Summer School....by definition? Every slacker in the HS recovering credit for 20 weeks of work in 3 weeks. Why would you even try in school? Let's think about this from the kid's perspective...
1. It's hot outside and the school has air.
2. I can screw around and torture my teachers all school year and make up my credit in 3 weeks.
3. The most patient/cool teacher is going to be the one at summer school...everyone else is taking the summer to "regroup" so they can take on the fall with a vengeance.
4. I don't have to wear a uniform and I get to see all my "clown" friends all summer long!
I'd go to summer school too. At my school, summer school is FREE!!! I can NOT understand why any student would waste their time doing it right the first time. Way to go school system...thanks for teaching kids that a second time around is definitely better than the first. UGH!
My next favorite thing is the lesson plans. In the planning meeting they said, "Make sure that you are following our curriculum when you plan for summer school." (Insert cool rewind sound here - in your head of course!) Uhhhh....wait a minute. You justify our 9.5 hour school day and our extended school year because "this curriculum takes more time to be done right", but now you want me to consolidate it into 3 weeks??!! Right. I. don't. think. so. Hello HSCE's how've you been? Traditional schooling...that's what's going on here.
Summer school used to be for the burnouts and boneheads. (stereotyping, I know...but it was...), but since NCLB has ruined education by comparing our mandated school age students to foreign country's brightest and best we are all screwed. Even good students are retaking credits in the summer to "improve their grades" so they can get into a better college. What are we thinking?!! How do we justify the pressure we put on ALL kids? AND who will fix my car and manage the local McDonald's if everyone goes to an Ivy league school and expects to be lawyers, doctors, surgeons, insert other prestigious positions here...(teachers?)?
I'm not saying tracking is the answer 'cuz I clearly know people who have overcome that system, but really? We're making a bachelor's degree the education level for minimum wage jobs!!!
Sheww....back to summer school. God bless the students who are trying to redo 20 weeks in 3. God bless the teachers who are giving up their summer to be with them. God bless the parents for making sure their kids are getting what they need. God bless the government...so maybe they can suck less at helping.
Happy Summer to you teachers....enjoy it 'cuz time is flyin' by!
Trench teacher....out.
