Editing Homework (section)

== Criticism ==
[[File:This is a stupid way to write a paper.jpg|thumb|Homework can take up a large portion of a student's free time and lead to stress, despair, anger, and sleep disorders among children, as well as arguments among families.]]
Homework and its effects, justifications, motivations and alleged benefits have been the subject of sharp criticism among many education experts and researchers.

According to a study by the [[Dresden University of Technology]], homework—described in the study as "an educational ritual"—has little to no influence on academic performance.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|last=|date=2008-02-01|title=Studie: Hausaufgaben bringen überhaupt nichts|work=DIE WELT|url=https://www.welt.de/wissenschaft/article1621102/Hausaufgaben-bringen-ueberhaupt-nichts.html|access-date=2021-05-03|archive-date=2016-04-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427020922/http://www.welt.de/wissenschaft/article1621102/Hausaufgaben-bringen-ueberhaupt-nichts.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

When assigning homework, each student is usually given the same exercises, regardless of how well the student is performing. This leaves some students under-challenged and others overwhelmed by their homework.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Is homework too like hard work?|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/is-homework-too-like-hard-work-1.193595?mode=amp&mode=|access-date=2020-12-18|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |archive-date=2021-11-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124145429/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/is-homework-too-like-hard-work-1.193595?mode=|url-status=live}}</ref> For others, the degree of difficulty of homework may be appropriate, but students are unable to decide for themselves whether they need to deepen their knowledge in a particular subject or whether to use the time in other subjects with which they experience more difficulty, despite the fact that homework is often seen as a way of encouraging [[Self-regulation theory|self-regulation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254120465 |title=Developing Self-Regulation Skills: The Important Role of Homework |date= |accessdate=2021-11-24 |archive-date=2021-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413060735/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254120465_Developing_Self-Regulation_Skills_The_Important_Role_of_Homework |url-status=live }}</ref>

Homework is sometimes used to outsource school material not completed in class to the home, leaving children with homework that is not designed to be done on their own and parents feeling helpless and frustrated.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|last=Mathews|first=Jay|date=2007-02-20|title=Homework Critics vs. Me|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/technology/2007/02/20/homework-critics-vs-me/0c2b242f-5d1c-4f99-9a4d-f2cb68b09e54/|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|access-date=2020-12-18|archive-date=2021-11-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124145357/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/technology/2007/02/20/homework-critics-vs-me/0c2b242f-5d1c-4f99-9a4d-f2cb68b09e54/|url-status=live}}</ref> As a consequence, students often have to use the internet or other resources for help, which provides [[Homework gap|disadvantages for students without internet access]]. Thus, such homework fails to promote [[Equal opportunity|equality of opportunity]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Homework Is Bad, Research Confirms|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/homework-is-bad-research-confirms/|access-date=2020-12-18|website=Vice.com|date=20 November 2020 |language=en|archive-date=2020-12-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212032513/https://www.vice.com/en/article/88aq9a/homework-is-bad-research-confirms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=WELT|date=2016-08-28|title=Schulleiter warnen: Hausaufgaben gefährden Chancengleichheit|work=DIE WELT|url=https://www.welt.de/newsticker/dpa_nt/infoline_nt/brennpunkte_nt/article157885905/Hausaufgaben-gefaehrden-Chancengleichheit.html|access-date=2020-12-18|archive-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024021744/https://www.welt.de/newsticker/dpa_nt/infoline_nt/brennpunkte_nt/article157885905/Hausaufgaben-gefaehrden-Chancengleichheit.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Homework without professional feedback from the teacher has little effect on the learning success of students.<ref>{{cite web|date=2013-11-14|title=The Case Against Homework: Why It Doesn't Help Students Learn {{!}} Resilient Educator|url=https://resilienteducator.com/classroom-resources/the-homework-debate-the-case-against-homework/|access-date=2020-12-18|website=ResilientEducator.com|language=en|archive-date=2020-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114124606/https://resilienteducator.com/classroom-resources/the-homework-debate-the-case-against-homework/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Even if it is generally not wanted by homework distributors (unless homework is given as a punishment), completing homework may take up a large part of the student's free time. It is often the case that children [[procrastinate]] on doing their homework until late at night, which can lead to [[sleep disorders]] and unhealthy [[Psychological stress|stress]].<ref name=":3" /> Children may feel overwhelmed when they have too much homework, which can negatively affect children's natural [[curiosity]] and thirst for [[knowledge]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Pinsker|first=Joe|date=2019-03-28|title=The Cult of Homework|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2019/03/homework-research-how-much/585889/|access-date=2020-12-18|website=The Atlantic|language=en|archive-date=2020-12-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213063938/https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2019/03/homework-research-how-much/585889/|url-status=live}}</ref>

A study by the [[UCL Institute of Education]], which concerned the impact of homework in different countries, discovered that the pressure associated with homework causes arguments among family members.<ref name=":6">{{cite web|date=2004-02-14|title=Homework causes family arguments|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/homework-causes-family-arguments.130170|access-date=2021-05-03|website=[[Times of Malta]] |archive-date=2021-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503191724/https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/homework-causes-family-arguments.130170|url-status=live}}</ref> The study also showed that homework can lead to [[anxiety]], [[Depression in childhood and adolescence|depression]], and [[emotional exhaustion]] among children.<ref name=":6" />