For decades, homework has been seen as an essential way to teach students responsibility, learn things on their own, and prepare them for future success. These are all beneficial, but at what cost? Many students have jobs, sports and school clubs and balancing all of those things as well as seven classes assigning work can be a lot. So, the question is, should homework be limited on school nights? The answer is yes, because too much homework can do more harm than good.
One major reason homework should be limited is because of the mental toll it can take on students. Many students have out of school responsibilities and juggling those with homework can be difficult and draining.
“I play a sport and work part-time. Trying to balance all my responsibilities stresses me out because I want to make sure, I put my full effort into everything I do. I try to put my full effort into class work but when I am asked to do homework, I struggle with putting my effort into it because I have been drained from all the other things.” Junior Ava Pirozzolo says.
Another negative effect of too much homework is sleep deprivation. Many students stay up late at night to complete their assigned work, sacrificing sleep to meet deadlines and forcing them to get less than the required amount of sleep. Teens need about eight to ten hours of sleep a night and, according to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the average amount of sleep that teenagers get is between 7 and 7 ¼ hours. If homework was more limited, it would allow teens to go to bed earlier, which would increase their productivity during the day.
In conclusion, too much homework on school nights does more harm than good for students. Limiting homework on school nights would allow students to get enough rest, focus on class, and maintain a healthier balance between their school life and their personal life. By setting reasonable limits on homework, schools can support student success without causing unnecessary stress.
