Some of my students today told me that another teacher of theirs had assigned them to read a rather long novel over the Christmas break and to write a letter based on that book. I told them in all seriousness that they should ask that teacher if he understands what "break" means. We take breaks for a reason, because we're tired and we need to renew and rejuvenate ourselves. I've known far too many teachers over the years, though, who really have no respect for students' need to actually take a break from school and to be able to spend some time not worrying about assignments or readings or anything school related. The Christmas break is the perfect time to allow students to unwind and to allow the material we've covered all fall to sink in, to allow their minds to process things that need to be processed without placing any more academic demands on them. I never have any guilt taking a break, because I know that in the long run, my breaks are going to be make me far more capable of accomplishing what I need to accomplish than working myself to exhaustion or frustration would make me. I feel very bad for the students, and I also feel bad for people who will never take breaks from their jobs or their families or other obligations. Rest is sometimes much more useful in many ways than continued effort is, and once we learn this lesson, we can make our lives more restful AND more productive, and I hope to never deprive myself of rest when it's genuinely needed.
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