It’s not the beach or summer camp, requires a lot of work with
no pay, and is last thing that most high school students want to do
in the summer. But more than 1,500 students have enrolled in San
Benito High School’s summer school program.
Hollister – It’s not the beach or summer camp, requires a lot of work with no pay, and is last thing that most high school students want to do in the summer. But more than 1,500 students have enrolled in San Benito High School’s summer school program.
Some will be re-taking classes that they failed during the regular year and others will be getting classes out of the way in order to take electives next fall.
The school will be offering 51 classes this summer, Assistant Principal Santiago Echaore said. Art Metal Design is one of the classes that will be offered for the first time.
A number of classes designed to prepare next year’s seniors for the California State exit exams will also be offered. Students that fail to pass any of the exit exams will not be allowed to graduate, Echaore said.
Veteran social sciences teacher Chuck Schallhorn said that he is already very busy grading the work of the 41 students taking his summer government class.
“So far, so busy,” Schallhorn said. “It’s difficult to teach a class of 41, but at least it’s not too hot yet.”
On Monday, Schallhorn taught students about the political philosophy behind the U.S. government and began discussion of the Constitution. During the three-week class, Schallhorn is forced to squeeze 18 weeks of teaching, from John Locke to Reno v. ACLU, into 15 classroom days.
Schallhorn is up to the challenge, but said that it is hard to teach that many students so quickly.
“I’m not best able to serve my students in this environment,” Schallhorn said.
Although many of the students are required to take summer school, others take classes like government to free up room on their schedule next year to take an elective class, Schallhorn said.
Summer school is especially important for those students who have struggled during the regular school year Echaore said.
“For those who have been unsuccessful during the regular year, this is the best opportunity for them to pass, because they only have one class to focus on,” Echaore said.
Echaore said that 70 to 80 percent of summer school teachers are regular, fully qualified high school teachers, but the rest are teachers with Bachelor’s degrees and emergency credentials.
Brett Rowland covers education for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
