Re: Summer Assignments.

Actually, most educators in the U.S. agree that reading and mathematics are not important at all and that most students would do just fine if both of those subjects were dropped completely from the public school curriculum.

In a report prepared for the U.S. Dept of Edumacation, the Symbiotic Teaching Unit Program at the University of Idaho (STUP at ID) found that most entering college students fared well if they simply prepared for college by taking a broad spectrum of high school coursework in chorus, theatre, instrumental music and, of course, keyboarding. See Report on Entering College Without Math Or Reading Skills, STUP ID (2007).

At the same time, vocational training advocates also tested the current paradigm wherein great emphasis is placed on reading and mathematics. A 2006 study conducted by the Directors of Underlying Mechanical and Manual Yearnings (DUMMY) found that electricians, plumbers, carpenters, opticians, and computer personnel, showed absolutely no benefit whatsoever in the level of their performance if their high school education was obtained without mathematics and/or reading classes in the curriculum. See Illiterate Training of Vocations, DUMMY (2006).

Ironically, both studies still concur that summer homework should contain both mathematics and reading. However, apparently that is because both studies conclude that such non-essential coursework should be taken just for fun in the summertime and dropped from the curriculum during the regular school year. That way, students can enjoy their summers with fun activities and begin their academic year refreshed and ready to learn in the other important subjects.

I hope that these comments are helpful.

However, please recognize that they are made entirely in jest and are not to be taken seriously. Everything stated above was made-up to draw attention to the fact that math and reading are crucially important at every level of education. Presumably, other subjects such as science, history, geography etc. are also important. However, both math and reading are subjects that benefit greatly from pure practice -- hence they are prescribed widely for summer "homework".

As an aside -- I do not see any actual significant legal issues here.