Charlotte Jennings
Contributing Writer
Homework is a controversial conversation in any school setting; some think there’s too much, and some think there’s too little. However, the reality is students are saddled with a large amount of homework; often more than they can take.
Scientists such as Duke professor Harris Cooper recommend that there should be roughly 10 minutes of homework per grade level, meaning a ninth grader should have 90 minutes of homework, a 10th grader 100, and so on. However, Webster Groves High School often fails to meet this mark, going overboard.
While homework can be beneficial, too much homework can have a negative impact. It can affect a student’s social and physical health. Due to the amount of homework they have, students may have to sacrifice their social life to complete everything. They might be unable to participate in sports to keep their grades up or have to stay up late to finish all of their homework.
Homework can impact home life as well. Some students may not have access to the internet when they go home and cannot do their homework. Several parents or guardians may not have the time to help their children with their homework, which leaves those children at a disadvantage.
Webster could follow Kirkwood’s example in reducing homework. Kirkwood has implemented a “no homework weekend” policy, where there are certain weekends every semester when teachers cannot give out homework.
“It can be beneficial for students because they would have more free time as well as teachers because they would have less to grade,” Jenna Klenke-Galbreath, assistant principal, said who used to work in the Kirkwood district.
While it is still important for WGHS students to have homework, there needs to be a push for a more manageable amount. Webster could follow in Kirkwood’s example, or collaborate with students to create a system that works for everyone.
Feature Photo: Juniors Jack Lemon and Nora Baumgart work on homework in academic lab. Photo by Evelyn Trampe
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