I haven’t received a response to my inquiries on retirement from the State Merit System yet, and will have just returned from vacation as you read this. Yet, I just have some impressions I want to share with you.

Summer School. How would YOU like to spend 3 1/2 hours a day, all summer long, in intensive Algebra study? Most of the summer school students I’ve had, but not all, have failed algebra during the regular school year for various reasons. They are attempting to recover the credit they didn’t achieve during the regular school year. Summer school used to be just a time for student athletes to put in their time to become eligible for another year of athletics. No more! If you don’t learn and progress, and follow all the rules, you don’t receive credit. No cakewalk here! My heart breaks with every student that works hard and doesn’t make the "cut", but you expect students to learn, don’t you?

I fully anticipate that the students that passed my class will fit right back into the mainstream math classes during the next school year. It is for these students that I urge your praise. They have endured a summer of intense study. They have given up summer jobs to pursue their education. They have given up a week at the beach with their friends. They have accomplished in forty days what takes 180 days during the regular school year. I think they deserve our praise for making this extra sacrifice to pursue their education. These kids wanted it! Not only the effort required, but these students (or their parents) had to pay summer tuition. Additionally, if they were tardy or absent, they had to pay an extra amount to make up their time at night.

I guess the special thing I appreciate about summer school students is the overt attention paid to their effort to accomplish academic goals. Progress reports were issued every week. Parents were urged to contact the teacher and school if there were there any questions. Everyone signs a behavior contract.

I am so proud of "my" kids! If any employer has questions about a perspective employee that went to summer school, just call! Special praise here is owed to the Carrollton summer school principal, Mr. Tobin. Policies were always enforced fairly and consistently. Teachers and students always knew where they stood.

We have to look at summer school as a proving ground where the students that WANT an education show their mettle! No "quitters" got credit here!

See you next time, but while we wait, lets get "upbeat" about the kids in our community that show that extra effort to succeed!