There is a strong difference between the kids in school that do their homework, and the kids who ignore it to play after school. However, does this mean the homework is actually improving their skills? Or is it just improving their grade?
I've been through elementary school, to junior high and high school, and then moved onto college. All I can say after my own experience, and through the experiences of what I can see through others, is that, it depends. I definitely do not agree that homework should be completely absent, although I have seen a number of assignments over the years that were just busy work. How do we find balance between the right homework and the busy-work homework?
I think this is something all instructors should focus on. Some teachers teach less, meaning they have more time to grade assignments. On the other end, some teach more classes, or have busier lives and rarely give out assignments. Either way, I have this to say to them: Keep in mind the personal lives of your students, and give out assignments that are worth them doing!
Don't give students 50 math problems to do in one night that cover the same topic. Most understand it after a few problems. I actually had an assignment like this entering my freshman year in high school. Determined to do well, I completed the ridiculous assignment and cancelled my plans for the night. The assignment took me about 3 1/2 hours without breaks included. After this, I started my assignments for other classes.
Now if I hadn't had math homework, I genuinely believe I'd be struggling a lot more in college-level calculus than I am now. However, I didn't need those multiple-hour long assignments to learn the material. All nighters for high schoolers should only be pulled by the students who deserve it; the students who are trying to catch up. Students who do their assignments regularly, and have a great deal of responsibility should not have to deal with nights of no freedom.
I don't believe homework should last any student more than two hours a night. For most nights, I don't believe it should surpass one hour. There are, of course, exceptions when projects are due, or a test the next day. Keep in mind, teachers, that you're not the only instructor giving out assignments. The biggest problem with time-constraints is that teachers will say, "Oh this assignment shouldn't take you more than a half an hour." The problem is, once four teachers say that, students have their 2-hour time block filled up.
So what's good, useful homework? Instead of 50 math problems, cover 5 from each section you covered over the week. Instead of 5 chapters of reading, tell your students they have to have read up to a certain point, by a certain date. Giving your students some flexibility along with responsibility is good homework. In addition, more will probably actually do it.
So now that we've distinguished busy-work and actual homework, we can see the benefits homework can have. Without busy-work, kids practice the skills they've learned in school outside of the classroom, and at the same time have free-time to play, explore their other interests, and relax.
As the years went on, I stopped doing the homework I didn't want to. Call me a rebel. I was sick of the assignments that I knew were ridiculous, and only kept up with the assignments I felt were going to help me on a test or a larger project. Even though that hurt my grades, weeding out the unnecessary homework on my own let me pick up a part-time job, and play tennis after school. I also spent more time on my personal interests. I was working on a website during my teen years, rather than practicing math problems.
Was my choice a valid one? I'm doing fine in college. I have the responsibility to make it on my own. I even have a great job because I have so much experience with web development, a personal interest. It wasn't worth my grades suffering though. I tried to create a balance, but my balance wasn't perfect.
If you're a student suffering from too much homework, I suggest this to you. First off, be responsible. Do you have valid reason to believe your homework is too much? Don't use my advice to get out of useful homework assignments. If you do have one of those 50 problem per night teachers though, have a discussion with them. It might not change anything, but saying nothing will surely not change anything. Discuss it with them in an adult-like manner, and organize your thoughts ahead of time. Make suggestions, but never apt for no homework whatsoever. Let them know that you have a part-time job, sports, and other activities. Suggest what you think would make you more likely to do the assignment.
So after all this, does homework improve academic achievement? Yes, when used correctly. Can it take up kid's free time, sometimes too much? Yes, definitely. For both teachers and students, it is important to find a balance, but yet a responsible way of doing to.