I also have to say that parents on both sides seem to create some of these problems as well, at least in my area. Many in this thread have already discussed the parental pushers, but I've also seen the parental slackers who get upset with any amount of homework because it interferes with sports and other extra curricular activities. Are their kids *really* spending 4+ hours every night, or are there *some* parents who are exaggerating because it fits their agenda? Don't know, but I do know the slacker group is out there.
It is very hard to gauge, because the amount of time it takes for one assignment really varies per kid. And many kids have struggle with procrastination and distraction issues even if they don't have ADHD. One of the reasons it would take my son a long time to do homework in elementary school is that I would turn around and he would be doing something else. The easier the assignment the easier it was to get distracted. He has improved as he has gotten older but some of that is from teaching him better habits. He realized himself that unless homework needs his computer he should do it in a different room because the computer is too distracting. Through trial and error we figured out that with my son starting homework early doesn't help, homework fills the entire time allotted. Spent a few very frustrating Sundays in 6th grade, where the whole day was spent on something that should only have taken him 2-3 hours. Silly me.. thought he could get in done in the morning and do something fun in the afternoon. In the early elementary grades I had to sit with him while he did his homework, even though he needed no help.
And second there really are teachers/schools that give too much homework to elementary school kids. Don't get me started on the 26 page state "report" my daughter was supposed to do in 5th grade. It wasn't 26 pages of writing but it was still over the top and I just heard from someone that 10 years later she is still assigning it.
