# PTE RL #6: The Debate Over Homework in Schools

Re-tell Lecture #6 - Level 1 - Feeds Speaking + Listening

> You will hear a lecture. When it ends, you have 10 seconds to prepare, then 40 seconds to retell the lecture in your own words.

## Explanation

A strong response captures the speaker's main points: the historical prevalence of homework, the lack of consensus on its benefits, and the shifting public opinion, particularly for younger children.

## Hints

- Focus on the main argument: why homework is being questioned.
- Note the speaker's mention of the changing perspective on homework's effectiveness.

## Transcript

Now as we all know, it has long been the habit in many countries that teachers give homework to school children of all ages. Despite the fact that a minority of educators don't agree with this practice, it has never seriously been questioned or challenged before. However, it may be that the tide is turning. These days, more people are becoming convinced that homework is of virtually no benefit, particularly for children in the younger age group. So, why have teachers always given homework? Well, the answer seems to be because they are obliged to. Most teachers don't really believe it has any real value, and the latest research supports the teachers' feelings about this. Not only does homework have very little impact on children's learning, but it also puts unnecessary obligations and responsibilities onto the parents. These days, not all families have the time or the necessary knowledge to help their offspring. So it would seem that now senior educators want to start a new initiative. Rather than giving homework, they plan to encourage reading books of any kind, just reading, and they claim that this is a far more effective method of consolidating learning than wading through piles of written homework.

[Practise this question with the exam timer](https://testmigo.com/pte/practice/re-tell-lecture/the-debate-over-homework-in-schools) - [All Re-tell Lecture questions](https://testmigo.com/pte/practice/re-tell-lecture)