“Busywork” is a phrase dreaded by every student here at North Atlanta. The definition of busywork is definitely not set in stone, and everyone has varying opinions. However, students can agree on one thing about this pitiful excuse for “engaging” learning. We hate it.

Picture this: You are sitting in class, participating in an avid discussion on the topic and everyone is having a genuinely good time. You’re thinking you can ride this interesting and fun activity until the end of the period when tragedy strikes. Dark clouds assemble overhead, a howling wind kicks up, and thunder rings out across the land. Everyone knows the fun is over when the teacher utters those forsaken words: “Time to do the worksheet!”

I digress. First we must answer the question: What is busywork? Typically this foul name is branded upon work that is pre-made and requires little work from the teacher that very rarely teaches or reviews anything meaningful and is regarded as a complete waste of time. “Busywork is work that the teachers give because they are lazy and don’t want to plan a real assignment,” said freshman Clarke Peoples.

All of these worksheets, packets and workbook pages add up, turning into a giant time-sucking black hole. Do the teachers want us to drown in our own assignments? Why do we have to do all of this work? “Busywork is the work the teacher gives that they don’t really grade but check for completion to buy them time to finish work they were supposed to be doing,” said freshman Sherwin McDonald.

Busywork is a thorn in the side of our student body. What it is, why it exists, and why we have so much of it are questions that may forever be a mystery. All I know is that the teachers can scrounge up enough of this work to keep all of us busy for a lifetime.