To the Editor:

As I walk into class, I’m afraid to look at the board. I already have Spanish, math, and science homework. I look at the board and it says, “Vocabulary pages 200 and 208,” and I want to cry.

Kids get so much homework these days. Some nights, I come home and do my homework from the time that I get off the bus to the time I go to bed.

The older kids get, the more time they spend on homework. This means they have less time for sports, family, and sleep, which to some people are very important.

A lot of times, I get either a lot of homework or none at all. I think that our core teachers need to communicate more so if one teacher is, for example, giving a big project the other teachers won’t give us as much homework so kids can do a good job, and not have to worry and not feel overwhelmed.

Kids in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades get on average an hour and a half of homework per night. They get up to three hours some nights! So, when teachers wonder why we are so tired during school every day, this is why!

My little sister is in fourth grade and she gets an hour or two hours of homework every night! She’s in fourth grade; that’s crazy!

Also, kids have quizzes and tests that they have to study for. So, two hours of homework plus studying every night, that’s too much!

Physical-education and health teachers are always encouraging kids to get more exercise but with all the homework we get that’s really hard some nights. For example, one night I had softball practice but I also had a lot of homework and a test the next day, so I ended up skipping practice because of all the homework I had.

Even though homework is a pain to do and we get so much of it, studies show that kids learn to be organized, manage their time better, and master new skills on their own all through homework. I’m not totally against homework; I think that a little bit of it is good, but the amount we are getting right now is not OK.

I think that some homework is good so we are learning things and keep practicing them so we don't forget them, but sometimes it's just too much. Getting lots of homework wears kids down after a while.

So, what do you think about homework? Do you think it is good and how much do you think is the right amount? Even though you are not the teacher, after all, it is your education.

Jessica M. Serravillo

Farnsworth Middle School