At the end of eleven long months of sitting through lectures, taking notes and exams, and trying to understand parametric equations and the periodic table, students and teachers alike are ready to take a couple off and enjoy a summer of spontaneity and relaxation. It is true that summer is the time to catch up on sleep and take a break from classes, but an extensive amount of time and effort are put into learning those lessons, so why forget it all in a matter of weeks? Although I hate to say it, students should have summer assignments in order to reinforce what they have learned throughout the year. Out of 1,680 free hours during break, I’m sure one can devote just a few to completing some summer reading and math packets.

I will be the first to say that I look forward to summer break from the moment school begins. When summer comes, the first things I do are kick back and prepare to go to the beach. However, the last thing I would want to do is go back to Calculus or French in the fall and not remember how to find asymptotes or ask to go to the bathroom in the correct language. You know I hate sitting down inside on a beautiful summer day and trying to pay attention to a paper covered in unknown x’s and y’s, but it’s better than going back to school and not remembering how to do so at all.

In addition, it’s a way to start the year off fresh. Students can earn an easy 50 points by spending just a half an hour each day on math or reading packets. Is reading really that torturous anyway? It’s a little bit pathetic that one would refuse to pick up and finish a book over those ten weeks, anyway. In fact, not completing the summer packets can put some students at a disadvantage. It’s silly to watch your grade drop because you can’t set aside just a few minutes of one-on-one time daily with your calculator. Summer assignments really don’t take up that much time, they don’t take much effort, and they serve as a way for students to keep their brains stimulated over the summer.

Summer assignments can be boring and a bother for some, but they’re simply meant to benefit the students in the long run.