So- eliminate homework and force all learning to occur during the school day. Create a shift worker mentality- turn brain on during school hours and off outside the school day. Slow the educational process so every student can master everything during the few hours in the classroom. Force all learning to be in group settings. Force those who get it in one to be bored while the teacher expounds on the subject enough so all students get it.
Do adults in professions turn off their work brains when they leave the workplace at the designated closing time? Do teachers only do work related things at school during their designated work hours? It is only low end shift work that occurs in time clock hours. We are not preparing students for the real world if they do not have homework.
In the ideal world students do not have to do busywork if they can show mastery via tests et al. However, too many students who should be doing homework skip it instead of learning the concepts. Hence requiring it instead of trusting a student to know when they really know the material. Son got B’s in AP stats and 100%s on tests because he did zero homework. But- I can see why the teacher made sure students did the work as it could be easy to assume one knew how to do the problems and flub the test. Son was the exception- gifted.
American schools are structured with plenty of time outside the classroom for homework. Teachers can’t cover enough material if they are restricted to the hours in the classroom. Forcing students to have a study hall takes away from learning opportunities and can be difficult situations for doing work.
I wonder what those parents are doing with their children’s out of school time. Is dance, music, sports, shopping, video games more important than their children having mastery of school subjects??? I like the thought of spending hours on something instead of the regimented class periods. Perhaps these parents need to find a school that is in session 10 hours per day- and be willing to pay for the time costs.
btw- how many HS students need to be told how college involves few hours in class but many independent hours to do the required work? Do these parents expect zero initiative from their children- all learning spoon fed in the classroom?