How Do Parents Feel About Homework?

By Patrick Reeves

There are different views on the topic of homework and its role in the process of studying. In fact, the perspective of the parents on such a phenomenon is quite critical as far as parents tend to deal with homework as much as children do. There are several ideas concerning the benefits and drawbacks of homework that describe the current situation. Hence, homework causes such challenges as lack of time, problems with parental involvement in the process, and absence of time and desire to be involved in the after-school activities.

First of all, the main aim of the homework is to increase the ability to memorize the information and to form the necessary skills. Besides, the homework helps the teacher to understand and control the level of students’ perception of the new material. Otherwise, parents have a controversial attitude toward the role of homework in the studying process. According to Hargis, the homework is a source of additional problems both for children and parents. The author of the article believes that the main problem is in the excessive parental involvement in the homework. Thus, teachers tend to shift the responsibility for the homework on parents. The problem is that parents usually lack necessary information concerning the learning material as well as the methods of how to teach children a particular subject. In order to solve the problem, it is necessary to increase the level of interaction between teachers and parents.

Also, Hargis emphasizes the fact that children do not have enough time to cope with all tasks and usually should learn the whole night to finish the homework. Regarding the article, reducing the number of home tasks is a possible solution to the problem that will help to decrease the excessive pressure on students. Therefore, there should be a balance between the material learned at school and the tasks required to finish at home.

One more important fact is that excessive amount of homework leads to the reduction of time for after-school activities. As far as children have to spend the majority of time at school, they also should spend a lot of time to complete all the homework. As a result, such a situation leads to the unwillingness to participate in the after-school activities or to spend time on hobbies.

According to Joyce, homework is the main problem of a lack of enthusiasm among the students regarding the fact that children feel exhausted because of homework. What is more, children need time for outdoor activities, relax, communication with friends, and hobbies while the homework denies such opportunities. As a result, lack of free time influences not only the quality of life but also decrease the academic performance among the students regarding a lack of enthusiasm. That is why it is necessary to solve the problem with the excessive amount of homework. Therefore, if students will have enough time for rest after school, such an approach will help to reduce the fatigue as well as the feeling of frustration and social isolation.

To sum up, parents have a specific attitude towards the role of homework and its influence on children. The main problem of homework is that the excessive amount of extra tasks decrease the amount of time available for outdoor activities, communication, social interactions, and after-school activities. That is why there is a need to reduce the excessive amount of homework to decrease the load with studying and increase the level of enthusiasm among the students that will have a positive influence on the academic performance.