This essay earned Third Place in the 2025 Huaxia Writing Competition.

“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. As a result, a genius is often a talented person who has simply done all of his homework.” – Thomas A. Edison. Homework is a type of schoolwork that students are supposed to complete at home. It is a way for students to practice what they have learned in class. Homework can include math problems, writing essays, reading, science projects, and even studying for tests. Teachers usually assign homework almost every day to help students remember what they learned in school. I believe that homework should be given to students because it is important for learning, but there should be less homework. If there is too much homework, students can start to feel overwhelmed, stress, and may not have enough time for sleep, or fun activities including hobbies. Although, some homework is still necessary because it helps you practice your schoolwork and understand things better.

One reason there should be less homework is because it can cause negative feelings for the students. Sometimes homework can be tough, especially when the instructions are unclear, and it could lead to stress. When students are stressed, they might feel like giving up and not even want to try anymore. Learning new things is not always easy, and it can often be confusing. When you are confused and tired at the same time, it makes you want to quit. Also, when you have a lot of homework, you might feel very tired and just want to take a nap instead of finishing all your assignments. Some students might even cry or feel very anxious if they don’t finish their homework on time because they are worried about getting a bad grade or getting in trouble with their teacher. Students want to do well and make their parents proud, but too much homework can make them feel bad about themselves. Clearly, having too much homework can cause students to feel negative emotions like stress, tiredness, sadness, and anxiety.
Another reason why there should be less homework is because students are sometimes just too busy. After a long day at school, many kids have sports practice, games, or other activities. Some kids take dance classes, music lessons, karate, or swimming. These activities are important because they help kids stay healthy and learn new skills, but they take up a lot of time. If a soccer practice or a baseball game lasts for hours, there might not be any time left to do homework afterward. Also, sometimes family members come over to visit, or students go to visit their family members. Spending time with family is very important too, and kids should not have to miss out on those special moments because of a big mountain-like pile of homework. For example, I remembered when I was in kindergarten, and I didn’t finish my homework because I had tons of it, so I missed out on the movie night. As someone once said, “In the end, kids won’t remember the exact math worksheet, but they will remember family dinner and movies night.” Plus, kids often have chores like cleaning their rooms, helping with dinner, or taking care of pets. When you add sports, family time, and chores all together, there just isn’t much time left in the day to sit down and do a lot of homework. As you can see, many students are too busy and need more free time after school.
Even though homework can be stressful and time-consuming, it is still very important for learning. Homework helps students practice and remember what they learned during the school day. If you don’t practice, you might forget what the teacher taught you. In class, when students work in groups, sometimes one person does most of the work while the others don’t do much. Homework makes sure that everyone has a chance to practice on their own. It also helps prepare students for tests and pop quizzes, which are important for showing what you know. If you practice at home, you will be ready to ace your tests and quizzes. Teachers also use homework to see which students understand the lesson and which students might need extra help. Homework is one of the best ways for teachers to find out if students are doing okay or if they are struggling. Obviously, homework is very helpful for both students and teachers.
In conclusion, I believe that there should still be homework, but there should be less of it. Too much homework can make students feel sad, tired, and stressed out. Students also need time for sports, family, and other important activities. However, homework is still important because it helps students practice what they have learned and be ready for tests. Homework isn’t always fun, and can be frustrating, but we still need it. Instead, teachers should give a reasonable amount of homework that helps students learn without overwhelming them. It is important to find a good balance between schoolwork and free time. Homework matters because it helps students grow smarter and more responsible, but too much can take the joy out of learning.

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