Current Issues Facing Schools and the Education System - Essay Example

Analyse Current Issues Facing Schools, Teacher and the Education System and Evaluate the Impact These Issues Have On the School and the Wider Community Table of Contents Introduction 3 Whether Homework should be banned or not 4 Impact of the Homework on the Students, Schools and Children 5 Impact of Homework upon Parents 5 Impact of Homework upon the Wider Community 7 Impact of Homework on Teachers 7 Critical Analysis 7 Conclusion 9 References 11 Introduction According to the Ramdass & Zimmerman (2011), ‘homework’ is an educational tool that is commonly used in the educational field. Homework is also described as a course of work, which is mainly provided to all the students for developing their skills and quality. In the educational system, homework is identified as a necessary aspect for engaging students in educational tasks outside the class. Ramdass & Zimmerman (2011) further argues that in order to enhance the learning outcome of all the students, the teachers provide the homework. In order to explain homework in a wider way, several researchers explain that the teachers provide few educational tasks to their students during the non-instructional time. According to the report of L.A. Country High School (2014), homework is having an influence on the educational development of the students in the US. From a generalised viewpoint, homework can be described as an important quality task, which is assigned by the teachers to apprentices as a measure of their regular progress and as a tool to identify the developmental needs throughout the process. Homework is mainly instructed by teachers to be completed during the free hours for students at home, which also makes it a difficult process to be mentored and monitored. Based on this notion, Hendrickson (2012) argues that in the modern educational era, the actual importance of importance of homework in the student’s life remains to be obscure and unclear, especially in subjects like maths. Correspondingly, this essay focuses on obtaining an in-depth understanding regarding the importance of homework in the modern educational system and the challenges it presents thereto. In this regard, the study also emphasises the impact of homework on students, teachers and parents. In addition, an analysis has been conducted with the aim of determining the issue relating to whether the system of homework should be banned. Whether Homework should be banned or not When arguing on the banning of homework, Provenzano & Yue (2011) affirmed that it is an inseparable part of the educational life of the students in Japan when learning English. Notionally, homework is determined as a bridge of creating interaction between school and home. It is in this context that the research conducted by Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) revealed teachers, parents and school leaders, to consider homework as a valuable educational tool for enhancing the key skills of the students that include their cognitive skills and interpretation skills (Falch, 2011). Commonly, in the modern educational system, students are using assignment or homework as a mechanism for growing their efforts towards education or learning outcome. Homework in students’ life is identified to be having a mixed impact i.e. both positive as well as negative influences. The teachers and schools mainly emphasise the positive impact of the homework. Additionally, Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) and wider community are also identified to have supported views regarding the importance of homework for the educational development of the students. Subsequently, homework is ascertained as an important consideration based on which the learning outcomes of every subject can be obtained successfully (Falch, 2011). According to the Piscataway (n.d.), concept of homework is one of the most debateable topics from history till the present day context. Since traditional times, debates are made relating to the ban of homework, as it has been identified to affect the health of children to a certain extent. Piscataway (n.d.) also argues that children of the age between 6 to 7 years are required to have recreation time, sunshine as well as fresh air for their overall growth. Homework is also considered to lead to inequality factors, as the students from different backgrounds are not able to have required resources for completing their homework successfully. In this regard, homework is required to be banned for removing stress. In a similar manner, parents are also recognised to have negative views relating to homework, as the parents are not able to develop personal bonding with their children for homework pressure (Kralovec, 2014). Impact of the Homework on the Students, Schools and Children As per the views of Booth (2010), several teachers pretend that the homework is efficient in raising the educational skills of the students. In order to make the students skilful, practices and repetition in several subjects are essential. Continuous practices will be helpful in building the foundation of the basic skills and knowledge of the students. Homework can help the pupils to enhance their memory through continuous practices and raise their abilities in terms of comprehension as well as retention of information, as was observed by Provenzano & Yue (2011) in Japan. According to the Charles (2013), students learn better, when the learning process is conducted in a flexible and frequent manner. In order to increase the knowledge of the students, a classroom is comparatively best place among the other places. Although a classroom is a good option for learning new things, but homework is the best option for adopting the new skills by continuous practices, as argued by Booth (2010). The provision of homework by the teachers to the students can expand the class time in a wider range, which is useful for better exploitation, cooperation and investigation process resulting to improved learning opportunities. In order to learn the new things in the class, homework is preferably a good option for the students (Booth, 2010). Impact of Homework upon Parents According to the Hoover-Dempsey & et. al., (2001), patents, homework plays a significant role in the academic progress of the students. It also describes the parents are the also responsible regarding the fulfilment of the homework of children. It has been also observed that the parental involvement in children’s educational field is considered to be one of the most important factors for the growth as well as development of the children. In the modern educational society, the maternal participation in education of their children has received immense attention. In this regard, the schools are improving efforts for enhancing the students’ academic skills. As per the views of Sellgren (2013), several researchers, it has been proved that parental involvement in the students’ education as well as in their homework is measured to be a great influencer for the students’ academic achievement. In this context, parental role and construction are important for motivating children in their academic growth. It has been also observed that the parental involvement in their children’ education has motivated children to enhance their academic skills (Sellgren, 2013; Hoover-Dempsey & et. al., 2001). It has been observed that homework not only enhances the academic skills of the students, but it also enhances the relationship between parents and children. In accordance with previous statement, it can be stated that parents now a days are needed to be involved in the homework tasks of their children. This process also creates a strong bonding between parents and children. Accordion to the Kralovec (2014), Parents can coordinate with the task by breaking it into several steps. This support will also help the children to understand the tasks in a better way. This involvement in a positive way has proved to be one of the most important predictors behind the success of the students. Moreover, the parents are identified to be using several modelling approaches as a learning technique, which helps to solve several problems and demonstrate the learning outcome. In this respect, the parents of primary schools children think that homework is a normal part of a student’s daily life. This is also observed that the parents of the USA think that the success in homework will helps to achieve success in examinations (The State of Queensland, 2004). Impact of Homework upon the Wider Community It has been observed that homework is an inseparable part of the student’s life. Students belonging to school level are accustomed with the practices of homework. As per the several views of several researchers, homework has mixed impact on the life of student and people associated with them. Homework is beneficial for the students and for their academic purpose, but it has few drawbacks. Homework is identified to have several limitations and one such limitation among them is building of boredom in the students’ life (Booth, 2010). Impact of Homework on Teachers As per the report of the Education Endowment Foundation (2013), the homework is a practices task. However, it has been also observed that the homework is not only creating pressure upon then students but also it also creating the working pressures upon teachers. The teachers are bearing the excessive workload through the year. It has been also describes that the homework can also reduce the leisure time of teachers. Teachers are unable to enjoy the holiday due to the preparation for the assessment of homework (Education Endowment Foundation, 2013). Critical Analysis According to Cooper (n.d.), homework is mainly beneficial for those students who are semiskilled and need to improve their skilled through continuous practices. However, few students who are already mastered in the educational skilled are not required to be provided with homework. Homework aids teachers in having a better understanding about students’ educational and efficiency level. Eren & Henderson (2008) elaborates that success in homework is hardly related to the teachers’ credibility. The success in homework is considered as students’ and their parent’s self-credibility several students are frustrated as the homework level is comparatively higher and due to lack of required support materials (Eren & Henderson, 2008). In this context, Huberty (2004) elaborates that mismatch in homework can create a mess in the students’ mind-set. It has been also observed that homework limited the time of the students to do other activities outside school. In the present day context, researchers have noted that physical activity is important for children, as it increases the stamina of students and helps in their cognitive development. Henry (2012) countered that in order to complete the homework successfully, students fail to have adequate time for physical activity. It has also denoted that homework has taken way the minimum leisure time or minimum family time from the life of the students. This type of problem has created tension in between family members and students (Henry, 2012; Kalenkoski, 2009). Bennett (2006) however states that excessive homework pressure can create mess in the education process of the students. Homework is certain instances is also identified to led develop dishonest acts for completing tasks outside schools, which is referred to be one of the most vital risks for the students and regarding their honesty. As per the statement of Booth (2010), copying from other students’ homework and downloading material from internet are reducing the students’ educational quality gradually. As per the several researchers, homework can create social inequalities and it has been described that homework can create social inequalities amid students (Bennett, 2006). According to the Herrig (n.d.), it has been also found that parental involvement in homework can make students less active and more dependable over their parents. The parents can reduce the activeness and independence of the students and it will have an adverse effect over the entire growth of the children. Subsequently, Hill (2005) elaborates that the several students are recognised to the patient of depression owing to excessive stress of study and homework. It has been also recognised that several students have made suicidal attempts, as they are not able to handle excessive stress of education. It has been also identified that sleep depression is one of the most common disorder, which generates for huge pressure of homework (Hill, 2005). According to Barker (2013), in order to reduce excessive pressures, schools can decrease the amount of homework and provide opportunity to make the study more interesting. The increasing rate of suicides by the several schools student has been forcing communities and educational authority such as Ofsted are adopting measures based on which stress as well as health issues can be minimised. In this respect, the impact of the current issue relating to homework can be minimised in children, students, schools, and wider community (Barker, 2013). Conclusion Based on the above analysis, it can be comprehended that homework is having a mixed impact in the life of children, students and parents among others. On the positive note, it has been identified that homework makes students in having perfection and skilful in their learning process. Continuous practices of homework are an effective process based on which students are bale to develop their cognitive as well as interpretation skills. This educational concept refers to be most important fundamental for enhancing the educational quality of the students. It has been also recognised that homework can enhance the relationship between parents and children. Homework can improve the strength of students and develop their mental stamina regarding the study. From the analysis, it is also ascertained that homework can help the children to enhance their memory through continuous practices. However, homework has certain negative impact relating to adverse effect on the health of the students. Excessive homework reduces social participation of the children. Children are becoming introvert regarding society, as they do not have the opportunity to interact with other people. In term of increasing rate of suicides and mental disorder among the children, the recent question has been arises regarding the ban option of homework. The debates relating to banning homework or not have been made from traditional times. In this regard, it can be concluded that instead of banning homework, the higher educational authority and schools should adopt as well as implement measures based on which amount along with stress of homework can be minimised. References ASCD, 2014. Homework’s Powerful Effects on Learning. Journals, pp. 1-5. Barker, I., 2013. 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