'There's no proof that homework is going to make them better students' - Teacher uses her Tiktok channel to explain why she doesn't assign homework.
Video / Courtney White
A high school teacher has gone viral after she recorded a video explaining she doesn't believe in homework.
Courtney White, of Texas, refuses to assign "more work" to her students saying there is "no proof" it's going to make them "better students in my class".
She shared a clip on TikTok about her philosophy on homework with her more than half a million followers, which immediately sparked a contentious debate on whether homework is a necessity.
"Students do enough work at school, they don't need more at home!" she captioned the now viral video.
Many students agreed with her approach saying it motivates them to do classwork.
The Texan teacher said she doesn't believe in homework. Photo / TikTok
"Homework is a big reason why some students get bad grades. They could know everything in class but just not have time to work on it at home," one of her followers wrote.
"Thank you!! We are already at school for 7 hours then we go home and have to do more work!" added another student.
However, not everyone backs her philosophy, including fellow teachers who called her out for "not doing her job properly".
"Isn't homework practice to make sure they're actually learning?" one person asked, to which she simply responded, "No, it's not".
The backlash forced the 27-year-old to record another video defending her actions.
The comments were split, but most appeared in favour. Photo / TikTok
"I am getting a lot of comments and a lot of people coming at me, a lot of teachers saying I am not doing my job because I am not assigning homework," she said in the new clip.
"But there is no proof that homework is going to make them better students in my class.
"I respect their time outside of class. They work hard for me all day. They don't need to go home and do more homework because if they do it at home, it does not show me mastery."
White said while it is extra practice, it isn't effective if they're doing it wrong or cheating.
She also said most of her students have after school commitments from band and sports practice, to at-home responsibilities.
"Some of them are going home and taking care of their younger sibling because their parents are at work, some of them just need to go home and sleep and some of them have to go home and worry about what they're going to eat because there's no food at their house," she said.
"So, if I also give them hours of homework, when do they have time to be kids and relax...so I am a good teacher and I am doing my job."
In total, her anti-homework videos have attracted more than 3 million views and thousands of comments, telling the Today show she never thought her posts would "blow up".
"No-homework policies aren't new, they just aren't talked about as much. I am in no way the first teacher to implement this in my classroom so when I made the video I just thought it would be a silly video," she told the programme.
The teacher from Alvarado, Texas, has taken her viral moment in her stride, saying the whole experience has been "crazy".
"But the outpouring of love and respect that I have been getting is amazing," she said, adding that the large majority of the reactions have been positive and from students.
"I haven't really heard from a lot of parents, but the ones that have reached out have been positive. Some are even grateful that their kids are getting a small break from their crazy workloads that have been coming home."
Despite the mixed reaction, the 27-year-old said she still refuses to assign homework which she has never done throughout her teaching career – however, if a student wants more practice, she'll send them home with optional work.
"There will always be negative people trying to bring you down, but you have to focus on the positive," she said. "I love teaching and I will always show up for my students, despite what anyone has to say about my teaching methods. Teachers are heroes and I respect each and every one of them."
