Time is running a review of two recent books that argue the same thesis: Piling on the homework just makes kids dumber. It wears them out, makes them hate learning, and does something else called "straining parent/student relationships," though one must wonder (must be awesome having parents who actually help you with your homework). Of course, I'm always a bit skeptical hearing about kids studying for 70 hours a day or whatever. I'm sure I'm not the only one who had the comic book hidden between the soc. text. Eh. What am I talking about. I was the kid with the flashlight under the blankets reading the soc. book.

It's a good article to read this time of year, as I finish up my schedules and syllabi and the like. I tend to give a lot of homework, but I also give my classes lots of time to get it done. However, what I notice is that if I say something like, "Okay, we're going to finish up 15 mins early so you'll have time to knock out those logs" or the like, all the students just leave and do the work at home. It's as though they PREFER homework to actually doing the work in class. Yes, I realize I could forbid them to leave, but that just doesn't feel right to me. I'd probably make a lousy warden..

Anyone have any insights here? I don't want to make my students hate learning. ;-)