2015-02-11

【Aiden in English】

        Students are in a growing stage. These stages are the times when kids thrive in education and sports. It is the time when kids really begin to advance into adulthood. In the middle and high school areas, they are challenged so they can maximize their skills for the future. However, it comes with a price. Students are bombarded with loads and loads of work in and out of school. Stress levels are raised, and social time is cut to make room for homework. Parents are beginning to worry about kids, and now people are questioning if homework is really good as previously thought. Maybe homework isn’t the great, wondrous way of studying and reviewing that parents have always imagined. Maybe it’s time for schools to stop giving so much of the so-called “practice”. Maybe too much is too much, and giving a ton of homework isn’t good for the kids of the new generation. 

        According to Stanford University‘s newest homework study, out of 4,317 middle-class students that go to high school, all the students do an average amount of a little over three hours of homework a night. That’s three hours out of their social and family lives. Instead of going out with friends, these high school kids are stuck at home with a pencil and a pile of papers in front of them while they try to solve for X. Homework is really impacting students in their lives, and they have to do their work for a good grade. Personal and relaxation time is also cut, and kids often are late for dinner and other family things. They are just one of the hundreds of other families that struggle with a huge amount of homework. Across the country, homework is taking its toll on kids’ family time, and it isn’t getting any better. It’s taking up the family and personal time. This is true, considering that many people are also bilingual like me, and sometimes even I, a very efficient worker, have to rush through loads of homework. I run through pages and pages of English homework, then blast through rows and rows of Chinese vocabulary words. Too much homework really stresses me out too, and sixth grade is only the beginning of loads of homework yet to come. Already the time it takes up for me is immense. I can’t stand not playing in the snow when it’s the year’s largest accumulation. In times like that, I have no choice but to finish my work. I often ask Mom for more time when she calls for dinner, and just as often she eats dinner a little earlier than me. So while I smell delicious food and listen to it being eaten, I’m stuck on a computer upstairs trying to wrap up an essay with a rumbling stomach. Homework is taking up much time with friends, too. During the beginning of the school year, my neighbors constantly asked for me to come outside, but I was unprepared for the brutal amount of homework that I had to turn down many requests. Also, my mom enforces extracurricular activities every week, which drives me crazy. I have to go to a swim team practice three out of five days a week. And these days, I struggle against a powerful flowing tide of homework all the time. If the tide gets too powerful, I cut into swim practices for extra time. 

        For many years, I have thought and believed that homework was based on quantity, not quality, and that is really bad for kids. We are wasting time on pointless and effortless work that I could do with my eyes closed. I guess I’m not the only one to think that way. The book The Case against Homework by Sara Bennett and Nancy Kalish is about the cons of homework. In one section of the book, the authors talk about how teachers are giving out large quantities of homework and not focusing on the true purpose of giving out all that work. What good are three worksheets when kids learn nothing from them? Absolutely nothing, so why give three pages. Since I’m bilingual, the difference between the three extra math worksheets is a lot, and less homework could mean more time to work on a language that I need more practice on. If the quality of the worksheet is increased, I’ll be forced to try harder and not just waste time. Maybe then I’ll even learn something, but at the moment, homework is all about quantity, not quality, which is why I think homework should be cut to the minimum or even taken out of our lives. Extra pointless homework also wears out my brain. After looking at the same paper for an hour or so, I get bored and lose my focus. It’s like when I eat the same delicious mint chocolate chip ice cream for a week, and by the end of the week, the once delicious ice cream now lost its appeal. The only difference is that homework loses its appeal a lot faster than mint chocolate chip ice cream does.

        Large amounts of homework also have a great impact on kids’ attitudes, stress levels, behavior, and health. That is the worst part of too much homework. When homework is piled up into huge mounds and it seems endless, I turn into a cranky, mad ogre that tramples around the house trying to blow off some steam on something. Ever since I entered sixth grade, keeping my grade above an “A” got a lot harder, especially at home. Although homework doesn’t directly affect my grade too severely, getting detention does, and if students don’t do their homework before they know it, they’ll be handed a detention form. I do not wish to receive one, so doing homework is my top priority as soon as I get home. Even though it is my top priority, because of other activities like piano and swim team practice, it might not always get finished on time. After fitting in all those activities, homework time is cut, and this is where the stress, behavior, and other problems come in. When I rush through things, the results turn out not exactly the way I want them. It doesn’t taste too great either. That’s when I morph into the dark, evil ogre beast with a rage powerful enough to bring the house to the ground. At these times, all I see in my head is homework, homework, and even more homework. I stay up late into the night doing work, and in the end, I’m so tired that lifting an eyelid takes effort. Then, the next day, I go to school with a killer headache and walk around like a zombie. Homework does this to me. The studies show that kids all over the U.S. are losing sleep doing work assigned to take home. When you lose sleep, it’s called sleep deprivation in a Washington Post article that many kids in middle and high school are having less than the recommended healthy zone of eight-and-a-half to nine-and-a-half hours. In fact, over sixty-eight percent of the survey have said to have not reached the zone very often. I don’t know about you, but sixty-eight percent is a lot. Those sixty-eight percent of people also state that extracurricular activities cut into their homework time, just like me. When I don’t get sleep, stress, anger, and frustration can happen to my mood in split seconds. Sleep deprivation is bad for kids, and homework is a large stressor that makes it happen.

        Although homework is certainly a stressor, and kids are freaked out about it, some may argue that homework builds self-character. For example, homework allows kids to gain time management and plan ahead. Mom always tells me to do so, but I don’t do a good job. The best time management I’ve ever done would probably be planning certain times I play video games and when to eat food between playtimes. As much as it builds self-character, homework is giving kids too much stress. Kids are still kids for a reason, and as they get older, the responsibility will come to them from different directions. They could do chores, volunteer, or do anything that requires maturity. This could build character and get the skills that they need to live on their own. Homework, I believe, is not the right way to go if a kid were to build character. It is too stressful because of the amount given and the time provided to do it. It can be unhealthy for kids and change their lives so getting homework done is the biggest deal in the world. 

        Homework is a tough, rough ride that all students endure. It is a problem for everyone in their lives. All the stress, the time, and the pain are not worth over sheets of paper with questions on them. Nevertheless, family and other activities should not be cut because of homework. The effort could be spent elsewhere and in their own interest. Just imagine the things kids could do if there weren’t any homework. 

Citations (参考文献):

1. “The Case against Homework” The Case against Homework. N. P., D.D. Web 11 Feb. 2015

2. “Should Parents Say ‘No to Too Much Homework? Why Burden Elementary Students with Hours of Tasks?” Washington Post. N.D. Web. 11 Feb. 2015

3. “Stanford Research Shows Pitfalls of Homework.” Stanford University. N.P., N.D. Web. 11 Feb. 2015

http://news.stanford.edu/news/2014/march/too-much-homework-031014.html

【红霞译文】

        学生们身处成长阶段，这个时期恰好是接受教育从事体育活动的大好时节，人人都要经历从青少年进入成年这样一个渐进过程。初、高中阶段，各个孩子无不面对形形色色的挑战，需要竭尽全力为自己的未来做好充分准备，然而有得必有失。学生们无论在校内还是校外，课业极其繁重，因此倍感压力增加，社交时间减少，不能不引起父母的担心。现在大家禁不住要问家庭作业是否真正达到预期效果，也许它并非像家长们一贯想像的堪称温故知新的最佳手段，也许现在学校该停止布置所谓的练习作业，也许太多确实就是太多，布置过多作业未必对新一代青少年有益。

        根据斯坦福大学最新研究表明，在4,317由初中升入高中的学生里，平均每天晚上用于完成家庭作业的时间是三个多小时，三个钟头完全摆脱社交圈子远离家庭生活，高中生没精力与朋友交往，只顾囚在家里闷头演算难题，钻研眼前一大堆论文，显然家庭作业已经影响到青少年的业余生活，为了取得好成绩，他们必须按时完成，结果个人所能支配的和用来放飞心绪的时间相应减少，孩子们甚至不得不推迟晚饭时间，延误计划要做的家务活，这只不过是成百上千个家庭的一个缩影。在全国范围内，家庭作业严重影响到孩子与家人之间的正常生活，而且这个问题暂时还找不出什么解决办法，占用了本该属于孩子与家人共同分享的宝贵时光，尤其许多像我这种来自双语背景的家庭更是如此。我办事算得上相当注重效率，可有时仍然要抓紧时间赶做家庭作业。对于英文阅读，我常常十行俱下；对于中文词汇练习，我也是一扫而过，沉重的家庭作业同样压得我透不过气来，可初中一年级仅仅是万里长征的第一步，我已然忙活得不亦乐乎。即使偶遇一年中前所未有的大雪，我根本顾不上出外打雪仗堆雪人，除了赶写作业，我别无选择。常常晚餐准备好了，妈妈催促很多次我都无法应时就座，一向和乐融融的家庭晚宴只因我缺席而让妈妈心生缺憾；可当闻到饭菜香气、听见碗筷谱成的交响曲，坐在楼上计算机前的我恨不能将写好的文章揉搓成团一口狂吞肚下。同时，家庭作业还挤掉很多与朋友交往的时间。本学年开始时，邻家朋友经常上门找我出去玩，可我总是有繁重的家庭作业缠身，哪有闲情逸致放松身心。再说妈妈强迫我每周参加校外活动，更让我纠结不堪。每周五天游泳队训练，其中我必须到场三次，每每这个时候，我必须鼓足勇气应对来势汹涌的家庭作业，实在抵不住由此所带来的负面压力，我只好靠减少运动量来舒缓节奏。

        多年来，我一直认为并坚信家庭作业完全从数量而非质量出发，实际上对青少年来说极为不利，那些毫无意义不费脑筋的东西纯属浪费时间，我闭着眼都会做，恐怕我不是唯一一位这么想的人。由萨拉·贝内特和南希·卡利什撰写的《反对家庭作业的实证》一书中同样指出家庭作业的利弊，其中有一章专门阐述老师只顾布置大量作业而忽视效果，如果学生学不到东西，三页纸厚的家庭作业又管什么用？绝对是徒劳的，既然如此，为什么还要做呢？我虽然来自双语家庭，但完成三页额外的数学作业照样花费功夫；如果能减少家庭作业，我就可以把精力放在增强词汇量上。换句话说，作业质量有待提高，只有这样才能激励我加倍努力，继而不再浪费光阴，假如真是那样，我定会受益匪浅，可眼下家庭作业讲究的只是数量而不是质量问题，这就是为什么我认为应该最大程度地削减家庭作业乃至从学生生涯中彻底取缔。任何多余且毫无意义的家庭作业只会叫我精疲力竭，用一个钟头反复阅读无聊的文章，到头来除了厌倦就是无精打采，就拿薄荷巧克力块冰激凌来说，假如让我不厌其烦地吃上一周，再好吃的玩艺也会失去特有风味，两者不同的是，亲力家庭作业要比饱餐薄荷巧克力块冰激凌更容易令人生厌。

        繁重的家庭作业对学生的处世态度、心理压力、行为举止和身体健康等影响极大，堆积成山的家庭作业难免令人着急上火，此时此刻，我往往变得性情暴躁，像个疯子似的恨不能朝什么东西发泄一通。步入初中一年级，欲求保持各门成绩都是“A”没有刻苦用功是不可能，离校回家也不能例外。虽说家庭作业对我的考试成绩影响不大，但倘若忘记按时上交作业、准保在你发觉之前就已经记录在案的通知却会影响总分，我可不想诸如此类的事情在我身上发生，因此只要一进家门，我的首要任务就是赶写作业。诚然，首要任务归首要任务，有时依旧无法排除其它课外活动所造成的干扰，譬如钢琴课和游泳队锻炼，况且家庭作业每次未必能及时完成，所有活动结束之后，做作业的时间所剩无几。在这种情况下，心理压力、行为举止及其它各种问题便应运而生。我只要仓促干事，结果肯定比预期计划逊色，心情反差起伏加大。我摇身一变居然成为黑暗中凶神恶煞的妖魔鬼怪，妄想全力摧毁眼前的一切，此时此刻，我满脑子装的除了作业、作业还是作业。为了完成作业，我不得不熬夜推迟睡觉时间，后来困得连眼皮都抬不起来，以至于第二天上学头疼得要命，像具僵尸一般步履蹒跚地向前走去，家庭作业让我身心疲惫。已有研究报道，家庭作业日趋造成全美青少年睡眠减少，《华盛顿邮报》曾发表文章，指出缺觉即所谓的睡眠缺失屡见不鲜，许多初、高中青少年睡眠低于推荐的八个半到九个半小时的健康标准。事实上，调查显示超过68%的学生经常达不到这一要求。不知你怎么想，我觉得68%比率相当高，这些人强调课外活动活脱脱占用了家庭作业时间，我也感同身受。睡眠不足的时候，我立刻感觉压力大脾气冲士气低。可见，睡眠缺失对青少年百害而无一利，家庭作业有着不可推卸的责任。

        尽管家庭作业是公认的压力来源，青少年唯恐避之不及，但有人可能还会争辩说它有助于培养自我个性。举例来说，家庭作业锻炼青少年统筹安排时间的能力，妈妈一直告诫我这么做，但结果并不理想，或许只有在支配游戏时间上本人才表现出长足的进步，绝对保证吃饭玩耍两不误。至于培养自我个格，家庭作业只会为孩子带来更多压力。孩子毕竟是孩子，随着不断长大，责任心会从各个方面培养起来，勤做家务活、投身公益活动、领悟任何让人成熟的经历，这些都有助于培养自我个格和独立生活技能。我相信家庭作业并不是培养孩子性格的正确道路，因为要在限定的时间内完成一定的工作量，给人造成的压力可想而知，对孩子的身心健康极为不利，家庭作业对青少年生活造成的影响是当今世界所面临的重大课题。

        家庭作业可谓每个学生都要体尝的一段痛苦经历，人生总会遇到挫折，压力、时间、烦恼与家庭作业在所难免。无论如何，家庭生活以及其它活动不应因课外作业而减少，相反，尽量把精力投到自己感兴趣的事情上。如果孩子们没有任何家庭作业，让我们一起想象他们要做的事情吧。

The Case against Homework (《反对家庭作业的案例》)

Writing Score Card (写作评分卡)

Crosslinks(相关博文)：

5th Grade Argumentative: DARE(五年级论述抵制滥用毒品教育)

5th Grade Argumentative—Boys & Girls Co-Team(五年级议论文—论男女同队)

2009: 算术─孩子的花销(Math on Raising Kids)

6th Grade(初中一年级)