Firstly, I will mention the great amount of time needed to both complete and correct homework. A very large number of students spend many hours working on homework assignments given out by the majority of their teachers. More often than not, these assignments are lengthy and contain more than one part to them or a multitude of questions to respond to. Taking into consideration the hour at which most students must get to school in the morning, having so much work to do in the evening is not ideal when wanting to get as much sleep as possible. Especially in the case of students between the ages of thirteen and twenty, sleep is the second-most important activity in their everyday lives. If students are staying up late doing their mountains of homework, they will not retain as much of the information learned that day as they should. On top of that, they will arrive at school tired and unenthusiastic. Many students also tend to fall asleep in their classes, which is even less helpful. Another group of people affected by the time consumed by homework are the lovely and always under-appreciated teachers. One would assume that they might take pity on themselves and not assign so much of it for, and this is quite obvious, it is just circulating back to their desks to be corrected. Teachers are on their feet all day, expending a lot of energy for both good and useless purposes. No teacher should be spending their weekend correcting assignments for nineteen hours, after a week full of teaching and policing several classes a day. It is just not fair.

           Another great fault with homework is that students are reluctant to do it. Given the option, a very slim and small number of students would actually go home and complete every bit of their assignments. With this in mind, many students do not actually hand in homework at all, whether it is an option or no. Homework is either not done or it is done in a way that does not accurately reflect the student. Most students do their assignments quickly to free up their evenings for eating, sleeping and other more important and relaxing activities. Students will also not complete their homework because they do not understand the material. If homework assignments were translated to class work, then students would be able to finish their work and understand what they are supposed to be learning successfully.

           Now some may point out that complaining about homework is something characteristic of students only. Teachers are pleased and content with spending their evenings correcting the limited and rarely well-done assignments handed back to them. I do not believe how that is true if teachers spend their weekends correcting homework for such a long stretch of time. Not to mention the amount of students that ask them about their assignments, whether they have been corrected yet, and if they will be given back in the next few periods. Students are impatient and are very good at nagging since they do learn from the best; their parents. It must be even more stressful for those teachers who depend greatly on homework assignments to reap most of their marks. Teachers' deadlines for mark books appear to be a lot more stressful than those given to students for homework. If there was no homework, there would be a lot more time to calm down and there would be a lot less scrambling around. Deadlines would be easily obtainable as well and a large amount of unwanted and unneeded pressure would be lifted.

           As far as homework being a useful learning tool, it does not seem like one when done poorly. It is also not entirely useful when not done which is the majority of the time. Students would have a simpler time having time in class to work on such assignments under the eye of a teacher for any questions. If students are marked more harshly on their use of class time, there would be less fooling around and more work and participation involved. They would also be well-rested and eager to ponder over what their various teachers are ready to teach.

           To conclude, homework is just not helpful; it hinders. It is a waste of time, is often not done, stressful for all and just is not enjoyable. Without these kinds of assignments, more students would be eager to go to school and eager to do well. Our trees would also live a lot longer than they have been.