I believe that homework should be banned or limited in Williamson County Schools's middle and high schools. I often spend all my afternoons focused on homework. I often miss dinner and am unable to spend time with my family. Sometimes, I have to miss youth group with my church and other appointments that are important to me. I have had to stay up past my bedtime and end up with less than seven hours of sleep, an incredibly unhealthy lifestyle for a teenager.

A researcher at the University of Stanford discovered through survey data that homework negatively affects kids' lives away from school, familial relationships, and friendships. On average, students had 3.1 hours of homework each day. 56 percent of the surveyed students from 10 high-performing high schools in upper-middle-class California communities say their highest source of stress is homework, while 43 viewed theirs as tests. Less than one percent said homework does not provide stress. Many students were led to not see friends or family, drop hobbies and activities they enjoy, and were prone to headaches, weight loss, sleep deprivation, stomach problems, and exhaustion. They were “not meeting their developmental needs or cultivating other critical life skills,” according to the researchers.

Right now, Finland and Japan have already banned homework. Japan is the second best nation in the country for education, and Finland follows at fifth. The US falls short at number 14, according to leading education firm, Pearson.

I believe that the brain (and our memorization of already pointless facts and ideas) should be viewed as a muscle. After a workout session, one takes a day to rest so their muscles may grow. It should be the same way with school. After eight hours of nonstop learning, we spend the rest of our afternoon practicing what we learned. Imagine a student's life which they have the whole afternoon to rest and relax after a long day of teachers and tests. Their overall work ethic and mood would change completely.