Actually I agree with many of the points made - however, over here the classes are already bigger than teachers can cope with, so expecting them to be able to monitor something that is already out of their control is just as unfair to them as expecting parents to teach something they did over 20 years ago (in some cases).
Personally I think lots of homework should wait until high school or college, but some homework in moderation is worthwhile because it gives kids the chance to practice (and therefore understand) the theories that are taught in class (not every kid gets things first time), and teaches them a disciplined approach to study outside an environment where they are 'commanded' to study by law. Many people I have met, including myself to an extent, have got on better when they studied off their own backs, after school, because they were not being forced to do it but they chose to do it.
So IMHO the problem is not homework per se - the problem is excessive, repetitive homework that labours a point rather than teaching it. And underfunding in schools, tho that's prolly a bigger issue here in the UK.