PORILLO, Jhoyce C.
Nine Hours is Enough: Students Deserve Time for Themselves
Thesis Statement:
Although some believe homework helps students practice and remember lessons, it should still
be lessened because students already spend almost nine hours in school, and giving too much
extra work at home leads to stress, lack of sleep, and less time for family, rest, and personal
responsibilities.
I. Introduction
A. Students spend most of their day in school, and adding hours of homework after that
becomes exhausting.
1. In the Philippines, the average school day runs from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM (PIDS, 2022).
2. After a long day of academic work, the brain also needs time to cool down and reset, not
more pressure.
B. Even if homework is meant to help, when it's too much, it affects students' health,
focus, and quality of life.
II. Body
A. Students already study enough during school hours.
1. A regular day already includes lessons, quizzes, performance tasks, and multiple
subjects that demand focus and effort in different forms of tasks.
2. Forcing students to continue studying at home only extends academic pressure.
a. A 2014 study by the American Psychological Association showed that students with
heavy homework loads experience fatigue, headaches, and a lack of motivation.
B. Homework limits students’ time for rest and personal life.
1. Students barely have time for sleep, hobbies, or breaks from school tasks.
2. Homework takes away time that should be spent with family: family meal together, or
sometimes a family event, or doing important personal errands.
a. According to Stanford research (Pope, 2014), students often sacrifice meals with
family or chores just to finish schoolwork.
3. Instead of learning life balance, students become overworked and disconnected from
their home life.
a. Rest and bonding time are also important for healthy growth, mental health, and
emotional support.
C. Students deserve proper recovery time to recharge for the next day.
1. Breaks are essential for the brain to retain information and stay creative.
2. Without enough rest, even the best students may lose focus or interest in learning.
a. The Department of Education emphasized “academic ease” during the pandemic
(DepEd Order No. 29, s. 2021) to protect students’ well-being, a principle that remains
relevant today.
III. Concession
A. It’s true that some teachers and parents believe homework helps students retain and apply
what they learned.
1. They say it trains discipline and responsibility.
B. While that may be valid in moderation, too much homework actually causes the opposite:
burnout and disconnection.
1. Teachers can give shorter tasks that help students think about what they learned and use
it, instead of giving too many repeated exercises.
2. Learning can still happen through review, games, or in-school activities without invading
home time.
IV. Conclusion
A. Lessening homework doesn’t mean removing education; it means valuing balance and
well-being.
1. Students are not machines; they need sleep, family time, and space for personal
growth.
2. With healthier schedules, students can be more productive, less stressed, and more
engaged in learning.
3. Giving students time to rest and enjoy life outside school helps improve their mental
health and motivation.
- Philippine Institute for Development Studies (2022). School Hours in Public
Education.
- Pope, D. (2014). Stanford University: Homework and Student Well-being.
- American Psychological Association (2014). Stress in America: Are Teens Adopting
Adults' Stress Habits? Retrieved from
[Link]
- Department of Education (2021). DepEd Order No. 29, s. 2021 – Academic Ease
Policy.