[Arrual (OP)]

I've pondered this for life and never had the time to research it deeply.

[CliffordK]

Everything points to Homework being a Russian Conspiracy against American School Kids 

There are several notes about the history of homework, at least with respect to American kids, and perhaps rural kids in general.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homework#History_of_homework
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/HISTORY-OF-HOMEWORK-3053660.php
http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/108071/chapters/The-Cult%28ure%29-of-Homework.aspx

Anyway, up until the mid 1900's, at least with the primary education, there was apparently a feeling of school for in school, and chores and other family stuff for the times kids were out of school. 

Then came the Russian launch of a tiny satellite that simply broadcast radio pulses.  And, everything changed.  American kids had to do homework to keep up with the Russians who could make a satellite that beeped.

Over the years, homework and homeschooling has been increasing, at least in many communities. 

College may be different with college students sitting in class for perhaps 15 hours a week, but expected to work as much as a full time job. 

Certainly for subjects like math, one needs lots of practice for it to be learned, and perhaps the more diverse problems, the more diverse applications.  Other fields may still consider reading to compliment the lectures.

[alancalverd]

It's a conspiracy to promulgate the monastic tradition, and to cover up the fact that teachers are very inefficient at transferring knowledge. Kids go to school so their parents can go to work to earn the school fees, then they do homework so they can learn a trade and become parents....

[CliffordK]

Practice and repetition is important for learning, although I am often amazed at how quickly young kids pick up things like new words.  It isn't that teachers are bad at what they do, but that the elements of practice and repetition can better be done by the student, and don't require a teacher to be standing over them.

Perhaps homework also reinforces lifelong individual learning, rather everything being fed to the child by a parent/teacher.

[WarnerGet]

The same person who invented Zubaz? DH was just going off about this earlier.

[chris]

What's Zubaz?

[Colin2B]

The same person who invented Zubaz? DH was just going off about this earlier.

Weak attempt to spam us.
We have changed your website and signature links to our own and banned you.
Goodbye

[Zer0]

I've pondered this for life and never had the time to research it deeply.

lol
Good question!