Summer school misses its mark

By CHRIS BURNS

Summer School

Monday I start summer school. For most of my years of teaching I worked the summers. Many people think teachers get paid over the summers, but that's not quite true. I only get paid for the 183 days a year I work. That pay is spread out over the 12 months of the year so that teachers don't experience a disruption of cash flow during the summers when they are effectively laid off. 

Many teachers appreciate the time to enjoy a vacation, or take training or just do nothing. For myself, having children necessitates extra money, so any chance I had to make some, I took it.

The last few years, however, I managed to avoid summer school. For one thing, I finally made it to the pay level where the extra money was more a luxury than a necessity. I enjoyed the time off with my kids more and I found  I was in a much better mood when school started in August.  Other teachers who make less than me could work during the summer.

Another reason for skipping summer school, though, was I found it a miserable experience. In California, all students who currently take summer school do so from necessity. They failed a course and have to make it up.  Most are not great students to begin with and their scholarship does not improve during the summer. They are resentful and surly, They view summer school as a punishment rather than an opportunity. They don't want to do the work and frankly, summer school is harder than regular school, you have to do more in less time.

It is not fun teaching.

California's method of funding summer school also makes it difficult. 

The school district gets paid for students who fill the seats. If they are not there, we don't get money. This can be a problem for the administrators running the program. They have to pay teachers, so each class has to have a minimum number of students to pay for itself. That means that as the summer progresses, administrators are reluctant to send misbehaving students home.

My favorite summer school programs were the ones in Georgia. There summer school was paid for by the students. Talk about a completely different attitude. One phone call was all it took to straighten a student out. 

This year my school district is having summer school for our middle school students. It is part of the retention policy that is being implemented. All of my students have failed math and will be retained if they don't pass the final exam the district gives at the end of the summer school session. For the next four weeks, two hours a class, we will review the 10 or so core standards of 7th grade math. It is not perfect, but it is a start at holding students accountable for their education. That's why I have come out of my summer school “retirement” (that and I was the only math teacher willing to do it).  It beats just passing them on to the 8th grade.

Personally, I think the idea that summer school is for remedial work is a flawed one.  The money would be better spent in classes where students want to be there. I wish there were classes where students are taking extra credits to graduate early or just because they wanted them. It is much more fun teaching students who enjoy learning and are motivated. It is also a better message: “We will provide opportunities to excel and get ahead” rather than “you failed so now you have to do it again.”

You can't sell that, however, to the people who make these kinds of decisions. The money just isn't there. I guess it's a question of priorities.

It is a real shame, in my opinion. Some of my favorite classes in college were the ones I took over the summer. The atmosphere was more relaxed and since the class was condensed, it allowed me to focus better on the subject. I never minded spending my vacation time in the classroom when I felt it was worthwhile. I imagine there are lots of students who feel the same way.

At any rate, come Monday I will be back in the saddle riding herd on 33 students who for the most part would rather be in bed. I will do my best to make it as painless as possible ... I can be real mean if I have to be, but I prefer easy-going. Some will take advantage of the second chance and while it may not be fun, at least it will be profitable. 

At least those students won't have to see me again in the fall.

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