This article discusses whether homework is still necessary in today’s learning environment. This week, I interviewed Mrs. Bennett, one of the counselors at Pasco High School. I only asked her one question, as most of my questions were directed toward teachers who assign homework. I asked Mrs. Bennett, “Do you believe homework is necessary in today’s environment?” She responded, “Students need to have homework at some point in their high school career, maybe not all four years, but I think it’s important for them to learn time management and ensure they are grasping the content rather than just moving on to the next topic.”

I also interviewed Mr. Callaway and posed the same question to him about the necessity of homework today. Additionally, I asked two more questions: if he thinks there are better methods than homework to reinforce what students learn in class, and whether he has noticed a difference in student performance based on homework completion. For the first question, he stated, “They may not need to do it at home, but they do need practice. I think it’s necessary to work on practice problems to gain familiarity and learn how to do something.” In response to the second question, he said, “I think students can watch videos, read articles, and basically research on their own, which would help them.” Finally, when I asked about whether he had seen a difference in student performance based on homework completion, he replied, “Yes, I’ve noticed that if students do all their work in class, they can still perform well.”

The last teacher I interviewed was Mr. Stamper, an English teacher. I asked him the same questions I had asked Mr. Callaway. Mr. Stamper provided insightful answers, though some might jokingly say he sounds robotic. Regarding the need for homework in today’s environment, he said, “Not really, but it is helpful because it extends what you’re learning in the classroom, giving kids an opportunity to learn more.” When I asked about better ways to reinforce what students learn in class, he responded, “There are many ways to reinforce class learning, and I think projects or real-world applications of what they learn in class are great.” Lastly, when discussing the observed differences in student performance based on homework completion, Mr. Stamper noted, “Students who regularly complete their homework are likely to perform better in class because they put in the extra effort to engage with the material outside of class. In contrast, those who do not do their homework may lack the additional information or reinforcement of what they are learning in class.”