Pediatrician Italo Farnetani Calls for End to Summer Homework in Italy

Italian pediatrician Italo Farnetani is urging families to refuse summer homework, describing the break as a “psychobiological right” for children and teenagers. He argues that holiday assignments do not improve learning and can harm mental and physical wellbeing, especially amid rising temperatures linked to climate change. Farnetani suggests parents submit a signed justification to schools, cites the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child that guarantees the right to rest, and estimates that families spend up to €250 million on textbooks for the period. He also opposes shortening summer holidays and recommends extending them to protect youth resilience and attention.

His campaign, known as “Save the Summer of Students,” adds his voice to an ongoing debate about school workload and child health in Italy.