For years students have been sent home from schools across the world with seven to eight classes worth of homework. In past generations, homework was known to help children learn materials used to perform well on tests and get into a good college. But times are different. Today’s generation should not have to stress over completing homework materials on their own time as they also begin to learn criteria for the outside world and gaining a job based on creativity and not test scores. Schools should eliminate homework.

At home materials given to students by teachers take up time. There are only twenty-four hours in a day, and scientists recommend students get eight hours of sleep. Most high schools in the South Bend Community School Corporation start classes at nine and end at four. This is eight valuable hours from those twenty-four that students use in school to learn the materials needed in such classes. This does not include after school activities that students are encouraged to participate in where time can vary from two to six hours. Many students are also trying to earn money for college by getting a job. Adding homework, from seven different classes, a student’s schedule is overwhelmed and this cuts into the sleep schedule.

The idea of leading this generation into adulthood by adding more stress such as homework into students’ lives is ridiculous. Test scores, numbers, and worksheets are not what todayś students will be credited upon during later stages of life such as the interview process for up and coming jobs.  Creativity, intuition, and the ability to deal with real world issues are what we should be more focused on instead. Perhaps allowing students to perform creative assessments such as sketches, plays, or composed music will provide a fresh sense of creativity and retaining information that is needed to gain success in each class.

Instead of homework teachers should provide  assessments a while before the actual assignment is due may allow students to spread the amount of work needed to finish and turn homework in on time to different days of the week. This can help provide students with the ability to schedule around times needed to give their full attention into working on their grades.

The school does not need to give out at home assignments such as paper worksheets. Instead the school should focus on allowing students to create a plan that will help students be prepared for gaining a good career after high school based on creativity not mindless facts.