May 29, 2025
By Gabriella Cerreta
Staff Writer
Every year, students look forward to summer as a time to relax, reset and finally step away from the pressures of school. However, for many, that reality doesn’t quite match their dream, thanks to summer assignments.
Whether it’s required reading or projects, summer homework often haunts students through moments that should be stress-free. While getting a head start on schoolwork is beneficial, especially in rigorous courses that cover a lot of material, LHS students would be better off without these assignments.
First, students often travel during the summer. Whether a student is vacationing or visiting family, it is not the ideal environment to get work done. It is also problematic to fit books and a Chromebook in one’s suitcase, and sometimes one’s destination does not have a reliable internet connection.
Additionally, some students have part-time or full-time jobs. Balancing employment with school assignments becomes exhausting, especially when seeking time to socialize and enjoy the summer weather.
Others may have domestic responsibilities, such as babysitting younger siblings or helping around the house. These tasks take up just as much time and energy as a job, leaving little opportunity for schoolwork.
Whether it’s required reading or projects, summer homework often haunts students through moments that should be stress-free.
For students taking multiple Advanced Placement or honors courses, the workload can be overwhelming. Instead of students getting a break, summer assignments make for an incessant cycle of schoolwork. This constant pressure can lead to burnout before the school year even begins.
Furthermore, from an academic perspective, summer work isn’t necessarily helpful. If students complete the assignment too early, they’ll likely forget the material by the time they return to school. If they wait too long, they end up rushing through it.
Likewise, in Advanced Placement math classes, teachers commonly assign summer work to help students build a strong foundation of the key concepts they will use throughout the school year. However, similar to summer reading, it’s easy for students to forget the skills they developed during the summer.
Moreover, some teachers aren’t clear about whether summer work counts as a grade or extra credit. This confusion leaves students either stressing over how it will impact their GPA or choosing to ignore it completely.
Reading should be enjoyable, but when paired with quizzes or essays, it becomes just another assessment to pass. Stress can ruin the fun of immersing oneself in an enjoyable text. Instead, summer should be a chance for students to read what they love without facing a looming test.
Another factor to take into consideration is the rise of artificial intelligence. With tools like ChatGPT, the integrity of summer work is questionable. It is hard for teachers to decipher which students have relied on AI to complete an assignment, especially since they are not yet familiar with their students’ writing styles and abilities. As a result, teachers may struggle to grade fairly, leading students who did not use AI to receive a lower grade than a student who did, which can lead those who completed the assignment ethically to become disheartened or upset.
Finally, teachers deserve a break as much as their students. Therefore, when a student is confused and needs help, it can be difficult for them to reach their teacher, who may not be checking their email or Google Classroom, to receive guidance. This can cause students to feel stuck and unsupported.
Summer assignments are meant to keep students learning, but they generally do more harm than good. Consequently, schools should trust that learning can happen during the school year and let summer be a time for rest.
