Homework is the act of a teacher passing the buck to their students to make up for their own inability to impart the required knowledge in the ample time give to them. It is completely unneccessary, and intrudes greatly on a student's family time, which is far more important than any course they will ever take.
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am a former teacher (foreign language), and a parent of 14 year old boy/girl twins. I support the idea of homework for the purposes of practice and drill on concepts learned in class, and for independent reading and study, primarily as a self-discipline tool. My experience in junior high and high school as minimal homework, even in AP and advanced level classes, except for papers and test study. I didn't crush the SAT (1220 in one taking of the test in 1975-- the testing fee was real money to my family back then). I did do pretty well on the LSAT (44 of 50-- prior version of the test back in 1984). Our kids still have plenty of time for family activities, but I want them to learn how to study without teachers (or parents) looking over their shoulders.
I agree with some on this thread that many teachers use homework to substitute for teaching in class, and that is not good. Use of homework to practice skills, however, is a valid tool. This allows the teacher to teach MORE, not FEWER, concepts in class.