AP on Breaks

GETTING+PUNCHED+BY+AP+CLASSES%3A+Maria+Gasch+%2812%29%2C+studies+by+the+Christmas+tree%2C+looks+at+her+AP+Chemistry+book%2C+and+wonders+where+her+vacation+has+gone.+Most+people+associate+the+break+with+chances+to+hang+out+with+loved+ones+and+no+school.+The+reality+is+that+her+break+is+filled+with+schoolwork+causing+her+to+have+a+small+amount+of+time+to+spend+with+family+and+friends.+Photo+by+Maggie+Barnes

Maggie Barnes

GETTING PUNCHED BY AP CLASSES: Maria Gasch (12), studies by the Christmas tree, looks at her AP Chemistry book, and wonders where her vacation has gone. Most people associate the break with chances to hang out with loved ones and no school. The reality is that her break is filled with schoolwork causing her to have a small amount of time to spend with family and friends. Photo by Maggie Barnes

Students look forward to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break throughout the year.

Most people associate these holiday breaks with the chance to spend time with friends and family. But also, most students picture these breaks as weeks that involve no schoolwork. Unfortunately, for many, that is not the case.

Year after year, almost all AP students are required to do some form of work over the holidays. While this may be no burden to some, it’s hard for others.

Many students have jobs that get even more hours during the holiday season (myself being one of them). Also, many students use these breaks to travel and visit family. The school year is already difficult, and homework and tests that are assigned over the break make their time away from school even more stressful.

While these AP students signed up for the class, and should have known what they were getting themselves into, students in average level classes did not. Even in regular classes, more and more teachers are assigning work to be completed during the holidays.

As an AP student, I feel that I deserve the workload I get during the breaks. But homework that is from regular classes is a bit too much and feel that a little less should be given.

But at the end of the day, teachers only assign the work to meet the state’s standards. Or in the case of AP classes, teachers are only doing their best to prepare their students for the AP test in the Spring.