[crispytx]

I don't think the article mentioned this, but one of the big reasons behind all of this homework is the personality of the people dolling out the homework: Conscientious people can't stand not being busy. So they try to do everyone else a favor by loading them up with lots of busy work. The only problem with that is not everyone is conscientious and in constant need of busy work.

[huffmsa]

Good point. The education system is populated by people who love education and probably loved homework when they were young.

So they design and build for what they know.