Homework and tests impact students’ mental health

By Benjamin Chan-Kai, ‘25

School and stress levels can vary from generalized stress and anxiety to a feeling of decreased self-worth and confidence.

“We put a lot of pressure as a culture on the notion of being behind,” says Jeffery Silverstein, the Catlin Gabel Upper School (US) learning specialist. “When work keeps piling up on students’ plates, they can get the feeling of ‘being behind’ which leads to stress and people not feeling great about themselves.”

Certain types of assignments or tests can trigger higher levels of stress, especially timed tasks.

“The concept of anything that is timed naturally creates a sense of, ‘what if I don’t have enough time?’” Silverstein states.

Public speaking and sharing work are both seen as student development and sources of stress. On the one hand, these activities help students develop confidence but can also be a source of embarrassment for many students.

A common question debated among teachers and students is, what is an appropriate/healthy amount of homework for students? “The truth is that there is no answer,” said Silverstein.

“The debate over homework proportions will exist forever, and no school completely nails it… There are definitely benefits to homework, but there are downsides to it that hurt a lot of students.” Silverstein stated.

According to Silverstein, homework is associated with high stress/anxiety levels, mental health problems, and lack of balance in children's lives, although it is helpful for learning and practicing subjects

Catlin Gabel School (CGS) also has guidelines on the amount of homework that should be assigned for every class. If you ever feel like you need some help with these things, email your teachers or Jeffery Silverstein for assistance.