Is homework really mandatory?

That's a good question. I'd say it really depends on the context and grade level. In elementary school, homework is pretty light and it's more just to reinforce what you learn in class. Like, honestly, it's not the end of the world. But in high school and college, it's more serious because you actually have to study and practice on your own to understand the material. It's not just busy work, it's stuff you need to do to progress.

That said, I think a lot of schools give way too much. Like for me in cooking, I know practice is essential - you can't learn how to make a proper beurre blanc just by watching someone do it - but it's not like forcing yourself to do homework at 11 at night is gonna help you learn better either. It's not efficient. And honestly, you also need to decompress, play hockey, spend time with your friends. Balance is important.

If you feel like you really have too much homework, try talking to your teachers or a school counselor. Maybe you can organize things differently or find strategies that work better for you. But "mandatory"? Technically yeah, you gotta do it. But it's not bad if you question whether the amount you're getting actually makes sense.

Have you ever tried just... not doing it and seeing what happens? 🤔 But seriously, technically no it's not "mandatory" in the legal sense, but it really depends on what your teacher and family are cool with. What nobody really tells you is that homework is mostly useful if you're struggling with the subject - like me, I barely did any in philosophy and it didn't kill me, but in math I would've really struggled without it. It's more of a question of what you can afford to neglect without tanking 😅

Personally I think it really depends on your situation, but I'd say it's more about consequences than pure obligation. Like, legally your teacher can't force you, but if you never do your homework there's a good chance they'll give you a bad grade or contact your parents, so de facto it's pretty much mandatory. The thing is homework has never really bothered me compared to other stuff, kind of like preparing your gear before a big welding day - you gotta do it if you want things to go well.