Editor’s Note: The opinion in this article is that of the author.
At this rigorous school, where we are either required to participate in after-school activities or choose to compete in high-level club teams, there is too much homework. Of course, the homework load varies from student to student based on their classes and grade, but during the weeks before break, at the end of a semester, or during a random work-heavy week, the amount of stress caused by homework is extreme. Currently, each class is supposed to assign no more than an hour’s worth of homework, which gives students a typical load of 2-3 hours per day.
Many students have long commutes to add to their day. Some practice and exercise in the morning. An elite swimmer in one of my classes gets into the pool at 5 am and then often adds a school practice in the afternoon. I have friends who lift weights early in the morning to build strength for their sports.
Even students who do not have morning activities typically get up by 6 or 6:30. After school activities end at around 5:30, and the bus leaves at 5:45, putting students at home at around 6:15. Once the student gets home, they should eat, spend time with their family, do their chores, shower–and then begin what may be hours of homework. In addition to all of this, a good number of the students at Potomac participate in a club sport in addition to their Potomac team, or take music lessons or have tutoring, among other activities. It is just too much.
There is no doubt that homework forces students to stay up later than usual and causes them not to get enough sleep. In assemblies, we have heard well-meaning adults say, “Sleep comes before any homework!” or “Prioritize your sleep and mental health.” However, following this good advice can lead to unwanted grades. According to The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, when children are sleep deprived, they “may feel angry and impulsive, have mood swings, feel sad or depressed, or lack motivation.” Conversely, the organization says that “sleep improves learning and problem-solving skills. Sleep helps you pay attention, make decisions, and be creative.”
In my sophomore journalism elective, we do not have any homework, and my peers and I feel that we have learned just as much in that class as we have in other classes that assign lots of homework. So, I believe that the homework policy at Potomac needs to be altered. Lessening the amount of homework that each class is allowed to give by fifteen minutes would be a major benefit to students.
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