Teachers make a big mistake in assuming that their class is the only class we are taking. They assign homework as if we have no homework from any other class. My handy-dandy handbook says that students should devote at least 2 hours each day for written and study assignments. My school has an alternating day schedule, so that can mean 30 minutes per day for one class. The homework load is never ever at the minimum. Let’s also think about someone not on an alternating day schedule. I’ll let you do the math. It also says students should spend ample time reviewing and studying.

Here, I’ll chart out a schedule. I don’t get home until at least 3:00pm. Let’s say I go to sleep around 10:00pm. (Hah! I’ll assume it for argument’s sake, since that would allow me a good amount of sleep.) That’s seven hours to do everything. Now, factor in eating. That can be 30-60 minutes, especially if one eats out. That leaves 6 to 6 1/2 hours. It says minimum two hours a day. That leaves 4 to 4 1/2 hours of free time. Then, we have to factor in studying. Let’s say that’s an additional 30 to 60 minutes, and it can be more when tests are scheduled. That’s 3 1/2 to 4 hours of free time. I’m in band, so I’m supposed to practice 60 minutes a day. That leaves me 2 1/2 to 3 hours of free time. This isn’t always free free time. People have extra-curricular activities. I’d be dead if it weren’t for the alternating day schedule. Indeed, I had to quit piano lessons while marching band was going on.

That’s a mostly minimalistic estimate. Teachers have a habit of assigning projects and tests on the same days. I don’t believe there is any way for this to consistently happen if it were mere coincidence. They plan it. What else do they do at their meetings? Anyway, on the weeks with projects and tests assigned, workload will double or triple. It’s tiring because I get burned out after having to do so many.

Then, there’s the issue of weekends. Weekends aren’t there to give students a break, they’re there for teachers to use up more time with homework. Students don’t need social lives. Why do students always get more work over a 3-day weekend? How many teachers honestly believe that most students won’t put off the work until Sunday night (or Monday morning)? It just makes life more stressful.

Okay, I’ve been making some generalizations here about teachers. I’m don’t profess to be an expert on teaching, but I’m just giving a high school student’s perspective, so please read my suggestions in the next paragraph.

Getting things done more quickly in class would decrease the homework workload and help a lot. Not assigning busy-work would be a plus, too. Most of math is just busy-work. If you understand the concept, then you don’t need to do 100 problems. I hate easy work that’s just a waste of time. I guess one problem is that I could be doing something more productive with that time, but most people won’t. They’ll just slip in another TV show. Oh well.

If only there was a world without so much homework. *sigh*