By Jake Freudberg
Pro Procrastinator
NEWTON, MA ––– After recent feedback from students to have more homework-free weekends, Newton South administration has recently announced the institution of “Homework-Full Weekends,” much to the dismay of many students.
According to an email sent from principal Imyn Charge, these new homework-full weekends will fall on Columbus Day weekend, Thanksgiving Weekend, Christmas vacation, the second weekend in March, February vacation week, April vacation week, Memorial Day, and the first weekend of June.
The same email also states that during these seven periods, teachers will be required to give more homework than usual.
“All teachers must give five to six hours of homework during these weekends,” the email read. “All work must be due the day in which school is back in session.”
Charge further claimed that this new policy has been instituted to ensure students’ academic success, after similar practices have been launched in other districts.
“The ultimate goal of of homework-full weekends is to make sure students are paying close attention to and focus on their studies,” Charge said. “If too much fun is being had on the weekends, many students will ultimately forget the material and will fall behind on Monday.”
Charge could not be reached for further comment on the matter, but her executive secretary said, “she has no plans to repeal the new guidelines for homework-free weekends.”
Brookline Public Schools superintendent Dr. Creek Ray explained that his district implemented similar policies last school year, which, in his eyes, were successful.
“Many teachers reported that average scores on tests went up,” Dr. Ray said. “The general mood of the student body seemed to be quieter and less crazy, allowing more material to be presented to classes.”
“We aren’t in the business of having fun, so there were no concerns in that area,” he said.
Many students were outraged by South’s new policy, and some hope to abolish homework-full weekends before they start.
Watistud E. Ing, a junior at South, is the leader of the movement to boycott the policy, encouraging students to do none of their homework through Facebook posts, posters, and flyers around school.
“With December break behind us, now is the time to fight for our rights.” said Ing. “I, and the rest of South’s student body should be able to enjoy our lives if we want to! Six hours of homework per class is unprecedented and cruel, even if you are in honors chem[istry].”
Idon Otenjoy-Reading, a sophomore, shared a similar viewpoint to Ing.
“Administration has no right to force teachers to do this. The fact that all teachers have to participate in this is totally ridiculous,” Otenjoy-Reading said. “And, I’ll probably end up missing cello rehearsal!”
However, some Newton South faculty and parents are proponents of homework-full weekends.
English teacher D’Harles Chickens was pleased to see that administration had finally instituted this new guideline and saw it as a great way to increase learning in his classes.
“It works out great for me. I always fall behind in my lesson plans, but now I can simply assign that work over one weekend every month or so knowing that every one of my students will be caught up to where I want them to be, if not further,” Chickens said. “Plus, six hours is plenty of time to read a whole riveting book like The Joy Luck Club and write a paper about it.”
X. S. Ivnagging, mother of a South senior, thought that Principal Charge’s decision to implement this policy was great.
“My son needs to do more homework,” she said. “Currently, he sees friends every weekend, which just is too distracting for him. I might need to sign him up for Russian Math if this doesn’t work.”
Guy Dunce, a Cutler House guidance counselor, saw both sides to this issue.
“This may be detrimental to many students’ overall mental health, and most high school kids will be overwhelmed and stressed,” Dunce said. “But really, one weekend of a student’s time is not that much of a sacrifice. Sure, they’ll miss out of some of their Netflix watching, but most high school kids don’t really do anything else on the weekends.”
Regardless of what the majority of students think, Charge’s email did solidify that it would be in place for the time being.
“Thorough research has led us to this conclusion, so we fully believe in it,” she wrote in the email. “Enjoy the holiday season!”
