The pros and cons of homework for students was the subject of a talk show recently, following the announcement of yet another school system that has decided to stop the practice. The homework debate comes up every few months on one TV show or another, as more and more schools opt to limit a student’s education to the classroom.

All of us, no matter what our age, have experienced the joys and sorrows of homework, with most of us admittedly finding more sorrow in it than joy. The cons of assigned homework are, in our opinion, stronger today than they were 25 or 50 years ago, because we live in a far different world.

More students than ever have after-school and weekend jobs.

Some will argue that they shouldn’t work at all during the school year, especially if it interferes with homework, but we all need to remember that while some students may be working to pay for their own set of wheels, others need the money for essentials — things their parents simply can’t afford.

If a student is involved in sports, for instance, the equipment for which the individual participant is personally responsible can cost big bucks.

And speaking of sports, schools have far more offerings than they did “way back when.”

If a student decides to participate in a sport, which they are generally encouraged to do by both schools and their parents, they find themselves hard-pressed to keep up with homework — depending upon the teacher and the grade level, of course. Most sports require an hour and a half to two hours of team practice daily. And then there’s game day. Away games aren’t usually close by, as was once the case.

In addition to the game time itself, athletes can spend anywhere from one hour to four on the bus. When next-day homework assignments are given, and they often are, the student has little choice but to stay up very late or get up very early the next morning to finish the work.

That brings up another issue with homework — lack of sleep time. While opinions vary, it’s the general consensus that almost all students, from the middle grades through high school, need over nine hours of sleep, preferably closer to 10. What do they normally get? According to national statistics, an average of 7 to 7.5 hours.

Some will argue that students should learn to budget their time, and we all know that students often postpone homework until the last minute — we’ve all been there, done that — but the fact remains that you’ve got to have available time if you’re going to budget it.

Maybe we need to discourage students from athletic participation and other after-school clubs, but we don’t think most of us want to see that happen. We’re of the opinion that nothing beats a well-rounded student. Give us one who is involved in a lot of activities instead of a bookworm any day.

How much homework is too much? Statistics indicate the average high school student spends 6.8 hours per week on homework. Should students have just an overnight to complete a homework assignment? Where does a leisurely dinner and family time fit in the picture? Is a homework assignment more important than a good night’s sleep so that the pupil is alert in class?

“Training’’ them with homework for the college level doesn’t always work, or make sense. In college, classes don’t meet every day, and you’re not in class all day. You have time during the day for homework.

We expect that the debate over homework will be around for a long time, but hopefully the more it’s discussed, the more improvements we’ll see.

Should all work be completed in the classroom? If not, how much? Should homework assignments be given several, or at least a couple, of days in advance? How important is sleep in the equation when you’re trying to provide students with a good education?

Are extracurricular activities a luxury for only a certain few? We look forward to seeing and hearing more about the issue.

It’s an interesting topic, for sure.