How Much Homework Is Too Much Homework? [Opinion]

School work at home or homework as they like to call it has always been a big issue in our house. If it was assigned, then it had to be done. However, I have called many a teacher and asked for an explanation as to why the assignment was so lengthy.

God forbid you have a child involved in extra curricular activities like sports or band. Still there is a need for children to learn and to learn on their own. That takes time. But at what point does the law of diminishing returns set in and the opportunity for gaining new knowledge become eclipsed by fatigue and frustration?

I was reading a study online from Spain that addressed that particular issue. When does the benefit of homework stop and is there a particular time limit in which that occurs. It appears the answer is 70 minutes.  This particular study looked at math and science students, both boys and girls with a median age of just over 13 years. The study found that quantity of homework was an issue only when it exceeded that 70 minute time frame.

Another interesting aspect of the study showed that teachers who gave regular homework assignments had students who exceeded the average by as much as 50% on standardized tests. To me the study was saying this, yes there needs to be enough homework for students to learn how to handle the material on their own. That amount needs to be limited in scope but assigned regularly.

I am certainly no scholar on education, I am a parent who has raised two children one in college, the other about graduate high school. I would tend to agree with these findings based upon my own school experiences. When I think back to my school years, I find that the teachers who gave regular small doses of homework tended to get the best results from me. I am far from being intelligent but I do have a basic capability to learn. So maybe those teachers knew something back then that we've forgotten up until now.

If you're a parent or an educator I would love to know your thoughts on this. I am not saying this is the definitive answer on homework but I believe it's worth thinking about. I know as a parent I often felt like I did more harm than good when I helped my children with certain homework subjects. Sometimes the way I learned a subject back in the stone age was being taught different here on the new frontier.

We are all concerned about education. Instead of focusing on what's wrong, let's try to find something that is right and pursue that. Just my thoughts, I welcome yours.