I went to summer school four times. I took a summer school class either after first grade or second grade. I took a reading class after fourth grade. I took reading, English, and math classes after fifth grade. I took a geometry class after tenth grade.
My memory is poor for the summer school class either after first grade or second grade.
The reading, English, and math classes after fourth grade and after fifth grade were a waste of time. I learned nothing. I cared about the fun afterwards. My mind was concentrated elsewhere. Although, the teacher who taught math was too easy. Students passed the class with less than 50% effort. I remember the math teacher's flash cards on math concepts. I aced those cards just by memorization. Memorize by drills and repetitions. No comprehension. I desired GI Joe, Transformers, MASK, and cartoons.
Fortunately, geometry class was worth the time. I needed geometry to enroll in Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus in twelfth grade because of college admissions. Each class session represented one week of a regular high school year; for instance, the first day of class was student and teacher introductions we learned no geometry. Each class was four hours long with one break in between. Six weeks of geometry summer school is one year of geometry regular school year. High school summer school is a cram school like college summer school.
I was focused. I learned something. I concentrated. I cared for the class because college admissions motivated me. I did the homework. I comprehended. There was a difference in maturity between a grade school student and a high school student.
I remember my Algebra I teacher recommending students not take geometry in summer school. It wasn't worth it. He suggested learning "basket weaving." His opinion was learning something outside the high school classroom.
Connect The Dots Backwards
The summer schools I remembered came back to me in any form. The after fourth grade reading class instructor was my brother's second grade teacher. The after fifth grade reading class instructor was my sixth grade English class instructor. The after fifth grade English class instructor was my eighth grade English class instructor. The after fifth grade school summer location was my junior high sixth grade to eighth grade school. The geometry class summer school location was my twelfth grade school. My high school ninth grade to eleventh grade closed due to budget cuts.
Taking Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus in twelfth grade helped me pass the calculus entrance exam in college. It was the only entrance exam I passed. I failed all other entrance exams resulting in required remedial courses. Fast forward decades later. The media reported more colleges offer more remedial courses because more students need remedial courses.
Summer school must be worth the effort for school districts. There must be a minimum percentage of success in their guidelines to offer summer classes. Summer school offers jobs for teachers and for school staff needing extra money. Summer school offers children something to do. Summer school offers some parents free babysitting for the mornings. Summer school gives school districts reasons for government funding.
Side note: I remember the first time my neighborhood streets were repaved during summer school after fourth grade. The city applied loose gravel. The theory was cars drove slow following posted signs of loose gravel. The cars push the gravel on the streets creating a permanent gravel payment.
Update On A Past Blog
The comprehension problem in the grade school summer schools reminded me of two blogs both titled I Wasn't A Dumb Child. The first blog I Wasn't A Dumb Child After All was written on Aug 3, 2013. I blamed my parents for being bad teachers. I couldn't learn from them. It affected my self-esteem because I believed I couldn't learn anything. All is forgiven.
The second blog I Wasn't A Dumb Child After All was written on Apr 17, 2019. The second blog is 100% accurate. My learning problem was poor short-term memory. I learn it. I forget it. I must learn by practice, by drills, and by repetition. I remember afterwards. I become a master.
