Educational Theorist: Recent editorials have called for limits on the amount of homework assigned to schoolchildren younger than 12. They point out that free-time activities play an important role in childhood development and that homework in large quantities can severely restrict children’s free time, hindering their development. But the actual average homework time for children under 12 – little more than 30 minutes per night – leaves plenty of free time. In reality, therefore, the editorials’ rationale cannot justify the restriction they advocate.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously call into question the educational theorist’s conclusion?

A. Some teachers give as homework assignments work of a kind that research suggests is most effective educationally when done in class.
B. For children younger than 12, regularly doing homework in the first years of school has no proven academic value, but many educators believe that it fosters self-discipline and time management.
C. Some homework assignments are related to free-time activities that children engage in, such as reading or hobbies.
D. A substantial proportion of schoolchildren under 12, particularly those in their first few years of school, have less than 10 minutes of homework assigned per night.
E. Some free-time activities teach children skills or information that they later find useful in their schoolwork.

D