Most students dread the all-familiar word “homework.” It is just an inconvenience for some, while for others, it is much more devastating. After hours sitting in class and learning throughout most of the day, as a student, the last thing you would want to hear is more schoolwork.
While homework has become a mainstay in traditional learning, its merits and demerits still retain a rather divisive opinion. Several people feel it is still a necessary part of schooling, while others have yet to understand why homework is important.
What is homework? Is homework important? Who invented school homework? Have a good look as we answer some of these questions and decide for yourself.
What is Homework?
Homework can be defined as the various tasks assigned to students by their tutors or teachers based on learned topics. And they are intended to be done after school hours or at home. These assessments are usually scheduled after school periods to preoccupy students with learning more academic work.
When Was Homework Invented?
Homework was invented in 1905, and since then, it has marked the change in how academic and educational systems have operated. The end of the nineteenth century witnessed significant changes in how students were taught in class and studied during their free time.
Multiple developments were associated with changes in the frequency and the manner of homework given by a teacher. Since then, great significance has been attached to how students can perform independently when given problems to solve.
Who Invented Homework and Why?
Who Invented Homework? The burning question every angry and stressed student worldwide will want to know. Well, homework was invented by an Italian in the early ’90s named Roberto Nevilis.
Although there are claims that homework first originated in Rome, where it was used by a scholar called Pinny the Younger, Roberto Nevilis is considered the founder of homework in official history. It was first given as a punishment to his students who failed to perform well or exhibited bad behavior.
Why is Homework Important?
There are numerous reasons why homework is important for students. For instance, it plays a vital development role in the learning process. Students require time and practice to assimilate the knowledge presented during school hours, and homework provides such an opportunity.
Class activities alone are insufficient to create a foundation for internalizing concepts and information taught in the classroom. Home assignments essentially aid the teachers’ effort and give room for independent growth in students.
10 Reasons Why Homework is Bad
Homework is largely beneficial, but it can sometimes come with unsuited implications. Many people don’t say homework is bad outright because they feel it can only be beneficial to students, but the reverse is also the case, and here are some reasons why:
- It can cause stress
Of course, school isn’t somewhere you go to have fun and relax, but sometimes the stress can be too much. Even professional test takers for hire claim that the mental exertion after classes combined with homework can become too demanding.
- Poor attention to health - physical, mental, and more
Exercise and fitness may suffer because students tend to sit alone for hours studying and doing homework.
- Lack of socialization
Homework could also make students have less time to spend with their friends and meet new people. Instead, they spend little time left on personal needs.
- Anxiety
Most students experience crippling anxiety (or maybe less) when given homework due to the fear of failure and the need to meet deadlines.
- Burnout
Homework can sometimes lead to burnout as students immerse themselves in the stress of homework, studying, and attending classes. This regular combination often causes burnout in students.
- Damages learning interest
Students may lose interest in learning due to the various assignments that come their way afterward. Things like difficulty, anxiety, and stress can make learning less desirable.
- Distractions at home
Some students misuse the concept of homework as they become distracted by the comfort of their homes and fail in their assignments.
- It burdens parents
Due to the nature of homework, they can become a burden to parents who have to put their children through their homework constantly.
- Difficulty and expenses
Sometimes homework can be too difficult that parents may not have complete knowledge. They would have to result in hiring school teachers or leaving their children to deal with the difficulties independently.
- Time management
Due to the pressure and anxiety that may come with some homework, most students fail to learn time management skills and become overwhelmed with their assignments.
In conclusion, homework can sometimes be tedious, but with the right tools, administration, and proper guidance, they have shown more good than harm to students.