Homework

A bad week for me. Incomplete homework demands punishment. Well, that is what exactly happened to me. I admit that I hate homework and almost never do it. But two weeks ago, something changed in me. I decided to turn over to a new leaf. I made up my mind to do my homework regularly and properly. But still, I believed, believe and will believe that homework is as useful as a useless object.

Nevertheless, I worked hard in vain. School opened a week later (July 1, 2010). Naturally, we students were subjected to immense mental and physical pressure. Physical in the sense that I would now not be able to exercise if I am to complete my homework within the deadline. But deadline is the last date. If you do not submit the homework within the recommended date then with every day little by little physical punishment increases. First, remain standing. Next, stand on the bench. Then, out of the class and finally in front of the Prinicipal's office.

Mental pressure takes form as threats. And of course, if you do not submit the work within the deadline, you will have to do the work twice, then thrice and so on. Much good it will do to us, 'doing work again'. What they actually manage to do is, discourage us, stereotype us and make sure that we die a gruesome and cruel death after an unsuccessful life.

Are schools meant for this? To torture us, eh? I feel like bombarding the school complex. Education has actually taken a wrong course. A very, very wrong course. Education was never actually meant for this. It is a delicate art meant for nurturing a child for future. And forceful and stressful education fulfils none. We are actually bullied into it. Threats form its integral part.

The teachers say, "DO THIS! DO THAT!" while we are left thinking, "DO WHAT?"

However, I am sure there are many who disagree with me. They are invited to a debate with me. My e-mail for such requests is "study.totalrise@aol.in". I would even love a meeting with Mr. Kapil Sibal on education. Anyway, common contradictions would possibly be memorization. That is, doing homework or writing things refreshes our minds and we can easily learn it. I heard somewhere that, "Reading thousand times is equivalent to writing it one time." I do not know how much true it is but I can say this much that "Hey! Studies are not for memorization." Revising is a different thing than doing homework. I believe that memorization occurs automatically if we listen it or read it from somewhere at frequent intervals. I actually managed to memorize the atomic masses of some common elements by using them in questions time to time. But people say that is the point of homework.

I do not completely object homework but the way it is being done is not right. Homework should not include just copying down things. It should be creative. It should be such that a student must tap their potential. And nor should it be excessive. And excessive is they amount of homework we do. Most teachers feel that theirs is the only subject being taught. And here I say most not all. Sometimes, homework becomes extra excessive. A tactic of our headmaster is to give double homework to noise-making or indisciplined classes. What they do here is two things. First, they strike fear and noise-making may reduce for a few days but it will erupt again. Second, it creates frustration and anger in students which results in more indiscipline after a few days.

Another important aspect of homework is interest. Boring homework like many mathematics questions all almost same except the numbers easily qualifies as the most frequent form of boring homework. Students do not like to do what they do not like. Honestly, if we want to do something we try to complete it with all our might. You have no idea of what we students are capable of if we want to. Had the studies been much, much more interesting we would have been a happy and intelligent lot.

To sum up, I would ask someone of authority to try to moderate quantity of homework and improve quality of homework. But the above would not be possible if we are not taught things is a better way, preferably something like the Educomp Smart Class.

Any arguments still there, feel free to mail me at "study.totalrise@aol.in". Hope this gets noticed and someone works on it. India is the second most populous country so hopefully this won't go unnoticed.

Study (alias)
NTSE Scholar
Responsible Student
Aspiring to be a Responsible Citizen of India
I am honestly quite draught over what's happening at school. Truth be told, this CCE thing has just toughened up things by giving the rein to the teachers. Homework is good but it should be handled with care. Correct homework should be given. Teachers, in our school, do not plan much. They say "Oh, this is done. Now what's remaining. Yes, do that for homework." Homework for us is just copying down things. Nothing creative.