NPR on the value of homework:
This NPR discussion features two education writers who both support homework but from different angles, creating some interesting tensions:
The Core Agreement: Both Holly Korbey and Elizabeth Matthew support homework, particularly for older students. They compare it to practice in sports or music—you need repetition to build skills.
Key Tensions:
Why homework disappeared: Elizabeth blames higher education's "equity" approach—eliminating achievement to close achievement gaps. Holly focuses more on public perception that learning should always be "fun and creative," unlike how we view athletic practice.
What homework actually does: Elizabeth emphasizes executive function—having deliverables, meeting responsibilities to non-parents, building independence and routine. Holly stresses cognitive benefits—storing knowledge in long-term memory rather than relying on Google, practicing foundational skills like multiplication tables.
The class contradiction: Elizabeth points out that upper-middle-class parents complain most about homework burdens, yet lower-income families (who may actually struggle more with time) could benefit most since their kids have fewer structured activities and homework provides screen-free constructive time.
The research: Clear benefits for middle/high school students, but elementary school evidence is mixed. Both acknowledge there was too much bad homework in the mid-2000s, leading to overcorrection.
The alarm: Both worry about declining national reading and math scores over the past decade, suggesting the no-homework trend may be contributing to academic decline.
