I disagree. I went to a university that was very forward thinking. Most of our grades were group assignments for teamwork in business and the whole structure was very flexible in that we could think about what we wanted to write and what we believed as long as it was backed up by facts etc. It was great. We just didn't do the homework when this happened. It still feels like working. Since kids aren't out working jobs (mostly) and earning their keep, homework is a great way to instill in them an ethic of doing something to better yourself every day, and to instill discipline and reward them for their good work. In retrospect, I did fuck all in college because the "work was meaningful and thoughtprovoking". Nobody shoved our noses to the grindstone so we didn't bother. Personal experience. Don't mean to generalize.