Illustration of two siblings hanging out by the pool in their backyard with their pets

Illustration by Mike Deas; Debate photos courtesy of families

Article Options

Presentation View
Teaching Resources

Language

Should Schools Give Summer Homework?

For most students, the school year is winding down. Many kids are looking forward to a couple of months off to swim, take family trips, or hang out at amusement parks. But some kids will need to take a break from the beach to do homework. At many schools across the country, the assignments don’t end when the school year does.  

Some educators who assign homework over the break say it helps kids practice the skills they learned all year so they don’t forget them over the summer. That way teachers won’t have to take time in the new school year to reteach lessons from the prior year. 

But others argue that kids deserve a break after working hard all year. Many families travel in the summer, and parents say it can be hard for kids to do homework while they are away. Plus, they point out, homework isn’t the only way to squeeze in summer learning. Kids can visit museums and historical sites during their time off. 

Here’s what two of our readers think.

Doing homework over the summer helps kids continue to learn between school years. It can also help students feel more confident as they enter the next grade. They’ll be prepared and have the skills they need to understand assignments. 

Homework could be a better solution than summer school too. I went to summer school after first grade and thought it went too fast. I would have learned more by doing assignments over the course of the entire summer.

Over summer break, kids deserve time to just have fun with their families and friends. It is important for us to have downtime and relax so we’re refreshed when the new school year starts.

There are so many things I get to do over the summer because I don’t have to worry about homework. I go to camp, which gives me the opportunity to make new friends. I also go on trips with my family. If I had to find time to do homework, my summer would be stressful.

What does your class think?

Should schools give summer homework?

Please enter a valid number of votes for one class to proceed.

Should schools give summer homework?

Please select an answer to vote.

Should schools give summer homework?

0%
0votes
{{result.answer}}
Total Votes: 0
Thank you for voting!
Sorry, an error occurred and your vote could not be processed. Please try again later.
Skills Sheets (1)
Text-to-Speech