It’s official: summer is almost here. With only two weeks of classes and a week of finals left in the 2009-2010 school year, everyone is eagerly awaiting the freedom of vacation.             

But for most students, that freedom comes at a cost. There may not be a test to study for every weekend, or a need to get up at 7 a.m. Monday-Friday, but there is one part of the academic world that we just can’t leave behind. And that’s homework.

Around this time every year, students receive huge packets full of summer homework for classes that haven’t even begun yet.

Ranging from summer book assignments to essays to math problems, it is assigned to students enrolled in classes of all shapes and sizes.

While I know that summer work can be important in helping students retain precious knowledge needed for the upcoming school year, the amount of work we are expected to complete is just ridiculous.

Also, once the new school year begins, this homework is hardly ever looked at. The essays and packets are simply put into Infinite Campus as a completion grade, and then forgotten about.

What is the point of doing all this work if we aren’t going to use it for class and it’s not even going to be graded?

Last summer, I spent hours reading a book for language arts, writing an essay over said book, completing a very large packet of review math problems, and taking pages of tedious history notes.

And for what? So my teachers can give me a 50/50 in the grade book and then throw the work in the recycle bin without even looking at it?

That time could’ve been spent in the sunshine with my friends and family, but instead I was stuck at home on the computer, glancing longingly out my window as I attempted to concentrate long enough to actually make progress.

We need a break from school so that we can come back refreshed and eager to learn in the fall. So teachers, please remember what summer’s all about, and go easy on the homework this year.