No homework on Weekends

Last summer, some lawmakers in the Philippines proposed an unusual law.

They wanted elementary schools in the country to stop assigning homework to their students on weekends.

Interestingly, the proposed law even drew the support of the country's Department of Education.

"We support the no-homework policy proposed by the legislation," an official at the Department of Education said.

The government officials say elementary school students are overwhelmed by the amount of homework that they have to take home.

By offering homework-free weekends, the proposed law will decrease the stress felt by students about their studies during their time off.

It will also allow students to spend more quality time with their parents, family, and friends.

In addition, supporters of the proposed law say students need time to cultivate hobbies and other interests.

They say it is important to experience learning outside of their schoolwork.

However, weekend homework often keeps students from pursuing such outside interests, they argue.

On the other hand, there were many people who oppose homework-free weekends.

They say that students are sometimes not able to fully learn the material in the classroom.

These students need weekend homework to review the material and make sure that they understand it.

If not, the students may start falling behind in class.

Furthermore, opponents of the proposed ban say that students can learn many things by doing homework on weekends.

For instance, the students have to practice self-discipline and learn to manage their time wisely whenever they have homework.

Without homework, they may not fully develop these crucial study habits, which they will need to succeed in academics.

 

• lawmaker ˈlɔːmeɪkə 입법자 (=legislator) 국회위원   legislation ˌledʒɪsˈleɪʃn  (의회에서 통과되는) 제정법, 법률의 제정, 입법 행위

• draw - drew - drawn  (부드럽게) 끌어당기다[뽑아내다] ,  (색칠은 하지 않고 연필펜분필 등으로) 그리다 / 추첨, 제비뽑기

• overwhelm |oʊvər│welm (격한 감정이) 휩싸다[압도하다] (=overcome), 제압하다 (=overpower)  cultivate ˈkʌltɪveɪt  (땅을) 경작하다, 일구다 (=grow), (식물·작물을) 재배하다

• pursue  pərˈsuː  추구하다, (어떤 일을 어느 정도의 기간을 두고) 밀고 나가다[해 나가다], (논의·조사·관여 등을) 계속하다

• material  mə|tɪriəl  (물건의) 재료 (→raw material) , 직물, 천 (=fabric)   fall behind  (~에) 뒤지다[뒤떨어지다]

• opponent  ə|poʊnənt    (…에 대한) 반대자 , (게임·대회·논쟁 등의) 상대 (=adversary)  discipline ˈdɪsəplɪn 규율, 훈육