Are we putting too much emphasis on homework?

"Our educational system is in trouble."

"In too many schools, kids just aren't learning what they need to learn."

"Our children are going to have to work harder and longer to catch up."

I've heard all of the above statements over the years. There is probably a good deal of truth to each of them.

"Our families are in trouble."

"Parents and children no longer have the time together they once had - and need."

"We are going to have to make more time - quality time - to spend with our children if we're going to do a good enough job as parents."

These statements sound familiar, too. Unfortunately, sometimes our response to the problem described in the first three statements actually intensifies the problem described in the second three statements (try saying that five times quickly).

I'm talking about homework. Homework - and more homework - is one of the tools some educators are using to attempt to increase our children's learning. The problem is, homework, especially lots of homework, has a negative impact on family life.

Let's face it, when we think of homework, we don't imagine some idyllic scene in which Johnnie or Suzie snuggles up with Mom or Dad at the kitchen table and joyfully does math problems or writes book reports.

After a day of school, kids are too often tired, bored and just want to play or relax. And parents aren't much different.

Asking worn out, stressed out children and adults to cram an hour or two of homework into an evening is asking for trouble. Too often, homework is a major cause of family tension, if not outright conflict. And our family's negative response to the demands of homework often means that children don't learn from homework what they are supposed to learn anyway.

The cumulative family frazzled index is not the only problem. Two-income or single-parent families, as well as the increased hours parents often have to spend on the job, mean less time available for parents to spend with children. Homework, then, steals even more time away from family life.

And let's face it, most of us parents are not trained educators, anyway. We often don't know the best or current way to teach a particular concept, assuming we even understand the concept being taught.

Perhaps it's time for change. Though homework may have been a valuable learning tool a few decades ago, it may have outlived its usefulness.

Assuming there is a need for children to further practice outside the classroom what they learn in the classroom, I suggest we build such practice time into an extended school day. Let's lengthen the day by an hour and devote the hour to supervised practice (i.e. homework).

Teachers can work as tutors during this period, and older students can assist younger students (peer tutoring has been shown to benefit both student and tutor). Library resources would be readily available, and distractions such as TV, phone calls and friends at the door would be eliminated.

Such in-school homework periods would even reduce the time "latch key" kids spend at home alone or out on the streets.

As a taxpayer, I'd be more than willing to pay higher taxes to fund such an extra hour. As a parent, I'd love to spend my evenings with my children being family rather than trying to be school. And as a family therapist, I'm confident such a plan would significantly reduce the stress in our already stressful family lives.

Homework - let's leave it at school.

• Dr. Ken Potts is on the staff of Samaracare Counseling Center in Naperville and Downers Grove. He is the author of "Mix Don't Blend, A Guide to Dating, Engagement and Remarriage With Children."