Leyden High School students, both new and returning, are required to read one book during the summer of 2024. Summer Reading is already facing backlash, however the school is still insistent in making this mandatory. By making this mandatory, Leyden High School is essentially taking away the "break" part in "summer break." Summer break is a time for students to relax and to release any stress caused by school. It's a time for students to focus on their personal lives without having to deal with projects, presentations, homework, etc.

However, with the Summer Reading deal becoming mandatory, students during the 2024-2025 year can end up failing their English classes within the first week of school. The students are required to have a full diagnostic related to the book of their choice. Summer is meant as a vacation time. The logical conclusion can be made that students are going to go to different states, go to different countries, focus on work, or they may just relax during the summer. Summer Reading would create more stress for students, and in fact, can discourage students from engaging and participating in this deal altogether. While it is true that it's only one book that students are required to read, and it's meant to help students with their comprehension skills, this still shouldn't be pushed during a time like summer. Students may forget about the assignment altogether because of the weeks between the end of the current school year and the beginning of the next year.

Giving students extra homework can actually be counterproductive, and can harm their mental health. Summer assignments are not necessary for academic growth, and they can promote unhealthy work-life balances. Not mandating the Summer Reading can allow students to disconnect from academic pressures and allows students to have valuable opportunities to unwind, spend time with family and friends, focus on work, and spend time doing activities that give the student joy and fulfillment. If the Summer Reading stays, then students have higher chances of retaining academic stress and pressure, which has been proven to lead to mental health concerns.

Students who don't wish to have Summer Reading should act now, as this is the final stretch of the school year. Students must act quickly on this if they truly wish to prevent Summer Reading from happening. We as students do not have enough time to try to bring change. Students of West and East Leyden High School, if we are the reasons why Summer Reading is already facing a lot of backlash before it even starts, please contribute to bring change. Don't let Leyden High School take away our summer vacation. Summer vacation is a time for both students and staff to unwind and get rid of stress and pressure caused by school. Don't let Summer Reading be the cause of why you're still stressed and why you have less time to yourselves.

Don't let Leyden turn summer vacation into summer reading time.