Reasons why there should be NO Holiday Homework for students

It has become a trend with the schools to burden the students with homework even they go for holidays. The more reputed the school,  tougher and harder is the holiday homework. May be the school authorities want to 'teach' the most to the students. It is true not only for the long vacations like summer holidays but is equally true for Sundays which incidentally is supposed to be a holiday.


But what is the point of a holiday when the child is so over burdened. And mind you, not only the child , the parents are equally burdened. Is it the best way to teach the children? Personally I believe that there should be no holiday homework for the students.

Let me give you the reasons why, and what is the alternative.

First of all, it is a holiday and you should respect it that way. What is
the point of calling it a holiday if the child will be more burdened than during school times?



Secondly, the concept of holiday was made so that the child gets time to calm down and introspect on what he has learnt during the school week or year. He can then be more wise to utilise his learnings in his own way.

Most importantly, the holiday period should be the time when the child gets to try his own strengths so that he can know what he likes and what he wants to become in the future.

Every one needs a break from the monotony and holiday should be such a time for the children when they act as an independant beings. Rather than imposing them with homework, we should teach them to control their lives in a meaningful way.

I am not saying that holiday should be a non productive time. It should become the most fulfilling time of child's life. Not all children are same. Each has different wants and liking. So, telling them all to do same homework is boring and not productive at all. ( Eg, Telling every one to read pre-prescribed  stories. To the one who does not like novels, its torture)

Rather, you should ask the children before going on a holiday what are their likings. Do they have any hobby or interest? Various interests and options can be given to the students so that they can be guided. This should be the case even for Sundays.

And then they should be asked " Time is precious. Use the holiday time well because this time will not come back again. Enjoy your holiday to the fullest by using the maximum time in learning what you enjoy."

One can enjoy novel, or cricket or painting or music or anything  under the sun. Let him learn by his own choice. Encourage him/her by asking, appreciating and , if needed, guiding him.

This I think will be the best form of Holiday homework for any student.

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