Why teachers assign less homework: Students won't do it -- but AI will
- Joanne Jacobs
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Forty percent of teachers say they're assigning less homework, and 24 percent don't assign any, according to an EdWeek survey, reports Jennifer Vilcarino. Thirty-three percent haven't changed and only 3 percent are asking for more.
Among those who have lowered homework expectations, the major reason is simple: 47 percent say students refuse to do it. Another 29 percent say AI cheating has made homework less valuable while 28 percent say "equity concerns — that some students have more access to homework help than others — is a factor," she writes.
Asking students to do homework teaches the habits of "mature learners," says Janine Bempechat, who was a Boston University education professor. Students learn to set priorities and take responsibility. If parents aren't able to help, schools should provide assistance during or after school, she tells Vilcarino. “That’s more how we should be thinking about the equity issue, rather [than] minimizing homework.” Otherwise, “it may end up hurting the very kids we want to be helping the most.”
Educators on social media are divided about the usefulness of homework, writes EdWeek's Edér Del Prado. "Some argue that the extra practice can address national declines in math and literacy skills, while others contend that excessive workloads contribute to student burnout and strip away time for family, rest, and personal interests."
Several teachers said the only "homework" is schoolwork that students didn't finish in class.
Years ago, I visited a Vietnamese refugee family with five children. All the kids had 30 minutes of free time after they got home from school. Then they sat down at the kitchen table to do their homework. That included the youngest, a kindergartener who had no homework. The parents created an "assignment," such as drawing a picture, so he could practice doing homework. The father said he didn't have the education needed to go beyond working as an electronics technician. "So I decided to invest myself in my children," he said.
If schools will not fail and hold back students who do not do their homework, then why would any student do the homework. Once again, the issue is really about high completion versus high standards while everyone refuse to face the issue.
My pupils who are about to arrive will come with their homework done, which is assigned for no other purpose than to help them achieve the learning objectives agreed for compulsory education by the Common Core English states: they know this, and as for their peers who are less motivated, they'll just fall steadily behind.
Not wanting to do work in the classroom or assigned homework will have repercussions if they manage to get a job, where you are expected to do assigned tasks, fail to do enough of the assigned tasks on a regular basis and you just get fired...
Look at the stats for the Gen Z firing rate for proof...
You won't be able to use AI to cheat your way through real-life...it's much less forgiving than academia
I continue to assign homework on the grounds that students who choose to actually do it benefit. The students who cheat or refuse to do it at all, well they're just hurting themselves. I've sort of stopped caring.
There was a time in which I made the "homework" be finishing assignments given in class. Too many students would to bupkis in class and claim they would finish it at home. Of those, most never did. Of those who did, many of them had strong indicators of not doing their own work.
Now, I'm back to class assignments that are due at the end of the period, and using the mediocre textbook for short homework assignments.
The biggest thing my struggling students are missing is a work ethic. Without that, success is impossible.