As a university academic, part of the issue is precisely that university students, at least young ones, have no idea that they are supposed to treat it as a full time job. Most university students have no idea how to maintain a good working schedule, schedule work time, schedule time to do problem sets, etc. This js often a shock to the system in first year.

The successful university students are often those who come back from job placements and then actually understand what it means to work.

Anyways coming to the original question of homework in school, in principle I don’t see an issue with it. Learning takes time to absorb and students must learn how to reflect and study outside of the classroom.

In practice this rarely works because teachers treat it as a dumping ground for rote learning that they didn’t/couldn’t implement in the classroom.

I agree that from what I’ve heard, the sort of “homework” kids are assigned with aren’t fit for purpose.