New developments

After a half day at the ALC, I remembered that I had a curriculum meeting with a colleague. I nearly forgot about the whole meeting, but for some reason my random-abstract brain recalled the information, which is rare. However, when I got home Kristie greeted me . . . with her arm wrapped up in a sling. "I fractured my arm," she said and we were off to the emergency room.

So much for her plans for getting work done around the house and working out this summer. She had been potting plants and cleaning up the yard after Sunday night's hellacious thunder storm. She was in the porch when the phone rang. She ran to get it and slipped on the porch floor, banging her arm on the ledge between the living room and the porch, and fracturing a bone in her arm. She now has a temporary cast which tomorrow at 9:15 will be turned into a permanent cast, at least permanent for the next three or four weeks.

As we were driving home from the emergency room, she said, "I suppose I'll read all about this on your blog tomorrow." Well, dear, you were right. But I gave the abbreviated rendition.

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So far classes have gone very well here at the ALC. The trick, I have learned in four years now, is to keep kids busy. Since the time period is so condensed (four weeks for a total of 16 class periods) it is simply impossible to cover what they would cover in a normal 9 week class. Yet, somehow they still get equal credit for it. So I have no grand illusions of accomplishing great things here. First off most of this kids don't have the work ethic. It's amazing how many have so much baggage outside of school. Just wait until the fair hits the town. Then the stories of parties and intoxication and God knows what else will really start rolling in. Thankfully, that falls during the second summer session and I'll be at the RRVWP by then. Secondly, it is summer and kids just don't want to work. You'd be amazed how many kids I've had who have shown up nearly every day but never do the work and end up failing. Now why bother to show up if you're just going to fail, especially when it's early in the morning during the summer? It boggles my mind.

Don't get me wrong. I have a few students who do really take it seriously and work really hard. In fact, over the years I'd say I am getting more of these kids in my classes. I think those who are really troubled are just choosing not to bother with summer school altogether. Fine with me.