‘Newtown University?’ —

Students See Homework As Main Difference Between NMS and NHS

BY ANDREW ROTE

Spanish: finish two work sheets, take notes on page 78

Chemistry: problems in workbook

Pre-Calculus: pg. 255, problems 27 and 28; pages 268-69, problems 15-20, 25, 27-30

US History: Johnson’s handout, outline pages 243-47, study for test on chapter 13

Humanities: study for test on Keeper

 

How is your Tuesday night usually spent? This is how junior Shannon Solheim spends her Tuesdays and every other weekday after school.

Homework takes plenty of time by itself, but when sports and other activities are added, weekdays can be stressful. “There’s too much of it,” Dan Maxwell, sophomore, states about homework.

Ask any freshman or sophomore how much work they do on a given night and they will tell you that freshmen spend a little more than two hours per night, while sophomores say they toil under three hours of homework nightly.

One of the biggest jumps for students to take is from the middle school to Newtown High School.

“There’s a huge difference between the middle school and the high school in terms of responsibility and independence,” explains one freshman. “You not only have to learn how to be on your own, you also have to deal with three times as much homework.”

Freshman Eileen Honan agrees. “[The high school] is harder than the middle school because teachers aren’t as willing to let you make [homework] up if you miss an assignment, so everything has to be done well and on time.”

Sometimes the workload can be overwhelming to students trying to adjust. In the middle school, kids are together in clusters. Teachers all know about major projects going on with other academics because they plan together.

Things don’t work that way in the high school. Teachers plan by themselves and don’t have a clue as to what other teachers are doing. Teachers make their own lesson plans and don’t necessarily communicate with other teachers around the school. A Spanish teacher, for instance, might not be aware of the amount of work a biology teacher has just assigned for the same students. 

Because of the heavy workload as well as the difference between NHS and the middle school, some parents have been heard calling the building “Newtown University.”

When polled, the students’ average amount of homework ranged from as little as one hour per night to as much as six hours per night. “It depends on the teacher,” confirms Stan Fabas, a sophomore.

Students hold different opinions on the ways homework is, and should be, handled at the high school. “Certain teachers give homework at the wrong time,” explains sophomore Josh Ellen.

“[Teachers] shouldn’t give homework over the weekend,” protests Nick Doniger, a freshman.

“There’s too much homework over vacations,” adds freshman Jack Rafter, anticipating spring break.

Since people work at different rates, the same homework assignment could take much longer for one student than it takes for another. This causes frustration for a number of the slower-working students. “Homework can take a long time, especially if students don’t understand it,” Phil Ames, sophomore, explains.

It’s tough to complete everything when students have jobs, team practices, or other commitments after school. However, with exception to occasional nights where students are swamped with homework, it can all be done.

There are various strategies that can help high school students get through these important four years. One tip is to use the assignment books that are supplied at the beginning of each year. This is a helpful organizational tool. Another tip is to be sure not to leave long-term projects until the last minute since they can pile up and cause stress.

Though it might be hard to believe now, all of this work will pay off in the end. Students will be better prepared for college or whatever else their futures may hold.

Yet with all of this homework, September through June might feel like more than 10 months, but it can definitely make students appreciate summer vacation even more.

(Andrew Rote is a sophomore journalism student at Newtown High School who writes sports and feature stories for the school’s paper, The Hawkeye.)