The district and teachers need to take the lead. Parents should be notified at the beginning of the year that certain kinds of homework will be increased, especially reading, writing, and basic math practice outside the classroom. It must be stressed that, regardless of location, learning goes on. The district should enact and enforce a “no late work” policy to guard against student complacency, and teachers must enforce it. Also, parents must not bow to pressure from a child who has failed due to recurring school “holidays”.

Second, teachers and parents should encourage and provide opportunities for students to do something on Mondays. Teachers may opt to hold tutorials, workshops, group discussions, or intramural sports. The district should work to facilitate such activities. Parents should offer to car-pool students to such activities and to help teachers facilitate them. These kinds of things would do more than just keep students busy, they would help build community, especially if the idea spreads beyond places like rural Minnesota. None of these activities would necessarily require school transportation; there are modes of travel other than the school bus that students can use.