New classes will be geared for students who want to get ahead
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff Writer
For years, the words “summer school” meant one thing and one thing only – you had to retake a class in order to get credit for it.
Now, though, the philosophy has begun to change – and Burlington Area School District is stepping up to follow that.
Starting this summer, Burlington High School hopes to offer several different summer school classes for students who want to get ahead. Providing there is enough interest, BHS will “dabble” in full-credit courses, according to the presentation made at the BASD Curriculum Committee meeting Monday night.
“A lot of people around us are offering full-credit courses,” said BHS Principal Eric Burling, who added he receives inquiries from students all the time wanting to get ahead in their course work.
So, this summer, BHS will offer geometry, consumer economics, health, physical education 10-12, personal finance and the “Freshmen Connections” class.
Burling said the decision was made to go with this small offering first and see how many students sign up.
The reasons are varied. By taking geometry as a summer class, students free up their regular schedule to take more higher-level elective math classes. Consumer economics and personal finance fill requirements for graduation, so it again would free up students to take more electives during the school year.
“I’m hoping it is something that might pique an interest,” said Burling.
The more traditional summer school classes – students involved in credit recovery – will also be offered, but likely with one teacher and students using the Odyssey online learning program.
Burling is optimistic that the enrichment classes will not require too much additional staff.
BASD Superintendent Peter Smet said the change will be interesting to witness.
“It’s an interesting change in the culture,” said Smet, referencing the days when students only came to summer school because they had to. “It’ll be interesting to see how it turns out.”
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Nice Idea, but Why not do like we did yrs back ..We Made VHS Taped Courses of Classes and then Copies of them for The Kids to Have and Watch during the Summer .. If in 1st Yr. HS, they got 2nd Yrs Classes.. I would assume they can do that now using DVD ‘s …Repetition gets the Job Done…
Our Kids Got a Full 1+ Higher GPA Level Improvement the Following Yr .
And shirely would Help the Under privlidged Kids … Give themm a DVD Player and Each Next Yrs Class Courses to Study during the Summer..
It sure Should Improve the Schools Over-all Grade Scores as well…Wouldn’t you think?
Of course, have to get the Teachers Union to Sign off on such a Program, I would think..
Retired, why do you think the teachers’ union needs to sign off on anything? The only thing that the teachers’ union can negotiate is wages. That’s it. I’m tired of hearing people make such negative comments about the teachers and the union.
Its great to see that the Burlington Area School District is assisting students that want to further their credit obligations to graduation during summer school besides offering remedial classes. I believe the students deserve the opportunity to actually interact with their peers and a teacher then sitting at home watching a DVD on a particular class.