This is disappointing rhetoric that I would like to see improved. Homework is not inherently classist or, even by extension, racist. The practice of assigning a

This is disappointing rhetoric that I would like to see improved. Homework is not inherently classist or, even by extension, racist. The practice of assigning and completing homework is affected by the conditions that are often associated with (but not always caused by) class and race. The labels of ‘classist’ and ‘racist’ are absolutes, indicating a 1-to-1 causal relationship that is not present here. It would be better to state that homework, as employed by many teachers today, may be (or arguably is) less effective at promoting learning across all economic and racial categories. The idea behind homework is sound: it gives the student additional study time than is available during school. If additional time studying has positive outcomes, then homework is a positive concept. If some students do not have the time, environment, or support for this added study, it is reasonable to look for ways to support and enable their success instead of effectively penalizing them for circumstances outside of their control. Using terms like ‘classist’ and ‘racist’ discards much needed nuance.