It is no secret that primary school children are under much pressure. They are expected to perform well in school, make friends, participate in extracurricular activities, and get good grades. With so much stress, it is no wonder that many children struggle to cope. One of the ways that children can relieve some of this pressure is by doing well in school. And one of the best ways to do well in school is to get good grades. One of the most important things children can do to get good grades is to do their homework. Still, homework has some adverse effects, such as deteriorating mental health, poor relations with family and friends, and immense pressure to succeed academically. This paper will argue why homework is unnecessary for primary school children.
One of the biggest potential drawbacks is that homework can cause children much stress. This is especially true if children feel like they are not doing well in school or if they feel like they are not meeting their parents’ expectations (Herbert & Thompson, 2022). Teachers will be under immense pressure to set and mark homework, which, if not properly managed, can deflect the effort that could have been put into normal lessons that benefit the whole class.
Another potential drawback of homework is that it can take away from the time children spend with their families or friends. This is because children often have to do their homework after school or on weekends. Children spend most of their time in school. A steady social and family life positively affects a child’s mind (Supa, 2020). Having homework further impinges on the time they could have spent with family and friends. This can make it difficult for children to balance their time between homework and other activities.
Too much work at a young age can greatly affect the child’s mental health. Parents who are always busy may push for more homework, so they don’t actively parent their children (Bempechat, 2019). The more homework is given to children, the greater the likelihood that those children will experience an increase in anxious feelings, an increase in depressive feelings, potentially some behavioral difficulties, and mood disturbance. This can harm the overall health and happiness of a child.
However, there are certain benefits to doing homework. Firstly, it develops the child’s independence. Young minds are boundless and full of potential that can be applied in different fields. Homework is set so the child can be pushed gently to achieve a goal instead of settling in their comfort zone. Doing so, they develop their independence and self-confidence as they prepare for adult life. A teacher who is well versed in their work will provide homework whereby the child can demonstrate their creativity and ingenuity, which makes it enjoyable for the child.
Secondly, a skilled teacher can set different homework assignments based on the different learning capacities in the classroom. Homework can be a chance for children to develop different academic abilities. The teacher can also provide extra credit for the overachieving children, so their potential for academic success is not wasted. By doing so, the needs of the children will be met without interfering with normal learning.
If homework causes a lot of stress for children, there are some things that parents can do to help. Parents can talk to their child’s teacher to see if anything can be done to make the homework assignments more manageable. Parents can also help their child to develop a good study routine by setting aside a specific time each day for homework. Finally, parents can help their children stay positive by praising them for their effort and progress.
In conclusion, homework is unnecessary for primary school children. It can be a valuable tool for primary school children, but parents need to make sure that it is not causing undue stress. If homework is causing stress for children, there are ways that parents can help to make it more manageable.
References
Bempechat, J. (2019). The case for (quality) homework: Why it improves learning, and how parents can help. Education Next, 19(1), 36-44.
Supa, Matthew (October 15, 2020). Is Homework Worth the Stress? (n.d.). Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://westbullseye.com/3060/viewpoints/is-homework-worth-the-stress/
Herbert, C., & Thompson, M. (2022). Does Homework Work?
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