Judge gives homework lawsuit a big fat 'F'

MILWAUKEE - A judge threw out a high school student’s lawsuit against mandatory summer homework, saying he and his father should have done a little more studying themselves before bringing the case.

Students in the Whitnall High School math course — honors pre-calculus — were supposed to do three assignments by certain dates over the summer. Peer Larson, 17, and his father, Bruce, had filed suit in Circuit Court, arguing that homework should not be required after the 180-day academic year is over.

The Larsons argued it was difficult for the boy to do the assignments because he had a summer job as a camp counselor. They also said students should be able to enjoy their summers free of homework.

But it’s up to school boards to decide such things, Judge Richard J. Sankovitz ruled Tuesday.

“Had the Larsons done a bit more homework,” he wrote, they would had learned that “the people of our state granted to the Legislature ... the power to establish school boards.”

Bruce Larson said he had not immediately decided whether to appeal. He said the judge ignored a key issue — whether it was reasonable for a school to spring “three lengthy assignments” on students just before summer vacation began.

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