Homework. One of the most dreaded words in the American language. That may be an exaggeration, but it is a pressing matter for this generation. Students are constantly asking, “Is it more hurtful than helpful?” Teachers assign homework as a type of review, so when the pupil is home they can review by themselves what they have learned that day.

Although homework can be very helpful, it can be very stressful at times. Homework causes many physical complications. Backpacks are so heavy that students are suffering from back pain. Wearing a heavy bag on just one shoulder can cause or reinforce muscle imbalances in the shoulders and spine. Being healthy in this day and age is very important, so are we just going to ignore the danger of our students getting subjected to possibly permanent damage to their bodies and minds?

Back pain, however, is the least of your issues regarding homework. Students feeling overwhelmed from the amount of homework they have night after night is starting to cause other issues. Students are getting anxiety from trying to finish all of their homework and are left feeling “idiotic” if they do not understand the material.

Another argument is that for eight hours a day, five days a week, 180 days a year, our students are constantly learning. Shouldn’t being at home be an escape from the tiring and stressful school day?  Instead of being able to kick off their shoes and relax, they are slaving over assignment after assignment. If you understand what happened in class and you are able to show it, should you be subjected to doing something as tedious as homework? If it has been proven that so much work can be detrimental to a  student’s mind…why keep doing it?