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 (參考文獻):

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

【紅霞譯文】

        學生們身處成長階段，這個時期恰好是接受教育從事體育活動的大好時節，人人都要經歷從青少年進入成年這樣一個漸進過程。初、高中階段，各個孩子無不面對形形色色的挑戰，需要竭盡全力為自己的未來做好充分準備，然而有得必有失。學生們無論在校內還是校外，課業極其繁重，因此倍感壓力增加，社交時間減少，不能不引起父母的擔心。現在大家禁不住要問家庭作業是否真正達到預期效果，也許它並非像家長們一貫想像的堪稱溫故知新的最佳手段，也許現在學校該停止布置所謂的練習作業，也許太多確實就是太多，布置過多作業未必對新一代青少年有益。

        根據斯坦福大學最新研究表明，在4,317由初中升入高中的學生里，平均每天晚上用於完成家庭作業的時間是三個多小時，三個鐘頭完全擺脫社交圈子遠離家庭生活，高中生沒精力與朋友交往，只顧囚在家裡悶頭演算難題，鑽研眼前一大堆論文，顯然家庭作業已經影響到青少年的業餘生活，為了取得好成績，他們必須按時完成，結果個人所能支配的和用來放飛心緒的時間相應減少，孩子們甚至不得不推遲晚飯時間，延誤計劃要做的家務活，這只不過是成百上千個家庭的一個縮影。在全國範圍內，家庭作業嚴重影響到孩子與家人之間的正常生活，而且這個問題暫時還找不出什麼解決辦法，占用了本該屬於孩子與家人共同分享的寶貴時光，尤其許多像我這種來自雙語背景的家庭更是如此。我辦事算得上相當注重效率，可有時仍然要抓緊時間趕做家庭作業。對於英文閱讀，我常常十行俱下；對於中文詞彙練習，我也是一掃而過，沉重的家庭作業同樣壓得我透不過氣來，可初中一年級僅僅是萬里長征的第一步，我已然忙活得不亦樂乎。即使偶遇一年中前所未有的大雪，我根本顧不上出外打雪仗堆雪人，除了趕寫作業，我別無選擇。常常晚餐準備好了，媽媽催促很多次我都無法應時就座，一向和樂融融的家庭晚宴只因我缺席而讓媽媽心生缺憾；可當聞到飯菜香氣、聽見碗筷譜成的交響曲，坐在樓上計算機前的我恨不能將寫好的文章揉搓成團一口狂吞肚下。同時，家庭作業還擠掉很多與朋友交往的時間。本學年開始時，鄰家朋友經常上門找我出去玩，可我總是有繁重的家庭作業纏身，哪有閒情逸緻放鬆身心。再說媽媽強迫我每周參加校外活動，更讓我糾結不堪。每周五天游泳隊訓練，其中我必須到場三次，每每這個時候，我必須鼓足勇氣應對來勢洶湧的家庭作業，實在抵不住由此所帶來的負面壓力，我只好靠減少運動量來舒緩節奏。

        多年來，我一直認為並堅信家庭作業完全從數量而非質量出發，實際上對青少年來說極為不利，那些毫無意義不費腦筋的東西純屬浪費時間，我閉着眼都會做，恐怕我不是唯一一位這麼想的人。由薩拉·貝內特和南希·卡利什撰寫的《反對家庭作業的實證》一書中同樣指出家庭作業的利弊，其中有一章專門闡述老師只顧布置大量作業而忽視效果，如果學生學不到東西，三頁紙厚的家庭作業又管什麼用？絕對是徒勞的，既然如此，為什麼還要做呢？我雖然來自雙語家庭，但完成三頁額外的數學作業照樣花費功夫；如果能減少家庭作業，我就可以把精力放在增強詞彙量上。換句話說，作業質量有待提高，只有這樣才能激勵我加倍努力，繼而不再浪費光陰，假如真是那樣，我定會受益匪淺，可眼下家庭作業講究的只是數量而不是質量問題，這就是為什麼我認為應該最大程度地削減家庭作業乃至從學生生涯中徹底取締。任何多餘且毫無意義的家庭作業只會叫我精疲力竭，用一個鐘頭反覆閱讀無聊的文章，到頭來除了厭倦就是無精打采，就拿薄荷巧克力塊冰激凌來說，假如讓我不厭其煩地吃上一周，再好吃的玩藝也會失去特有風味，兩者不同的是，親力家庭作業要比飽餐薄荷巧克力塊冰激凌更容易令人生厭。

        繁重的家庭作業對學生的處世態度、心理壓力、行為舉止和身體健康等影響極大，堆積成山的家庭作業難免令人着急上火，此時此刻，我往往變得性情暴躁，像個瘋子似的恨不能朝什麼東西發泄一通。步入初中一年級，欲求保持各門成績都是“A”沒有刻苦用功是不可能，離校回家也不能例外。雖說家庭作業對我的考試成績影響不大，但倘若忘記按時上交作業、準保在你發覺之前就已經記錄在案的通知卻會影響總分，我可不想諸如此類的事情在我身上發生，因此只要一進家門，我的首要任務就是趕寫作業。誠然，首要任務歸首要任務，有時依舊無法排除其它課外活動所造成的干擾，譬如鋼琴課和游泳隊鍛煉，況且家庭作業每次未必能及時完成，所有活動結束之後，做作業的時間所剩無幾。在這種情況下，心理壓力、行為舉止及其它各種問題便應運而生。我只要倉促幹事，結果肯定比預期計劃遜色，心情反差起伏加大。我搖身一變居然成為黑暗中凶神惡煞的妖魔鬼怪，妄想全力摧毀眼前的一切，此時此刻，我滿腦子裝的除了作業、作業還是作業。為了完成作業，我不得不熬夜推遲睡覺時間，後來困得連眼皮都抬不起來，以至於第二天上學頭疼得要命，像具殭屍一般步履蹣跚地向前走去，家庭作業讓我身心疲憊。已有研究報道，家庭作業日趨造成全美青少年睡眠減少，《華盛頓郵報》曾發表文章，指出缺覺即所謂的睡眠缺失屢見不鮮，許多初、高中青少年睡眠低於推薦的八個半到九個半小時的健康標準。事實上，調查顯示超過68%的學生經常達不到這一要求。不知你怎麼想，我覺得68%比率相當高，這些人強調課外活動活脫脫占用了家庭作業時間，我也感同身受。睡眠不足的時候，我立刻感覺壓力大脾氣沖士氣低。可見，睡眠缺失對青少年百害而無一利，家庭作業有着不可推卸的責任。

        儘管家庭作業是公認的壓力來源，青少年唯恐避之不及，但有人可能還會爭辯說它有助於培養自我個性。舉例來說，家庭作業鍛煉青少年統籌安排時間的能力，媽媽一直告誡我這麼做，但結果並不理想，或許只有在支配遊戲時間上本人才表現出長足的進步，絕對保證吃飯玩耍兩不誤。至於培養自我個格，家庭作業只會為孩子帶來更多壓力。孩子畢竟是孩子，隨着不斷長大，責任心會從各個方面培養起來，勤做家務活、投身公益活動、領悟任何讓人成熟的經歷，這些都有助於培養自我個格和獨立生活技能。我相信家庭作業並不是培養孩子性格的正確道路，因為要在限定的時間內完成一定的工作量，給人造成的壓力可想而知，對孩子的身心健康極為不利，家庭作業對青少年生活造成的影響是當今世界所面臨的重大課題。

        家庭作業可謂每個學生都要體嘗的一段痛苦經歷，人生總會遇到挫折，壓力、時間、煩惱與家庭作業在所難免。無論如何，家庭生活以及其它活動不應因課外作業而減少，相反，儘量把精力投到自己感興趣的事情上。如果孩子們沒有任何家庭作業，讓我們一起想象他們要做的事情吧。

The Case against Homework (《反對家庭作業的案例》)

Writing Score Card (寫作評分卡)

Crosslinks(相關博文)：

5th Grade Argumentative: DARE(五年級論述抵制濫用毒品教育)

5th Grade Argumentative—Boys & Girls Co-Team(五年級議論文—論男女同隊)

2009: 算術─孩子的花銷(Math on Raising Kids)

6th Grade(初中一年級)