Sub Vision: Summer Time and Summer School

I have a distinct dislike to the “Summer School” institution. Growing up we did not have anything academic during summer, only summer camp (for those who could afford it), games and fun, and when older, at high school, some got summer jobs.

My kids grew up in a different place and time, and their schools did offer summer school, but as they didn’t have to catch up on any subject, we did not encourage them to take summer classes to get ahead. For them, too, summer was fun time, with summer camp, family traveling, and if any classes, they were just for fun.

Reality is different in the schools where I teach. Many students cannot afford summer camp, and do need to repeat classes and enrich their basic academic skills. The district, as budget permits, offers summer school, and full time teachers, as well as substitute teachers, are fighting for their right to teach in the summer.

I don’t mind not being offered a job in the summer, but when offered I feel guilty not taking it, and so it happened that I did sign up to work. Surprisingly enough, a principal did call me few days before the starting date and asked me to work three days of the first school week, and I, reluctantly, agreed.

Middle schools are not fun during school year, let alone summer. Fortunately, there were only 10-12 students during that first week so it should have been manageable. After the first day, however, I was completely discouraged; how would I survive two more days? The permanent teacher had left enough teaching lessons, planned games, and enrichment programs, but the students were not interested. The lessons were way too hard for them, games too dull. Learning materials, workbooks and books, were abandoned on desks or on the floor, pencils were broken, and erasers became flying objects… Rulers had to be restricted to prevent sword fighting…

I managed to survive these three days, but not without my continuing frustration with the program. What’s the use in sticking to ‘the plan’ if students are not ready for ‘the plan’? Why not teach them basics first? What’s the use in talking of ratios and proportions without knowing fractions, or the main four arithmetic operations?

I did do my best, dividing students to groups and creating competition over basic knowledge, promising doughnuts to the winning group. On Friday, I did get doughnuts for everyone, including the administrators…

As always, I have hope, a tiny little hope, that I did touch any chord of knowledge, that I did connect to any source of motivation, and that at least one student would be able to say: yes, I remember learning this during summer school…

… Wishful thinking…