by Angela S. Young

Created on: April 03, 2007   Last Updated: August 31, 2008

Contrary to the popular opinion of many students, teachers do not like to give homework. However, the following are a few of the many reasons teachers do this horrible thing to their students and the parents who must listen to the whining.

1. Teachers are required to give homework by the 'powers' that regulate what they do. Teachers must teach a certain amount of material in a limited amount of time, and homework is the only way to make it to the finish line have students learn all they should in that time.

2. Teachers understand that students may need more 'practice' outside school walls. Students spend a small amount of time each day on several subjects. In order to set' the learning, students need some extra practice after school hours so they are ready to move on to new learning sooner.

3. Teachers want to give a student the opportunity to 'stretch' his/her mind. Homework is often an extension of what students learned in class each day. It allows them, not only to practice what they've learned, but expand it in new ways.

4. There is only so much work that can be accomplished in a 6 hour school day, and teachers still must appease aforementioned powers. (See 1.)

5. Homework gives parents an opportunity to see what the student is learning at school, and therefore, the opportunity to support school learning and spend time with their children. Parents taking interest in a student's school work builds a child's enthusiasm and teaches them the importance of learning new things.

6. Having required tasks outside the school room builds discipline. In the real world, the person will have to meet deadlines, and jump through hoops to please his or her employer. Homework helps them build self-discipline as well as the ability to complete work within a time-frame.

These are examples of what are NOT reasons for a teacher to give homework:

1. Teachers want to make sure you are thinking about them after hours. We know most students will not think nice thoughts about us as they sit through more school work at home.

2. Teachers just love staying up all night grading papers. Believe me, we have families and lives and things we like to do better than grading papers.

3. Teachers like to extend the torture of the school room by extending it into your home. Teachers want a student's best, they know things that are good for us are not always the things we want to do.

4. Teachers are just sadistic people. Just as it hurts parents to discipline children or teach them to do the unpleasant

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