THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 12, 1994 TAG: 9408100107
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 2B EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SAREIT HESS, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
June is a magical month for most students. It means hot weather, the beach and the end of school. But for some, school never ends.
These students decide to go to summer school to get a jump start before the next school year begins or to repeat a class they've failed. This year summer school began in late June and ends Friday, leaving about three weeks of rest and relaxation.
``Summer school isn't that bad actually,'' said Julia Toth, a rising sophomore at the new Ocean Lakes High School. ``It is hard because it's faster, but it gets boring when we go too slow.
``I like it because now I only have to concentrate on one class instead of six,'' she added.
The ratio of Virginia Beach students who are taking new courses and those who are repeating courses is just about even. At Bayside High School for example, 346 summer school students are repeating classes they failed while 300 are taking new classes to get ahead. The most popular summer school courses are math and English. Science is the least popular.
Many students agreed that summer school is easier because they only have to worry about one class, although that class lasts about five hours a day.
``I thought that there would be a lot of notes and discussions,'' said Mike Griffith, a rising senior at Bayside. ``Instead there is a brief outline and then you work and try to remember what was said.''
Donna Elliott, who is teaching senior English this summer at Bayside High, said that some students don't know what they are getting themselves into when they sign up.
``Some of the kids here don't have the discipline and dedication they need, especially those repeating,'' Elliott said. ``They feel that just because they paid, they are going to pass. It doesn't work that way. They have to earn (grades), not buy them.''
Anyone who's been there knows that summer school isn't fun and games.
The hours are long, breaks are short - between 10 and 20 minutes - and there are many lessons to learn in a single day. It also costs about $75 for a semester credit and $125 for a full-year credit.
The attitude among those who come on their own seems to be that this is their education and they want to get the most out of it.
``I thought it would be really hard since the class is very fast,'' said Tara Vitek, a rising senior at Great Bridge. ``But it's not that way at all. My teacher explains the days' lessons in simple terms and only what we need to know. There are never any extra materials (just) to take up time.''
The only problem, Tara said, is that if a student doesn't get the material the first time, the teachers don't teach it again. It's up to the individual to catch up.
Another rough thing about summer school is the list of rules. Each day counts as two ``sessions.'' Students who are 15 minutes late for class are counted as absent for the session. If students are absent for more than 12 sessions, they fail the class.
There are tests and rules, work sheets and homework. Bathroom breaks are short. Summer school is just that, school. MEMO: Sareit Hess is a rising sophomore at Bayside High School. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
This summer class in math is nearly full of students - some who are
repeating the course and some who simply want to get ahead.
by CNB