Ban homework in schools to lessen burden

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Dr B.V.Vijay

24 February, 2010

Homework must be banned in its present form. After all, the human brain's abilities can't improve from living with school books. Schools must be stopped from being the administration centers they now are.

THE TYPICAL Indian child has a legacy of bringing home everyday a load of so-called homework assignments from his/ her teachers at school. Time and again, this practice has been discussed for being right or wrong. The fact is, it is wrong, but more so in the mode it is enforced.

Those, who argue for homework essentially claim it reinforces concepts taught at school. Those against it say it destroys the child's social development. The truth seems to lie somewhere in between.

A child that fails to pick up concepts at school has no choice, but to do so somewhere else and that is at home. On the other hand, it is ridiculous to assume all children need to be given a daily dose of homework to reinforce the concepts taught at school. The bottom line is children need to be somehow motivated to learn. That is what schools ought to be doing.

What we are seeing however, is the clever way out for schools- pass on the responsibility to the child him (her) self! The bigger ill is that a child's homework is one for his/ her parents as well. With parents concerned that their child may fail to grasp concepts, they have no choice but to spend their evenings helping the child with homework. With working parents being the rule, you have a meeting of frustrations- happy families indeed.

Homework must be banned in its present form. After all, the human brain's abilities can’t improve from living with school books. Schools must be stopped from being the administration centers they now are. They need to employ effective ways to teach concepts and help children remember the principles.

Computers and multimedia should be exploited far more for this purpose. Tests must be computerised and child friendly as well, encouraging the child to improve rather than penalising for ignorance. Children must have ample time outside their books. Wonder if our education minister would see the point fast enough.