Should High School Students Be Required To Read During The Summer?

Joseph Addison, the famous poet, once said, “Reading is to the brain what exercise is to the body” (brainyquote). Yet, most people in high school ignore the importance of reading, and the many benefits it has to offer. Over the summer, a majority of high school students turn their backs on any form of reading until the school year. However, this habit results in a loss of comprehension over the summer, among other detriments. Therefore, students should be required to read at least one book during the summer because it helps to maintain comprehension skills, reduce stress, and improve sleep. To begin, reading during the summer helps maintain comprehension skills that would otherwise be lost. If three months go by with no mental stimulation, a high schooler will be behind when he returns to school. Oxford University clearly states that on average, “students lose 2 months of reading skills over the summer” (oxford learning). This is why it is crucial to read at least one book over the summer. Some people may say that forcing a high school student to read is counterproductive, because it takes the curiosity from it. This may be true for a small portion of students. However, if reading is not required over the summer, then most students will

New research has shown that reading is the best way to relax and that “even six minutes can be enough to reduce the stress levels by more than two thirds.” (telegraph) reducing stress can be very beneficial especially at the adolescent age, which is a very stressful time in life. Some people may say that mandatory reading will increase stress. This is a valid argument, but if the student doesn’t wait until the last minute to read, they will have plenty of time to become interested in the book, reducing stress greatly. All in all, requiring a high school student to read at least one book over the summer will help decrease their stress