Faculty to Consider Low Homework Weekend
A Student Council proposal for a low homework weekend for next year’s winter term met the approval of department heads this week. The proposal, aimed at alleviating the negative effects of winter, would require a weekend in which teachers would not assign more than thirty minutes of homework, with no major tests or assignments due that Monday.
Prior to last year, the dark atmosphere of winter term was compensated with Winter Thaw, an extended weekend that provided students extra time to unwind and relax. However, with last year’s change in the Academy’s schedule, the special time off from classes was removed, which led to the Student Council’s decision to produce the new proposal for a weekend with minimal homework.
Student Council President Alice Ju explained that the proposal was prompted by students outside of the Student Council who have been hoping for the revival of Winter Thaw.
“Ever since Winter Thaw, the low-homework weekend with Monday off in the middle of winter term, was taken off the calendar, students have been asking StuCo to help bring it back,” Ju said. “The students all agreed that because winter term can become very long and tiring, especially given our infamous weather, a break near midterms would be welcome.”
“I believe that a low homework weekend would be a welcome relief to students, but it can't compensate for Winter Thaw,” senior Philip Decker said. “Winter Thaw gave students a chance to recuperate and get their bearings again; a low homework weekend would only do half the job. That said, I still support the idea.”
Lower Cam Rider, on the other hand, said that Winter Thaw did not significantly benefit the student population. He explained that it is not the academics that causes the winter blues, but rather the bone-chilling temperatures and the excessive amount of snow.
“I think it's more the weather than actual school that makes everything so difficult for people,” Rider said.
Student Council aimed to help dorms bond as students might use their extra free time to hang out in the dorm. Lower Kevin Zhen believes that if the proposal is passed, dorm bonding will certainly be a consequential benefit.
“I know at least for the boys in Cilley, because of the snow and cold outside, many of us prefer to spend most of our time inside,” Zhen said. “Less homework would allow us to bond more with our dorm mates and dorm faculty.”
Additionally, if the proposal passes, Council will be hosting events throughout the low homework weekend, which will subsequently open more opportunities for students to bond.
While the relaxed weekend has its benefits including the provision of dorm bonding time, faculty members felt that the time off will inevitably affect classes and the curriculum. Some instructors said that if the weekend is incorporated to the winter term schedule, they would take advantage of the time to give a METIC.
Dean of Academic Affairs Karen Geary explained some of the ways she plans on using her math classes that follow the weekend. “I could do an activity that would take much of the class period and would get us doing something hands-on to break up the routine a little bit and to think about math in a slightly different way or get to see the work that we do in word problems work out in a lab exercise,” Geary said.
The advantages of the proposal were recognized when it passed with a unanimous approval by the department heads. Now, the proposal will be given to the rest of the faculty members to vote on, likely later this spring.
Although the proposal received support from many faculty members, some felt that the weekend would not be a benefit for the Academy. “Having something in place could be good for everybody's mental health, but I am not sure doing 15 minutes of homework instead of 45 is the answer,” Dean of Residential Life AJ Cosgrove said.
StuCo Secretary Benj Cohen disagreed and said that one day of less homework can be beneficial and make a significant difference for students. He explained that the weekend is worth the trade for the minor impact it will have on classes.
Others also noted that the low homework weekend will not only benefit the students, but will also allow faculty to take a break as well.
“The proposal will not benefit just the students but faculty as well,” Ju said. She emphasized that if all goes well, the low homework weekend will not only reduce stress and offer a time of relaxation, but also boost school spirit for students and faculty alike. “If the proposal passes, StuCo is planning on hosting events that involve the whole Exeter community, so that we all can have a relaxing weekend off from the arduous winter,” she said.