From a student’s perspective, No Homework Night can be a helpful way to get ahead of work due over the course of the week, easing stress and tensions at home. The first Wednesday of every month is a designated night where students are not given any homework.

However, from a teacher’s perspective this night can pose a difficult hiccup in their carefully planned schedules.

The question is, is No Homework Night necessary?

There are many signs that point to no. The amount of excessive homework cannot be solved by one single night in the month. While the intended purpose of No Homework Night was to give students more time to spend with their families, it often isn’t what it’s used for. Instead, students are focused on the double amount of homework that’s due the next day.

Abby Mccarthy, a freshman, said, “I think it is not that beneficial because [students] usually still have things to do. Even if it’s No Homework Night there are many long term assignments. It frees up a short amount of time, but I don’t think it gets used for its original purpose.”

Although it may not be as effective as one would hope, a reduction in homework can have salutary effects on students.

A  large amount of homework can prevent children from partaking in social activities and other events. The American Educational Research Association said that “whenever homework crowds out social experience, outdoor recreation, and creative activities, and whenever it usurps time that should be devoted to sleep, it is not meeting the basic needs of children and adolescents.”  

In addition to their heavy workload , students also have outdoor activities such as sports and clubs.

“I play competitive soccer so when I get home from school I usually still have to go to soccer within a couple hours. Then, I get home pretty late and still have homework to do. That is my schedule on normal days, and not an exception on a No Homework Night,” said Mccarthy.

According to the NCAA, “nearly eight million students currently participate in high school athletics in the United States.”  Students have little time to complete any homework; or, if they do so, they’ll have less time to participate in extra-curricular activities.

Despite the problems with homework, many people rightfully acknowledge that it does have its benefits.

Homework is a way of helping students understand and comprehend the topics they are learning in school. TIME Magazine reported that a  Duke University psychology professor “found evidence of a positive correlation between homework and student achievement.”  The connection was strongest for students from 7th grade to their senior year of high school.

Since No Homework Night may be ineffective for high schoolers, an alternative solution would be to give less homework in general.

“If you just had smaller amounts of homework for all of your classes you would be able to refresh your memory while not being so overwhelmed and anxiety ridden,” Mccarthy said.