Child - First and Foremost The Child - First and Foremost The Child - First and Foremost The

Posts

What's New?
(Last updated on August 3, 2000)

What's Hot?

How Much Homework Do You Get in High School?

Homework has become an integral aspect of every tier of education. Some teachers believe homework helps students develop academically and build good study skills. Conversely, others see homework as unnecessary and a major cause of anxiety and burnout in kids.

However, you may look at it, research shows that this debate is more complex than it looks, and several factors must be considered. Homework is largely beneficial, and various amounts are assigned at each stage of education. The amount that is given usually increases with the standard of education. This article will discuss just how much homework in high school is given and how much is required.

How Much Homework Do You Get in High School?

The amount of homework gotten in high school can differ depending on location, class, and the general subject of teaching. According to a study conducted by the Washington Post, on average, students in high school do about 2 to 3 hours of homework per night.

Also, when students were asked directly, most of the answers gotten were from 0 to 10 hours. These answers varied based on the subject done and the particular day of the week. Nevertheless, an average of about 3 to 5 hours per day remained.

However, educational experts stipulate that a good and healthy amount of homework should follow the "10-minute rule". This rule states that each grade level should get a maximum of 10 minutes of homework per day. This means that a first grader should get just 10 minutes of homework, a fourth-grader should get about 40 minutes, and a ninth-grader should get at least 90 minutes of homework.

So on the look of things, some high school students seem to be getting a lot more homework to do than they probably should.

How Much Time Do High School Students Spend on Homework?

The amount of time spent on homework depends on several factors such as:

  • The type or subject of the homework
  • The school the student attends
  • The teacher they have for the particular assignment
  • And how good they are at understanding the material

Optimally, a high school student should spend about an hour or half-an-hour doing homework every night. But the amount of time spent can vary from student to student.

Students in high school tend to spend a lot more time on homework than they should, and this is chiefly due to the volume of homework they are given and their lack of full understanding of the material.

How many hours of homework in high school is really required? Following the 10 minute rule, students should have a maximum of two hours of homework per night, but many students tend to spend way more time on them.

Why Does High School Give So Much Homework?

High schools give a lot of homework because most are convinced that it is vital for academic development. Most educational institutions generally assume the more homework given to students, the more they would develop and improve academically. This assumption is largely inaccurate as more homework doesn't necessarily mean more improvement.

However, since high school is a critical stage of learning, this assumption is largely adopted at the high school stage. Also, some parents demand or expect homework for their kids as proof of an intensive and effective teaching process. This makes teachers and schools more inclined to assign more homework to students to show they are being taught effectively.

To solve the problem of excessive assignments, schools and teachers should be able to answer the questions "what is the average amount of homework in high school?" and what amount is reasonable per class?

Why is Homework Bad for High School Students?

Homework is not necessarily bad for high school students, but too much homework is. Research has shown that homework is less effective when it becomes excessive or too intensive for students. This makes them take more time to complete, and it gradually turns assignments into busywork, which slowly decreases students' interest in learning.

How to Pass High School Without Doing Homework

Although homework provides great benefits in education, some suggest it can be done without. Since most people believe it is vital, how can you pass without it?

As a student, you can pass high school without doing homework by focusing on classwork and consistent studying. You can also mimic homework activities in your free time by engaging in practice questions at your own pace to improve your understanding of your subjects.

Fundamentally, homework provides numerous benefits, but they can be detrimental when assigned improperly. Students should have the opportunity to learn at their own pace and still have time for personal activities.


Index to the Putnam Valley Web Sites

Awards Middle School Peers Influence Peers
Curriculum Elementary School Pik-a-Pat
Developing Educational Standards Job Opportunities Pupil Personnel Services
District Resources Links Pages Technical Information


The Putnam Valley site is up and running because of the contributions of many people. Of particular note are Paul Lee, our assistant superintendent for business, who oversees the network and wiring; Jennifer Harriton and Frank Reale, school computer coordinators; Shelly Salzberg, director of special education and webmaster of the Pupil Personnel Services site; John Pellegrino, computer applications teacher; and Bruce Johnson, technology teacher and webmaster for NYSTEA. It bears stating and repeating that none of this would have been possible without the active and appropriately critical support of the Putnam Valley Board of Education and superintendent John Kleinegris.