It's summertime time for picnics, swimming, softball, family vacations, playing with friends, and . .. homework. Wait a second. What does homework have to do with summer fun?
More and more kids are being saddled with school assignments during the summer months. Some teachers say that doing summer homework ensures that kids maintain skills they learned during the previous school year. Do kids forget how to multiply numbers or write complete sentences during summer break? Some students may need a review of these skills in September. However, no study says that kids have long-term learning losses when they don't do summer homework.
Summer is a time to take a break from school. Many other important types of learning happen over the summer months. Kids who play summer sports can develop athletic skills and social skills. They can discover new hobbies or expand existing ones. Kids can deepen reading skills by visiting the library and choosing books to read for pleasure.
A student who has spent all summer solving math problems and writing book reports may not feel eager to begin a new school year. How can you feel refreshed and ready to return to school when you've been stressed out about homework all summer? Perhaps teachers should rethink giving homework during the summer months. Kids need a break during the summer. Let summer be summer, and save homework for the regular school year.
1. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Kids should spend their summers swimming and doing homework.
B. Summer reading programs at the library teach kids that learning is fun.
C. Teachers should not assign homework during summer months.
D. Summer activities are not as important as keeping up with school.