Why an American Teacher Decided to Stop Assigning Homework

Parents of second graders in Texas received surprising news from their teacher at a recent parent meeting: this year, there will be no homework. A letter distributed by Bradley Young, a second-grade teacher, quickly went viral online. And for good reason: most parents would be delighted to receive such a note from their children's teachers.

"Dear Parents," wrote Young, "After a lot of research over the summer, I am trying something new: This year, I will not assign homework, except for completing unfinished schoolwork at home. Research doesn't show that homework improves student performance. Instead, I'm asking you to dedicate time to activities that are proven to benefit student success: read together, have dinner together, play outside, and make sure your child gets to bed early."

One parent posted the letter on Facebook, where it received enthusiastic praise from other parents, who appreciated the recognition that children spend enough time on formal learning at school and that family time is more valuable than more assignments.

In an interview with a local radio station, Young explained that she decided on this new approach after realizing that homework simply wasn't helping her students. "They work hard all day at school, and at home, they need to learn different things in different ways. Last year, the students went home every day with homework, and I didn't see any improvement in their performance. So, with the principal's approval, we've decided to try something new. How can you know if something works if you're not willing to try it?"

The U.S. Public Education Center announced in response that its research supports the teacher's decision. "The main takeaway from our studies is that homework is not a strategy that works for all students and that homework should be assigned, even if limited, only after careful consideration."