Year after year, teachers assign students work to complete during our summer break. Summer is supposed to be a time where we should be able to relax and be stress-free, but having to complete a summer assignment makes us feel like the total opposite.
Summer break is a time where students can rest and grow outside the limits of a school schedule. However, there is a growing habit of summer homework and has disrupted this essential break.
Although many may argue that these assignments are essential to keep the mind growing while students are on a break, it really just causes more stress to the students and doesn’t do much to improve academic performance.
Sophomore Raelynn Black said, “As a student athlete, summer homework affects me, because I already have a lot on my mind throughout the school year; it’s a lot of baggage with the stress of school work and having a sport. For the summer, I just want to be stress-free and not have to worry about anything other than getting better at my sport.”
Students already spend nine to ten months balancing different classes along with extra-curricular activities, including part-time jobs or family responsibilities. Summer is a period that allows students to let go of their academic stress and focus on themselves. By adding schoolwork, educators neglect this break, which could potentially lead to burn out.
Sophomore Phillip Laktineh said, “I feel like summer should be hanging out with your friends; it should be a break from school because people get stressed.”
Students should feel rejuvenated when returning back to school in the fall, but instead, they feel mentally exhausted. “Summer should be a time where you can hang out with your friends, no homework and just very stress and school free,” said Sophomore Kelly Chen.
Whether it’s traveling, working a summer job, volunteering, pursuing a hobby, or spending quality time with family and friends, these experiences offer meaningful growth that cannot be measured by a test or grade. Assigning homework makes it seem like academic performance takes priority over discovering who you are as a person. We should not be assigned readings but instead we should be able to read a book we like for our pleasure.
Sophomore Aria “Shine” Apolinario said, “Some people assign things that you completely have to teach yourself. Why do I need to teach myself over the summer if that’s what school is for?”
Studies have shown that no matter what was assigned, many students forget the material, especially if it was rushed or done without the proper support. Other students tend to procrastinate and rush through the assignments days before school starts, which completely defeats the intention.
For instance, I’m typically good at making sure I turn all my work in on time, but whenever I have any kind of break, I prefer to be task-free. This past summer, I was assigned to read the book “Everything We Never Had” by Randy Ribay for Honors English II.
This assignment caused a lot of conflict between me and my mom. My mom kept telling me I needed to read the book, and I told her I would. I kept pushing it back, wanting to have a free summer without worrying about anything.
As a student athlete, especially during the summer with a lot of tournaments and traveling, it’s very difficult to find time to be able to complete these assignments. I was very occupied this summer coming and going from Mexico and being gone for weeks at a time for soccer along with practicing everyday and still having to complete my chores at home and help take care of my siblings.
Not all students have an environment at home that allows them to focus on any assignments. While someone may have access to tutors and families who allow them to focus, many may be caring for siblings, working long hours, or living in households where school is not a top priority due to financial or personal struggles. This could lead to students falling behind due to factors they can not control.
Summer assignments do more harm than good and often fail to achieve the outcome. We should find an alternative that is creative, flexible, and inclusive that doesn’t give up our freedom.