Parenting poll: Do you think kids should have homework over summer vacation?

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  Posted by JuliaD Tue Jul 28, 2009 1:35am PDT

  i am in high school and have a bunch of summer homework cause im taking honors classes. everyday i have to worry about my homework and if i have enough time to finish it. i think we shouldn't have summmer hw to the point where we're freaking out about it but a little is ok to make sure we don't forget everything by the time school starts again.

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  Posted by allee Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:09am PDT

  I do not think it is a great idea. Kids need to learn about themselves during the breaks. They need to learn how to be kids. Play in the dirt and climb some trees. Swim at the lake, and have campfires with marshmellows.

  We push and push them, at earlier ages, longer hours, more lessons, more activitys.

  When I was a kid I loved the summer. I could ride my bike, go for walks, see my friends, and just be. Without being pushed, without the stress.

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  Posted by Sandi Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:29pm PDT

  I find it interesting that the majority of the posts are in favor of no homework over the summer. Kids need their breaks, and even teachers need them. Most summer breaks are two months or longer!! I spend at least the first marking period reviewing the previous year's material. No one that I know of finds this to be reasonable when we need to be preparing the state tests. Prep for the the state test, by the way begins on the first day of school - the test in March. Are these the same parents that squawk over test scores? Are these the same people that cry foul when our rankings in the world are low? Enjoy the summer - no one else in the world does. The work ethic, or rather lack of it, shows in our students. It is time for year round school. The kids aren't needed in the fields any longer.

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  Posted by Annie Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:53pm PDT

  its summer for crying out loud!!!!! let your kids have some fun for a while. i mean school is enough but then there comes summer school. you know summer was suppose to be a break for kids from school but then they became full of "summer schools" and stuff like that(and yes i am still in school)

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  Posted by Cheshire Cat Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:22am PDT

  I am a teacher w/ about 20 years experience. I do not think children should be forced to do homework over their summer vacation. As a mother of 2, a boy and a girl, this is the way I handled summer. We involved ourselves in outdoor activities ( play is good ) , balanced by indoor activities. Every 2 weeks we visited our local library where each child could pick out their own books to read according to their interests. At the end of 2 weeks, we would return them for new ones. We would also choose a puzzle that we could put together as a family whenever we felt like working on it. It had a place on the coffee table where it could be left untouched until we finished it. If we really liked it, we would have it framed and hung on the wall. Each child had their own magazine subscription that came regularly throughout the summer . We would read those together and discuss the articles. Movies, museums, local events, and historical landmarks all have their place in summer learning.Growing a vegetable garden, tie dying pillow cases and t-shirts, making drip candles, etc. can add to easing the boredom often suffered by students in the summer.Picnics and mixing up a batch of cookies is fun. Let the children plan it and make their own lunch. Believe it or not, all of these things require learning, but in a more subtle and fun way. Visit a hobby shop and let them choose something they've always wanted to do but never had the time. My children loved working w/ polymer clay . Each piece of original art could be fired ( in oven ) and displayed on the book shelf for everyone to "ooooh and ahhhh" over. There are endless possibilities for summer learning/fun . Just think about the quality time spent as a family .......... priceless. CAT

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  Posted by Jazzy Wed Jul 29, 2009 11:37am PDT

  As a student, i'm trying to 'retire'(from school) for the summer vacation. Though learning is important, it's also important to take some time to relax. I personally think homework shouldn't be given during break. It's a time to spend time with family and friends and just enjoy yourself. During school, kids are under so much stress. Summer is just a time to take a break from the school year...and it should stay like that. And if you still want to add educational yet fun learning...you can try taking your child to a museum or the library once and a while! :D

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  Posted by mariel d Mon Aug 3, 2009 1:32am PDT

  its ok to give summer homework to an extent i think.. like a two or three books to read and stuff. BUT alot is NOT okay. im in high school myself and has tons and tons of summer homework.. like i have to outline four chapters of my us history book and write four disaggre or agree statements bout each chapter AND i also have to make flashcards (30people and 30events for each chapter).. i also have two novels to read for english but not jsut read but to take notes on every page also... PHEWWWW

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  Posted by Hannah Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:27am PDT

  wow. that's a lot of work for a second grader. maybe not during the school year but during VACATION. that's just ridiculas. summer vacation is supposed to be when you unwind and have fun. not an excuse to have more work. im going into 8th grade week after next and all i had to do this summer was read a book from the list they provide and then a book of my choice. then fill out a questionare about both. (i probably read 10 books so far though so the reading isnt a problem) i also had to practice spainish for 1 hour over the whole summer. every extra hour is 5 points extra credit. i swear, if i had a few sheets of math every other day i would kill myself. 2-3 math sheets takes me 1 hour if it's really easy. maybe up to 3 hours if it's medium-hard. seriously that would drive me insane. i dont know how your son does it.

  yes there should be homework over the summer-it makes the begining of the year easier for me-but it should barely take up any time. maybe 3-4 hours over the whole summer depending how fast a reader you are.

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  Posted by Carita Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:44am PDT

  I think we should have homework but not alot and I think we should have a little homework over the summer so we can be prepare for the new year. Homework is very important and it help us alot to stay on track.

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