I've heard of the research saying homework in useless in grade school, but haven't at the high school level.

One of the things that made teaching so stressful for me was wanting to do it right but seeing myself do it wrong and thinking... - if you want to know what a man belives in don't ask him, watch him. Anybody watching me would know I actally believed in all that crap you are complaining about.

Good Luck!