An idle exercise

Educationalists now believe homework is worthless and even creates bad habits. David Young asks if it is as pointless as it seems

HOMEWORK — just like death and taxes, it can’t be avoided. That’s why every last one of us has ugly memories, no matter how hazy and blurry a box you choose to put them in — of running the homework gauntlet.

Most put it down to a rite of passage. Others still wince at its very utterance; even now, as the experts pronounce its futility.