Although educators have different views on homework, the core principals of student learning are the same. Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash 

by Lily Nye

Many have asked a question that goes beyond simple classroom work: Should "homework" be banned? This question has always been debated amongst teachers and students. 

AP Seminar, AP English Literature, English II teacher, and English Department Chair Mr. David Peters sees homework as an extension of learning. “I would stop short of arguing that there should be a requirement to enforce homework, but I am a proponent of assigning homework, particularly to advanced students. As primarily a reading, writing, and speaking teacher, there simply is not enough time in the school day either to teach students the range of skills they need to know or demonstrate," Peters said.

Reading in Mr. Peters' classes limits the amount of content students can consume. "If I were to have students only read in class, I would severely limit the amount of reading students completed, skills I could otherwise teach, and time I could spend giving individual feedback to students. Moreover, particularly for advanced students, homework is in students' futures: college will continually demand that students devote their time to their own study. 

For Mr. Peters the homework discussion leads students into a realistic world in which they must engage in learning all the time. "Thus, beyond the important learning gains, students need to build the academic grit and character to see them through their futures,” said Mr. Peters.

In contrast to the opinion for homework being an essential part of the high school experience, English I teacher, Mr. Grant Gibson, sees homework in a different light. “Traditional homework, especially for my high school English students, is largely unnecessary and often detrimental. When students don't have a reliable support system at home or are overscheduled, homework quickly becomes a source of stress. Instead of fostering learning, it frequently encourages students to rely on quick, unhelpful external resources just to 'get it done,' thus devaluing the entire assignment.” 

Gibson continued in sharing how a lack of "traditional" homework allows his students to engage in class. "By significantly reducing or eliminating homework, I've found a substantial improvement in the authenticity of student work and their engagement during class time. When assignments are completed exclusively in the classroom, I can provide immediate support and feedback. When there's no pressure to finish work at home, students are also generally less stressed and arrive ready to engage deeply with complex texts," Gibson said.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) brings a new dynamic to the homework discussion. Mr, Peters explored how difficult the functions of AI bring to assignments within his class. "I do think there's the possibility of cheating with any assignment, and I would be unsurprised if there's a percentage of students who may try to cheat on any particular assignment. Homework probably does allow for a higher rate of academic dishonesty since the teacher is not there during completion. All I would say is this: teaching -- good teaching -- is built on trust between the teacher and the student. I choose to place my trust in my students, expecting them to have the intrinsic desire to learn, to be curious," Peters said.

Mr. Gibson echoes the concern over AI. He detailed how he handles issues revolved around AI and assignments and how homework could lead to more academic dishonesty.  “I find that assigning take-home work directly encourages academic dishonesty. The main driver is a fear of failure combined with the easy accessibility of technology. When facing a complex text or a writing prompt outside of school hours, students often resort to Google summaries or AI tools, not because they are inherently lazy, but because they are overwhelmed and there is no knowledgeable adult available to help them genuinely struggle through the difficult work," Gibson said.

The debate over homework will extend as learning and technology evolves. Although these two teachers see homework differently, the core goal of student learning is clear.