By William Croyle
Enquirer contributor

ERLANGER - No matter how much Anthony Colley of Union tries to enjoy this summer playing basketball and making money cutting lawns, the St. Henry District High School senior still has those three books and essays hanging over his head.

"I think everybody dreads it. It's summer," said Colley. "I get it done, but usually it's all pretty much right when it needs to be done."

Colley, like every student at St. Henry, has summer reading and writing homework. He and his fellow AP English students have to read Siddhartha, Night and Cry, the Beloved Country. There are also questions to answer and an essay to write on each novel.

Students' work will be graded, and putting it off until a night or two before school starts Aug. 17 is not an option. The essays must be mailed to the teachers a couple of weeks in advance so they can grade them and get a feel for where students are academically in that subject.

Jeanne Vieth teaches English I and III at St. Henry. Her incoming freshmen have to read Tuesdays with Morrie. For juniors, it's The Red Badge of Courage and Of Mice and Men.

"It obviously helps them to keep up with their writing and reading skills, but it also prepares them to be ready to participate on the first day of school," said Vieth.

Summer reading has been a requirement for years at St. Henry for AP English. Vieth said that, starting about three or four years ago, students on all levels in all grades were required to read and write over the summer.

Many high schools give summer assignments. Michael Carr, spokesman for the National Association of Secondary School Principals, said assignments are given mainly in English because reading and writing are the basis for academic success.

"Summer reading is pretty common," said Carr.

At Dixie Heights High School in Edgewood, only students in honors English classes have summer homework. Honors English III students have to read Fahrenheit 451 and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. On the first day of school, they must turn in written logs that include reflections on various themes in the books. Each log is worth 50 points.

"So if they don't do it, they start the year with a 100-point deficit," said Honors English III teacher Karen Martin. "There are those that, believe me, they're reading the night before. But I've also had some ask me for next year's reading list so they can get a head start."

E-mail williamcroyle@yahoo.com