As the calendar year comes to a close and schedules are packed with everything from sports to holidays to loads of homework, many students are counting down the days until the December break.
Most picture vacation soaking up the sun, hitting the ski slopes, touring a foreign place, or simply relaxing and spending time with family and friends; most definitely, homework and anything school related is never factored into the equation.
However, even before school gets let out on recess for a week, many students celebrate Hanukah in the height of the cramming before winter break. Many hope for an eight night reprieve from homework or tests, so that they can enjoy Hanukah to the fullest with friends and family.
“[For holidays] there are certain policies that have already been established over religious holidays, those are basically set in stone and teachers know they can’t do some things,” said Frank Corbo, the head of the math department.
Julie Heller, head of the English department shared similar information. “Teachers are asked to be respectful of religious holidays,” said Heller “I think its important for families to have their holiday time and educators need to be sensitive to that need and not infringe on quality time.”
With the end of eight nights of holiday, there still however leaves time before break for teachers to buckle down before midterms in mid-January.
Corbo explained how in certain courses that are under incredible time pressure, summer work is given to provide a head start during the vacation, and the same thinking would apply to some of the other vacations.
“We could not give homework [during breaks] and have to race [through material] or we could give a reasonable amount [during vacations] to finish the curriculum,” Corbo said.
