Essay-writing contest- Should students be given homework and why?

Homework is a vehicle for independent learning

I feel that students should be given homework as it gives an opportunity to establish the practice of studying in the environment at home. It is a vehicle for independent learning. The reasons for giving homework change as the students get older.

In the initial academic years, it is the forging of a constructive relationship between school and home that is of primordial importance. For primary school children, it gives chance to do things at home which are difficult at school. It helps parents to know what their children are doing in school.

For secondary school children, homework is important because it develops skills, confidence and motivation needed to study effectively on their own. It teaches life-long learning and adaptability, sustaining the involvement of parents in the management of students’ learning.

Teachers should give homework, possibly relevant to the environment the students are working in, reasonably within a set time limit and should have a clear schedule. It should be followed-up in the school to show that it is valued and makes a useful contribution to learning.

Parents should value, encourage, praise and provide a peaceful and suitable place at home for children to do their homework.

Homework gives better retention of factual knowledge, increases understanding, critical thinking, concept formation and information processing and also curriculum enrichment. It encourages learning during leisure time, improves attitude towards school, develops better study habits, greater self-direction, self-discipline, better time organisation, more inquisitiveness and independent problem-solving, promoting the student-parent-teacher partnership.

- I Pradeepa, Class VIII, Warangal Public School (CBSE), Hanamkonda, Warangal

Good homework always puts mind to work