Homework myths busted

If you search online for homework help, then you might hopefully find some amazing study guides on BBC Bitesize… but you may also stumble upon some of the most frequently asked questions about it on search and socials, but not everything you find out may be true.

Read on to find out the answers to some of the hottest homework questions the internet has to offer.

What is homework spelled backwards?

You may have heard the rumours in school, or read online, that homework spelt backwards is 'krowemoh', which supposedly means 'child abuse' in Latin. This is incorrect. 'Krowemoh' is a made up word, which doesn't mean anything, the letter W didn't even exist in the classic Latin alphabet, which only has 23 characters.

Homework might often feel like a bit of a chore, and could be the last thing you want to do when you get in from school, but doing homework is really important and actually helps you consolidate your knowledge, which can make it easier to keep up with work in lessons.

Homework can actually help you become more fluent in the language you have to use in a subject. You expect to learn new words in French or Spanish lessons, but you'll also have to learn a wide range of subject-specific vocabulary in other lessons. Chances are you didn't know the word photosynthesis before you learnt it in Science? The more comfortable you are with the language of a subject, the more you’ll be able to learn in lessons.

Check out this article for more reasons as to why we do homework.

Who invented homework?

You may have seen social posts or search results saying that an Italian educator called Roberto Nevilis invented homework as a punishment for his students in the year 1905…or even in 1095! This is fake news.

Considering there is a photograph of 'Roberto', we can rule out that he invented homework in 1095, as cameras weren't invented until the 1800s, over 800 years later. We can also rule out the invention of homework by Roberto in 1905, since there is evidence that homework was banned for students under 15 in California, USA in 1901, this means Roberto can't of invented it four years later. So it appears that Roberto Nevilis did not invent homework.

The origins of homework could maybe be traced back to ancient Rome, where a lawyer called Pliny the Younger told his students to practise their public speaking at home, but homework became common in schools in the UK during the Victorian era in the 1800s.

Regardless of who invented homework, it is important part of school life as it helps you build the habits and routines that will help you succeed as you move through the school years. It will help you identify what works best for you as the work demands increase further up the school.

For more homework help, check out our guides on how to get organised when doing homework and how to get into a good homework routine.

If you need support

You should always tell someone about the things you’re worried about. You can tell a friend, parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult. If you're struggling with your mental health, going to your GP can be a good place to start to find help. Your GP can let you know what support is available to you, suggest different types of treatment and offer regular check-ups to see how you’re doing.

If you’re in need of in-the-moment support you can contact Childline, where you can speak to a counsellor. Their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are more links to helpful organisations on BBC Action Line.