South Brunswick Schools Ban Homework Over Holidays

District officials announced that South Brunswick students will no longer be receiving homework over major holiday periods.

Students can pack away their notes and textbooks over Thanksgiving, winter and spring break this year, as teachers will no longer be allowed to assign homework over these breaks.

The decision was made "so that families can ease in and push the pause button for a little bit and enjoy family time together,” Assistant Superintendent Joanne Kerekes said at Monday night's Board of Education meeting, as first reported in Tap Into.

The no-homework holidays is part of a longer discussion in South Brunswick over the amount of homework students take home, with parents complaining of undue stress caused by high amounts. Education Weekly estimates that the average high schooler takes home three and a half hours of homework per night.

“One of the things we have to practice is moderation,” Superintendent Dr. Gary McCartney said, reported TAP Into. “We know we are educating the whole child.”

Kerekes said the district plans on implementing other measures to help students cope with their classes, such as teaching time management.

A note will be sent home this week explaining the new policy to parents.

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