WANTED: BREAK TIME

If ever there is a professional that desparately NEEDS a two-month summer vacation, it is a teacher. After teaching for the last 11 months, I am somewhat bitter that I only have a one-month vacation rather than two months. However, I am just happy that the vacation has arrived!

I think about how enthusiastic I was when I first started teaching in summer school last year, and even when the fall semester started. I then compare my teaching during that time period to the teaching that I did toward the end of this school year and during summer school. It is sad to say, but I may very well have been a better teacher back then. It is mentally and physically taxing to teach children all day long. If you are not fresh, it is difficult to maintain patience and enthusiasm. I am the kind of person whose feelings are rather transparent, so it is almost impossible for me to fake it when I am mentally and/or physically tired. When I have to be in a classroom in that condition (and of course, it happens), the students unfortunately don't get my best. I'm sure I'm not the only one. In order for schools to get the best out of teachers, summer vacation is essential.

I hope that my little month will be adequate for the purpose of refreshing my mind, body, and soul so that I can return to school in August not just to teach, but to be enthusiastic about teaching. I don't feel like that now, but maybe I will after a few weeks of R & R.

WHY SUMMER SCHOOL

This summer, just like last summer, I couldn't understand why many of the students didn't pass their classes during the school year. Not only did the students often perform well on tests, but they were able to quickly learn new methods of solving problems. Very few students seemed to have an actual problem with grasping the material. On the last day of school, I made it a point to speak with several of the summer school students about why they were attending summer school. Some of the reasons were mind-boggling. Others of them I could have guessed. Several students did not successfully pass courses during the school year because they missed too many days of school. Some of the reasons for missing school were legitimate (for example, illnesses); other reasons were inexcusable. A couple of the students missed school specifically because they were habitually disrespectful to teachers/administrators and were therefore suspended numerous times.

One student admitted that she failed courses during the school year because she frequently slept in class. As a result, she didn't know how to do her homework, and because she didn't do her homework, she eventually stopped going to class!!?? I asked her if she slept in class because she had a job or some other type of responsibility. Her response: she was up all night on the telephone!

The reasons the students gave for having to attend summer school are indicative of the motivation problems that plague our schools. It also shows the extent to which some children do not consider the consequences of their actions prior to making decisions. Furthermore, it shows that too many of our children do not have an appreciation of the value gained by investing in education now, even if it is at the expense of some fun and playtime. The mentality of so many of our youth is, to be quite frank, scary. I can only pray that we can figure out a way to right this train.