As the end of the school year approaches, students in Honors and AP English classes at NASH begin to be assigned summer reading. In theory, it’s a sensible idea in those advanced classes.
In practice, however, there are obvious problems with required summer reading.
Summer reading encourages students to continue reading and growing their minds for the upcoming year as well as get a head start on their upcoming English class. These books are often accompanied by a packet or test at the beginning of the school year, which can be particularly difficult if a student completes any summer reading near the start of the break.
It’s hardly that secret that some, perhaps many, students choose to not complete summer reading assignments. With AI and websites like SparkNotes acting as an easy way out of the work, students feel less pressure to actually read books on their time off. While such resources can reduce stress for some, they also make it much more difficult for teachers to know who actually read the book.
Summer is also a busy time of the year for some students. With vacations, travel, sports, and part-time jobs, summer reading can be difficult to fit in, leading to consequences such as bad grades at the start of the school year or having to cram the entire assignment into the week before the start of school.
Despite the good intentions behind requiring summer reading, there are so many corners that can be cut that it has become impractical for both students and teachers. Due to the use of technology to summarize whole books and chapters, students are not putting in work or often will not do the reading altogether. This often means teachers will have to provide extra time at the start of years to complete summer reading, which can make schedules more difficult to work with.
Phasing out mandatory summer reading can make the beginning of the school year more positive for students and teachers, but a common concern soon arises: How then can students be encouraged to read in their free time?
The books that students read during the school year typically require reading outside of school anyways. This means that students will still be reading outside of school. With the introduction of Book Love this year, some classes have allowed students to choose their own books to read during class and at home. This new program not only encourages students to read outside of school but also read something they will enjoy. By all accounts, Book Love has been a success at NASH.
It’s true that schools should continue to explore ways to motivate students to read more frequently. Assigned summer reading would appear to do just that — but in actuality, it backfires., encouraging procrastination and outright dishonesty. It’s time that we try new methods.
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Editors’ note: All opinions expressed on The Uproar are a reflection solely of the beliefs of the bylined author and not the journalism program at NASH. We continue to welcome school-appropriate comments and guest articles.
