the National Education Association

and the National Parent Teacher Association

recommend the 10-minute rule when it comes to homework.

This means students should receive

only 10 minutes of homework per grade per night.

- Sometimes my teacher would even tell me,

"Oh, just take an hour to do this assignment."

And I'm thinking, well, if I have seven classes

and each class tells me to do either 10 minutes to an hour,

that's already an hour to like seven hours

I have to devote just to homework after school.

- And it's not just the amount of time

you're spending on homework.

Some experts say that homework should have

a clear connection to what students are learning.

It just can't be busywork.

- The main thing with homework, as far as I'm concerned,

is that the kid's gotta know why they're doing it.

- That's Bob Kelly.

He's been a teacher for 21 years.

He thinks homework can be a valuable tool

for certain students and classes.

- In my regular US history class, we don't have homework.

The only homework that they get

is anything that they don't finish in class.

If they're messing around or something like that,

then they gotta take it home and get it done

before the next class.

Whereas, in my AP classes,

they have to read two chapters a week

and they have to analyze those chapters.

And so, the whole idea is that they'll come to school

understanding what we haven't talked about yet.

They'll have a basic understanding.

And then we take their basic understanding

and we build off of it.

- And this kind of rigorous homework in advanced classes

can help students prepare for the intensity

of classes that they'll have in college.

But if these homework-heavy college prep classes

best prepare students for college,

where does that leave low-income students

with conflicting obligations

that can't complete their homework?

How do you balance the potential benefits

you get from completing homework

with the real-world needs of students?

Homework is tricky, man.

So, tell us, what do you think?

How should homework be handled?

What is a fair amount of homework?

Let us know in the comments below.

Again, a big shoutout

to the student reporters at Youth Beat.

If you wanna hear more

from PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs,

be sure to check out this video on school dress codes

and this video on active shooter drills.

- Check it out.

- Check it out, like she said. (Serina laughing)

And again, we're Above the Noise

and we'll see you guys next time.

Peace out.

- [Woman] Oh my god. (all laughing)

That's so cute.