I believe summer assignments should be due at the beginning of the school year instead of in the midst of summer. Students should have the opportunity to enjoy their summer while still being responsible for completing their work.
For example, my AP World History and AP Language assignments are due about two weeks before school starts. This means that instead of using the last part of summer to relax and prepare for the new school year, students like myself have to spend that time focused on assignments. From my experience as a student, having work due before school starts can make summer feel less like a break and more like an extension of the school year. Especially when taking into account how busy the end of summer can be. For me, I personally am having to deal with preseason soccer, work and back-to-school shopping all while juggling unnecessarily early summer assignments.
There is also a logical reason to change the deadline. If summer work is meant to prepare students for the upcoming school year, it makes more sense for teachers to collect it when school actually begins. Students would be able to finish their assignments closer to when they will use the information, making the work feel more relevant. The purpose of summer work is preparation, not taking away a large portion of summer vacation.
I also understand that teachers need time to review assignments and plan lessons, which is why I believe students should have clear expectations and deadlines at the start of school. As students, we work hard throughout the year and deserve a meaningful break. Giving us that time would help us return to school feeling more rested, motivated, and ready to learn.
Conor Prew
Hatfield