Are students getting too much homework for teachers?

According to Bruce Feiler, writer for The New York Times, homework has "a branding problem." In his article, "The Homework Squabbles," Feiler suggested that having a lot of homework can cause stress in families, as well as for students. 

"But truth be told, my struggles with homework are far less grand. In my house, it’s not homework wars as much as homework squabbles, little questions and doubts that build up and start to nag," he said. "Do my children need dedicated space for their homework, or is it O.K. to do it in the kitchen? What about listening to music, is that smart? Should I correct my children’s errors or let their teachers discover where they need help? Can I do anything to encourage self-reliance?"

Feiler asked "homework experts" these questions, such as the best spot for children to do their homework. His questions were answered by Eva Pomerantz, psychology professor at the University of Illinois and a specialist in parent involvement in children's learning. Feiler said Pomerantz is a believer in the kitchen table. 

“I think it depends on your house,” she said. “If you have a crazy, noisy kitchen, that’s probably not the place for your kids to be doing homework unless they have amazing concentration. But if the kitchen is a place where there’s some activity but it’s generally quiet, it can have advantages. The thing about the kitchen is the parent is usually in there doing something, like making dinner, and they’re there if the child needs them, but they’re not sitting next to the child the whole time, which discourages self-reliance.”

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Article by Kassondra Granata, EducationWorld Contributor