Should children do homework?

This is the big question in today's Independent. A great question, to which I think the answer is yes, but much less than they do. I believe children should be set less homework, especially in the humanities subjects, but the homework they set is better. Too much homework are pointless activities. Teachers should be given time to set thought-provoking and interesting homework which students would be given two or three weeks to complete. This would enable students to engage with a homework and develop their learning, rather than rushing something off the night before or in breaktime (which I sure some students would still do). Time outside school should be more school-free. The problem is too children and young people don't use their evenings well. Too many spend their free time playing games or watching crap tv. Instead of students doing loads of homework, I would encourage them to read, spend time with family, watch good TV, be creative, etc. There are lots of good, interesting, and dare I say it, educational programmes on tv, which students should be encouraged to watch.