Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

National

Homework Survey Shows Teacher-Parent Divide

Experts have called homework the most "haphazard educational practice in America's schools." Yet most teachers, parents and students seem to think it's absolutely necessary. If only they could agree on how to make homework less boring and more relevant. A new survey about homework offers insight into why it gets on everybody's nerves.

The survey, commissioned by the insurance giant MetLife, found a big disconnect between teachers and parents when it comes to homework. Veteran teachers said homework is crucial to students' academic success in school. Most assigned homework to help students build skills like reading comprehension or to help them prepare for tests. One out of four teachers rated the quality of their homework as "excellent."

But one-third of parents rated the quality of homework only "fair to poor." Parents also complained that there's too much homework — that it takes up way too much time and deprives their children of sleep.

Advertisement

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

A big decision awaits some voters this July as the race for San Diego County’s Supervisor District 1 seat heats up. Are you ready to vote? Check out the KPBS Voter Hub to learn about the candidates, the key issues the board is facing and how you can make your voice heard.