as I mark mountains of homework.
Sometimes I think teachers here assign so much homework and so many tests because they like the idea of marking. It's like they fulfill their childhood fantasy of playing teacher because they get the chance to hold the red pen, put ticks and crosses, and finally, to write a letter grade with and sticker/stamp. the cherry on top.
Homework assignments every day that their parents or tutors help do for them; never equivalent to what they know or are able to do in class; always perfect and occasionally, with the parents' handwriting penciled in on the side, not even erased.
... but hey, at least to some extent they are going through the exercise?