Too Much Homework Can Be Counterproductive

Spy der Mann writes "An interesting study made by to two Penn State researchers shows that increases in homework may actually hinder educational achievement (Coral Cache) instead of improving it. The researchers analyzed a large amount of data collected by the Third International Study of Mathematics and Sciences (TIMSS) in 1994 from schools in 41 nations across the fourth, eighth and 12th grades. For some analyses, they used data from an identical study carried out in '99." From the article: "An unintended consequence may be that those children who need extra work and drill the most are the ones least likely to get it. Increasing homework loads is likely to aggravate tensions within the family, thereby generating more inequality and eroding the quality of overall education."

Comments

Re:Scholarly researchers?

[utexaspunk]

We were fully qualified for the majority of agricultural and industrial jobs, and plenty of service jobs, too. So we went into high school with the basic knowledge we need in modern society. That's not what we were there for.

I don't think having the average child only be qualified for agricultural, industrial, and service jobs is something that would be beneficial for our national economy. While there is demand for these workers now, it is clear that there are significant trends which indicate that as technology increases and better industrial farming, mass production, and automation methods are developed, demand will decline.

Meanwhile, sectors like engineering, design, and the creative industries continue to grow. If we wish to fill future demand and remain a big player in the world economy, we will need a large supply of workers with higher education than what is developed by the time one enters high school. High school primes (or at least should prime) workers for jobs which require much more critical, creative, and analytical thinking than what an 8th grade education provides. Widespread availabilty of employees with skills honed in high school, such as research, analytical writing and trigonometry are imperative for the long-term viability of our economy.