LETTER: Homework puts unnecessary burden on students

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Ask almost any parent of a teenager today, and you will hear the same story: our kids are completely overwhelmed.

Middle and high school students put in a full workweek — six hours a day, five days a week — navigating demanding classes and keeping up with daily assignments. Yet we still expect them to bring the job home every night.

It is unfair to burden young people with constant homework when they have already dedicated their entire day to learning.

As parents, we see the unnecessary tension and burnout this causes at home.

If a student shows up, works hard, and turns in their classwork, that should be enough.

Their school day should have a clear finish line.

More importantly, if we want to ensure our children thrive beyond graduation, we need to ask what really prepares them for the future.

Hours of repetitive evening worksheets do not teach a young adult how to manage a budget, navigate credit, change a flat tire, handle basic legal agreements, or build mental resilience.

Our schools should focus on real-world practical skills — financial literacy, career and trade fundamentals, household maintenance, and emotional well-being.

We want our children to have bright futures, but that starts with teaching them what matters and respecting their boundaries today.

Let’s keep schoolwork within the school day and start preparing students for real life.

Beverley Jackson