This is the con argument on the effects of homework on students. To read the pro click here.

Between seven hours of school, training for a sports team, and participating in the countless extracurricular activities that a student is required to participate in just to even be considered for their college of choice, the day is long and demanding. There are not enough hours in the day for students to complete their mile-long to-do list.

To make things even worse, teachers pile hours of homework onto already busy students. Forget trying to hold a job, maintaining a social life, or getting to bed at a reasonable hour while trying to get all your homework done. And if you’re in multiple higher-level classes, good luck.

Who says homework even helps increase grades or understanding of the subjects being taught? According to a study by the University of Virginia, there isn’t a connection between how much homework is done and their final class grade. According to conductor of the study Robert Tai, when students spend time on an assignment they don’t understand, they may not learn the topic and possibly grow more confused.

Students are often encouraged by their parents to get an after school job to prepare them for the “real world.”  Jobs teach us how to be responsible and how to handle money. Some families may even require their children to pay for gas or car insurance. To teenagers, the idea of earning their own money also adds to the appeal of a job. But with how time-consuming homework can be, students find themselves forced to choose between getting a good homework grade and getting a good job.

And then there’s the stress factor.  Students are already stressed with sports, jobs, friends, school, and just being teenagers. Seniors are especially unlucky, as college applications and SATs are thrown into the mix. Trying to find the time to do homework  only adds to the stress. While it can help prepare us for college and the SAT, assigning hours of homework will only negatively impact students. Instead, a balance must be reached so that homework can be beneficial but at the same time, not prevent students from completing their other work.

Heavy loads of homework can take away from other important activities while increasing the stress that students already deal with on a daily basis.  Assignments can be confusing, which take away from their learning benefit. While it’s arguable that homework can be helpful, the key to its usefulness is to find balance between reinforcing the lessons and assigning busy work.

Angela DeCarlo is a Copy Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.