Inequity in Education: The Negative Effects of Homework on Students

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Homework on Students
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Because of the demands required from homework, many students feel stressed. Over time, they start developing an aversion toward school. This situation can put students at risk for health issues. 

Homework can cause anxiety. They find less time to spend with their families and doing things they enjoy. Too much homework can feel suffocating, especially for students. These negative effects can be easily prevented by decreasing the homework given to students. Unless teachers realize this, students will continue experiencing such effects.

Not having enough time to relax and recharge

Research has shown that excessive homework can lead to students not having the ability to meet their developmental needs simultaneously. They cannot cultivate essential life skills either. 

This can lead to giving up extra-curricular activities, spending less time with other people, and giving up on their hobbies. Some students even experience health issues. These include exhaustion, migraines, weight loss, stomach problems, and sleep deprivation.

Seek help to lighten the load

Being a student involves a lot of hard work. While on campus, they have to focus on each class to complete the whole course. When you add lots of writing homework to the mix, students might feel too pressured. Writing one essay is a simple task. But when all teachers assign essays, students can feel overwhelmed with their education. In such a case, students can pay to do homework on Ca.EduBirdie. With such help, students will have more free time to pick up a book and learn on their own.

More stress

Too much homework is often associated with high levels of stress. Many students claim that homework is the primary cause of stress in their lives. This especially applies to students who grow up in poverty. These students are more at risk for the adverse effects of stress. When it comes to stress and health, it’s clear that too much homework can adversely affect students of all ages and social classes.

Decreased performance at all levels

Research has shown that a certain amount of homework may help test scores improve. However, this benefit starts to decrease after doing 1 hour of homework on a certain subject. For instance, students who do more than 1.5 hours of homework every night perform worse on tests compared to students who do less than 1.5 hours of homework. 

Some studies have shown that more homework at the elementary level can have an adverse effect on their test scores. You may use homework as an attempt to help a student catch up in class. This might work for some students. But for the majority, having to do too much work at home will make them less productive in class.

Negative effects on emotional well-being

Even as a teacher, you should know that assigning too much homework can become disheartening. It can erode the motivation of students to succeed. When this happens, doing homework turns into an uphill struggle. It can make students feel like they can’t succeed no matter how hard they try. Sadly, when this mindset continues, they might consider easier options to complete their work, like cheating.

It’s important for students to have time to relax. They need time to have fun with their family and friends. This would help them unwind and become more productive. It could raise their spirits and make them feel inspired. If you assign too much homework, it might end up affecting their emotional well-being. This makes them unproductive and sad. If they don’t quit, your students might just resort to dishonest methods.

Feelings of hopelessness, especially for online learners

The issue of excessive homework is even worse for students who study at home. Students have no choice but to do their schoolwork at home all day, every day. They study online and, after that, complete the given homework. They need to sit in front of their computers or laptops at home. After logging off for the day, they would face more school work instead of relaxing. Some teachers even require students to do additional homework in their free time.

This is another aspect where inherent educational inequalities surface. Children who come from well-off homes have access to resources like internet connections, computers, and dedicated schoolwork areas. 

They also have parents who are more educated. Parents who can help them with homework. But those from disadvantaged homes may have to work while studying. For younger students, they need to manage without supervision while their go to parents work. This could make them feel hopeless, which isn’t good at all. 

Conclusion

Homework is something all students have to do. It’s an important aspect of keeping them engaged with the lessons outside the school. Doing homework enables students to think about what they learned in class. It also helps develop mastery through real-life applications. But too much homework can result to stress for students. As you give more assignments, some of your students may feel less engaged in class and at home.