Peanut butter and jelly.

Ben and Jerry.

Mario and Luigi.

Summer and homework.

Salt and pepper.

Wait.

Something here isn’t quite right.

Most of these are classic combinations, but there’s one odd one out: summer and homework.

Summer homework has become a norm, so much so that it could probably be placed on the list of “things that always go together.”

However, unlike pairings such as “peanut butter and jelly,” summer and homework just don’t mix.

Every year without fail, students are handed multiple large, colorful — probably to try to cheer us up or something (it doesn’t work) — packets outlining the work we must do before the next school year.

And I think I speak for my fellow classmates when I say that none of us even touch or look at these packets until the beginning of August, and that’s usually because our parents have been nagging us to get them done all summer.

Most attempts to prove summer homework is necessary stem from the argument that we lose the information we learned the past school year throughout the summer, so summer homework helps to “stimulate” our brains to prevent us from losing this knowledge.

However, if none of us complete these assignments until right before school starts, what’s the point?

The only thing summer homework “stimulates” are my stress levels.

Plus, last time I checked, summer was meant to be a break from school.

Summer is meant for vacations with family, relaxing by the pool, staying out late with friends and trying new things.

Not stressing about school work.

And furthermore, I can’t remember a time when we have actually gone through and reviewed the information on the summer homework packets during school.

Usually we all just hand in our packets and get them back a few months later with a checkmark on the top to signify completion.

All that stressing for just a measly ten points in the gradebook, and all the teacher did was probably check and make sure you completed the packet. You could’ve written random facts about bananas for each question and still gotten credit.

And this makes it obvious that even some teachers don’t like summer homework. It’s a hassle for them to grade, and they know that the students didn’t try their hardest on it.

Because let’s be honest, summer – homework = a win-win for everyone.