Some educators argue that assigning homework over winter and spring breaks helps students retain knowledge and stay academically engaged. However, this practice does more harm than good and should be eliminated.
First, breaks exist for a reason: to provide mental rest. Dr. Sarah Chen, a child psychologist at Stanford, notes that "cognitive fatigue builds up during the school year, and breaks are essential for the brain to consolidate learning and restore focus." Assigning work during breaks undermines this recovery period.
Second, break homework creates inequality. While some students have quiet homes and engaged parents to help them, others work jobs, care for siblings, or lack access to books and internet. A 2023 survey by the National Education Association found that 67% of teachers believe break homework widens achievement gaps.
Critics argue that students will forget material without practice. However, research from the University of Michigan shows that short-term knowledge loss is quickly recovered once classes resume, while the stress of break homework can cause longer-lasting damage to students' relationship with learning.
Rather than piling on assignments, schools should trust that well-designed year-round curriculum and engaged classroom instruction are sufficient. Our students deserve actual rest during their breaks.
Explain your choice:
The school's proposed ban on energy drinks is ridiculous and treats students like children who can't make their own decisions. If we're old enough to drive cars and make decisions about our futures, we're old enough to choose what we drink.
Energy drinks help millions of students stay focused during long study sessions. My friend Jake drank energy drinks every day last semester and got straight A's. If they were really so dangerous, wouldn't the government have banned them already? Besides, coffee is basically the same thing, and teachers drink that constantly.
The administration claims energy drinks are "unhealthy," but they're still selling cookies and chips in the cafeteria. This obvious hypocrisy shows they don't actually care about our health - they just want to control us. Either ban ALL unhealthy food or let us make our own choices.
Students who disagree with this are probably the same people who want the school to decide everything for them. Anyone who supports this ban clearly doesn't understand what it's like to be a student trying to balance school, sports, jobs, and a social life.
Stand up for your rights! Don't let the administration treat you like you can't think for yourself. Everyone I know thinks this ban is unfair, and if enough of us speak out, we can stop it.
Source A: Tech Industry Blog
The proposed law requiring social media users to be 16 is unnecessary government overreach. Social media platforms have already invested millions in safety features, and parents should be responsible for monitoring their children's online activity. These platforms provide valuable educational content, creative outlets, and connections with friends. Research sponsored by leading social media companies shows that 89% of teen users report positive experiences. Rather than banning young users, we should focus on digital literacy education.
Source B: Child Development Research Journal
An independent meta-analysis of 47 peer-reviewed studies found consistent correlations between heavy social media use and increased anxiety, depression, and sleep problems in adolescents. Brain imaging research shows that adolescent brains are particularly vulnerable to the dopamine-driven feedback loops these platforms are designed to create. While social media offers benefits, the current unrestricted access model puts developing minds at risk. Age restrictions, combined with education, would provide protection during crucial developmental years.
Explain your choice: