There is one major problem at DPHS. Homework.
What’s the solution? Get rid of it.
It goes beyond the fact that it’s annoying. Homework has multiple impacts on a student’s mental health. The main areas are sleep, anxiety, and depression.
According to The Better Sleep Council, “more than two-thirds (67%) [of students] say they only get 5 to 7 hours of sleep on a school night.” A person’s recommended amount of sleep is between 8 and 10 hours a night, and many people suggest that teens get more sleep than that.
Sleep is a serious issue. It determines a person’s energy during the day. And a person’s energy affects students’ work on a certain subject. Honestly, it’s hard for a high schooler to function let alone perform in the classroom. The sad part is this can be changed and hasn’t.
What’s more important – getting students “smarter” by giving them hours of homework or not giving students homework and letting them sleep more so that while students are at school they can perform well?
Getting rid of homework will not make every student get 8 or more hours of sleep. But the fact is that at least that is their decision. If the students want to stay up late and not function well that’s their choice, but at least they are not being forced to stay up to finish an assignment.
One other big area that homework has impacted students is anxiety and depression.
According to Joon.com, 68.5% of high schoolers report being clinically diagnosed with anxiety followed by 52.6% of students diagnosed with depression and then 44.6% of students diagnosed with both. All this is heavily caused by the stress from school that correlates with homework.
Anxiety and depression are very serious issues that cause people to struggle in multiple aspects of life. Most anxiety and depression cases are uncontrolled, but schools are causing almost 50% of kids to develop a serious illness. Homework can be taken away and serious medical illness.
While other factors cause anxiety and depression than just homework, eliminating it will cause a decrease in anxiety and depression.
We’ve simply outgrown homework. At this point, the cons heavily outweigh the pros, and the cons are severe medical issues.
I personally have outgrown homework. During many of my fall nights, I spent my time from 3:03- 6:00 at a volleyball practice and even later if I had a game. I enjoy volleyball, so having hours of practice doesn’t bother me like having a project or assignment due the next day.
It’s time to take away homework forever.
