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The Homework Myth: Why Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing Paperback – August 14, 2007

by Alfie Kohn (Author)

4.4 165 ratings

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Death and taxes come later; what seems inevitable for children is the idea that, after spending the day at school, they must then complete more academic assignments at home. The predictable results: stress and conflict, frustration and exhaustion. Parents respond by reassuring themselves that at least the benefits outweigh the costs. But what if they don't? In The Homework Myth, nationally known educator and parenting expert Alfie Kohn systematically examines the usual defenses of homework--that it promotes higher achievement, "reinforces" learning, and teaches study skills and responsibility. None of these assumptions, he shows, actually passes the test of research, logic, or experience. So why do we continue to administer this modern cod liver oil -- or even demand a larger dose? Kohn's incisive analysis reveals how a mistrust of children, a set of misconceptions about learning, and a misguided focus on competitiveness have all left our kids with less free time and our families with more conflict. Pointing to parents who have fought back -- and schools that have proved educational excellence is possible without homework -- Kohn shows how we can rethink what happens during and after school in order to rescue our families and our children's love of learning.

Editorial Reviews

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"A good book to have on hand when defending the idea of homework-free elementary schooling."--"San Antonio Express-News"

"[The Schools Our Children Deserve is]...a remarkable book that should become a classic in the field." -- Jonathan Kozol

"Alfie Kohn holds a crucial position in the American dialog about parenting." -- Michael Gurian

"Perhaps the country's most outspoken critic of education's fixation on grades [and] test scores."

"The most energetic and charismatic figure standing in the way of [making] standardized curriculums and tests a fact of life in every U.S. school."

About the Author

Alfie Kohn is the author of fourteen previous books, including Punished by Rewards, The Schools Our Children Deserve, and Unconditional Parenting. He lives in the Boston area.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Balance; Reprint edition (August 14, 2007)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0738211117
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0738211114
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.63 x 8.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #424,162 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #332 in Education Research (Books)
- #607 in Philosophy & Social Aspects of Education
- #4,550 in Instruction Methods

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4.4 165 ratings

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Alfie Kohn

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Alfie Kohn writes and speaks widely on human behavior, education, and parenting. He is the author of twelve books and hundreds of articles. Kohn has been described by Time Magazine as “perhaps the country’s most outspoken critic of education’s fixation on grades and test scores.” He has appeared twice on “Oprah,” as well as on “The Today Show,” NPR’s “Talk of the Nation,” and on many other TV and radio programs. He spends much of his time speaking at education conferences, as well as to parent groups, school faculties, and researchers. Kohn lives (actually) in the Boston area – and (virtually) at www.alfiekohn.org.

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Customers find the book informative and well-researched. They appreciate Kohn's views on homework and find it an eye-opening read. Readers describe it as a fantastic, must-read for teachers and an excellent book.

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21 customers mention "Knowledge"18 positive3 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-researched. They appreciate Kohn's views on homework and how they align with their own beliefs about excessive homework. The book provides solid information and thought-provoking insights for educators.

"...I found it very interesting that there is no correlation between increased homework and better grades or improved test scores on standardized tests...." Read more

"...I really enjoyed that book and it informed my own educational experiences...." Read more

"...His comparisons of preparing kids for the real world and how adults actually operate in the real world and how homework actually doesn't have a..." Read more

"...of the students 'brain on homework' and how the teacher can streamline their lesson plans to minimize the need for homework...." Read more

15 customers mention "Readability"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They say it's a must-read for teachers, and an interesting read. The book is well-researched and excellent.

"...Well worth reading. Backed by volumes of research. Good stuff." Read more

"...thought about this issue before and are interested, it's a great mind opening read...." Read more

"...I really enjoyed that book and it informed my own educational experiences...." Read more

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J. Freeman
The Case Against Homework
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2022
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I began reading Kohn’s books with the book, “The Case Against Competition”. I really enjoyed that book and it informed my own educational experiences. The basic premise in this book appears to follow the lines of: it something is worth doing, it’s worth doing for its own sake, and not because anyone has to force you to do it or else. Here, the or else is the threat of grades and ultimately failure.

Kohn explores the reasons for the premise and comes up with no much at all to say in favor of homework. If this is truly what the science shows, and it appears to be so (the book is fairly well referenced) then it’s worth considering changing it.

Personally, I was never a big fan of homework, but I did it because I wanted good grades and I thought thats what you were supposed to do (an idea Kohn examines at some length). Now, after reading his book, it appears there are better ways to motivate children and better ways to give them a lifelong passion for learning. That is, if you agree that this is a goal of education or should be so.

Great title! Worth a read if it strikes your fancy.

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Frederick S. Goethel
Excellent Analysis of Why Homework Doesn't Work
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2008
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For the most part, all of us have grown up doing homework while going to school. However, has doing hours of homework made any of us better students or more knowledgeable in the subjects we are learning? That, in essence, is the question being posed by the author of this book. And, his answer is a resounding no, especially when dealing with children who are younger than high school age.

I have watched my daughter do homework from the time she was in kindergarten and wondered at the point of it all. Most of the time it was worksheets that seemed to be little more than an attempt to pound information through her head. However, as a gifted student, she already understood the material and only ended up frustrated at having to spend more and more of her spare time doing work she already knew. She went from being a student who loved to go to school to one who cringes at the thought and I suspect homework is one main reason.

The studies presented in the book by the author that show homework is of little value validate what I have been saying for years. I found it very interesting that there is no correlation between increased homework and better grades or improved test scores on standardized tests. However, as we move to a more "test" driven world, class time becomes much more valuable and increases in homework become the norm, to the point where many students end up having no life left after school and homework.

My daughter, although still in high school, is taking a college course at a local community college. It was fascinating to read the policies of the college. One states that to get an A in a three credit course, the student is expected to do 7 ½ hours of homework a week. When multiplied by 6 courses, which is what my daughter takes at high school, the amount of homework expected for a top grade is 45 hours. When class time is included, that makes a total of about 60 hours a week. Yet at the high school, she is in class for 35 hours a week and has about 30 hours of homework assigned each week. So, she is doing more work in high school than would be expected in college. Something is very wrong with this picture.

All parents should read this book and understand the contents. If you don't read it and complain now, your child will lose more and more of their free time as they get older. It won't make them better students; just bitter at the experience.

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Stephen Pellerine
Homework V.S. Working at Home
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2010
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I like the book a lot. I agree that young children should not have a lot of homework, but I do believe that children should do work at home.

Working at home - I feel is the key to all successful students as an educator, even young children. So, although I agree with the notions put forth by Kohn I do feel that there should be a more explicit twist made towards promoting learner autonomy based on aspects of what is being taught within the school.

I agree that schools have, for the most part, become derailed and the meaning of education (to take care of our children) has been slightly lost as the globe blindly harnesses standardized tests and suffocates opportunities for creativity to fill the crevices of the curriculum. In this regard Kohn is absolutely correct (well from my perspective) in that he develops the sense of how homework has become political and policy driven in many instances.

For young kids - parents should lead the way at home. In any case, school should not administer homework for administrative sake: and they do. I meet with my child's teachers when such issues arise (fortunately not often) and I work out a way to understand their (the teachers) homework goals and make them as pleasant as possible for my child.

The default of a "no homework" policy is not what I would aim for - but a solution on how we can best support the child and reshape homework tasks into truly beneficial one. If tasks are given to make the child want to work at home (to explore and create) I am supportive, but in many instances as Kohn points out homework is given thoughtlessly to fill time - this I agree is abusive to the child.

If you are a parent and have not thought about this issue before and are interested, it's a great mind opening read. If you are an educator (one who sends kids of with loads of photocopied worksheets: not your own assignments addressing what you are working on at that point in the curriculum) you NEED to read this, and rethink.

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NKB
Educators best tool
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2016
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As an educator, I always wondered what the necessity of homework was about. I am slowly learning that it is mostly dictated by parents desires and districts wanted to appear 'competitive' among other schools. This book lays out all of the intricacies of the students 'brain on homework' and how the teacher can streamline their lesson plans to minimize the need for homework. As someone who considers themselves a holistic educator (ie, I consider the whole child and not just parts), this was an excellent read and a great tool that I will want to implement further in my career.

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C and D
Essential reading for educators and parents alike
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 7, 2019
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As an educator who has set homework religiously and with purpose for many years this book questions the very foundation of that premise and forces you to rethink your attitude and ultimately to stop setting homework. In essence, with increasing mental health issues for young people we must do all we can to reduce that level of pressure on them and allow them free time to explore their own passions and to relax. How many parents have their children going to bed at 11:00 at night after just finishing homework ? What about family time ?

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Joan Free
A must-read for all teachers
Reviewed in Spain on December 21, 2015
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Kohn has the courage to step on the toes of anyone who continues to deny what his research on the research has shown: the need for homework is a myth, This book should be required reading for any university program preparing students to be teachers.

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Brilliant book
Reviewed in Australia on March 21, 2016
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The homework myth was a great read. I feel more empowers and justified in the education choices I will now make for my children. Hope to spread the word about this completely unnecessary waste of time that all our kids are subjected to.

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Miki
Sollte von allen Pädagogen und Eltern gelesen werden
Reviewed in Germany on June 14, 2009
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Bin ich froh, über dieses Buch gestolpert zu sein! Wir hatten seit vielen Monaten täglichen Stress durch die Hausaufgaben, die meine Tochter nicht machen wollte. Sie fand sie öde und sinnlos. Ich habe eine ganze Reihe von Techniken ausprobiert, um meine Tochter zur Erledigung ihrer Hausaufgaben zu zwingen - mit dem einzigen Ergebnis, dass meine Tochter umso mehr Widerstand leistete, die Schule hassen lernte und mittlerweile ihr Denken bei schulischen Aufgaben komplett blockiert ist. All meine persönlichen Erfahrungen wurden durch Alfie Kohn als real bestätigt. Er hat aufgezeigt, dass das Problem im System liegt - in der Idee, Kindern vorzuschreiben, was sie zu tun hätten. Er setzt sich mit der Forschung zum Thema auseinander und zeigt auf, dass es ein Mythos ist, dass Hausaufgaben - wie der ganze Lernzwang allgemein - das Lernen fördert. Die Forschung konnte nicht beweisen, dass Hausaufgaben langfristig Eigenständigkeit, Verantwortung, Fachwissen und vor allem das selbstständige Denken und Begreifen fördern. Ganz im Gegenteil: Kinder, die wenig oder keine Hausaufgaben bekamen, schnitten gleich gut oder sogar besser ab, als Kinder, die mit viel Hausaufgaben belastet wurden. Er fordert dazu auf, sich im Unterricht von den Interessen und Zielen der Kinder leiten zu lassen und auf jeglichen Zwang zu verzichten.

Ich habe bei der Bewertung einen Punkt abgezogen, weil ich die Ausführungen an manchen Stellen viel zu lang fand und dadurch die Freude am Lesen teilweise verlor. Ich bevorzuge prägnante Informationen. Ich überblätterte daher ca. ein Drittel des Buches. Auch schade fand ich, dass das Nachschlagen der Endnoten so unnötig erschwert war. Gerne hätte ich die auch gelesen, aber der Aufwand war unverhältnismäßig groß.

Es wäre schön, wenn dieses Buch ins Deutsche übersetzt wäre und so auch in Deutschland einem breiten Publikum zur Verfügung stünde. Dieses Buch hat mich dazu bewegt, Widerstand zu leisten. Ich möchte mich an dem Lernzwang nicht mehr beteiligen und so gut es geht erreichen, dass meine Tochter in der Schule Zwang ausgesetzt wird. Angeregt durch dieses Buch habe ich herausgefunden, dass es auch in Deutschland zahlreiche Schulen gibt, die auf Hausaufgaben und Noten verzichten, wo Kinder ausschließlich aus Eigenmotivation lernen.

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EssKay
Confirms what some of us already suspected
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 30, 2015
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Slightly repetitive in places but provides plenty of evidence to prove that homework isn't beneficial (depending on desired outcome for children) and urges reader to question the status quo.

More parents should read this.

I never plan on letting my kids do homework (if I feel it's not useful or adding real value) and this confirms/suspicion every concern I had.

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Top reviews from the United States

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5.0 out of 5 stars The Case Against Homework

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Analysis of Why Homework Doesn't Work

4.0 out of 5 stars Homework V.S. Working at Home

5.0 out of 5 stars Educators best tool

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for educators and parents alike

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for all teachers

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant book

4.0 out of 5 stars Sollte von allen Pädagogen und Eltern gelesen werden

5.0 out of 5 stars Confirms what some of us already suspected

The Case Against Homework

Excellent Analysis of Why Homework Doesn't Work

Homework V.S. Working at Home

Educators best tool

Essential reading for educators and parents alike

A must-read for all teachers

Brilliant book

Sollte von allen Pädagogen und Eltern gelesen werden

Confirms what some of us already suspected