Homework proponents insist that some subjects cannot be mastered without repetitive rote memorization. Even homework critics allow for the fact that well thought-out assignments can certainly contribute to a child's love of learning, especially when it requires the full engagement of an inquiring mind.

Some innovative schools have begun to work at eliminating the kind of monotonous busy-work that kills a child's incentive to learn and keeps them from their families for extended periods in the evenings.

* It reinforces the lessons that have been taught by providing an opportunity to practice. * It teaches responsibility and discipline

* As a prerequisite, to prepare students for a topic or lesson that will be taught in the next day or two

It prepares students for the next step; whether it's high school for elementary students or university for high school students where a large amount of work is given and must be done independently as homework.

the benefits of homework within your own mind and I'm sure that my pages on

If you've ever had a late night argument with your child about completing homework, you probably know first-hand that homework can be a strain on families

Many proponents of homework argue that life is filled with things we don't like to do, and that homework teaches self-discipline, time management and other nonacademic life skills. Kohn challenges this popular notion: If kids have no choice in the matter of homework, they're not really exercising judgment, and are instead losing their sense of autonomy.

Nancy Kalish, co-author of the 2006 book The Case Against Homework, tells of a teacher in San Diego, Calif., who holds a math class for parents each Monday evening in order to tutor them in the concepts that their children are currently learning. The idea is to better enable parents to help their children with their homework and to prepare for tests and quizzes.