Every year, the students looked forward to vacation. It was time for fun and play. But parents looked forward to summer school! Summer school was a place where the kids could go and learn something valuable instead of whiling away time at home and pestering their parents.
But the global economy slowdowns have brought a halt to this practice. Schools across the nation wont have any more summer schools. This is so because most of the schools are suffering from a budget crisis. Hence, the children have no other option but to sit and home and watch the television. Or visit the mall and stare at nothingness.
This is happening will nearly all schools in Florida and the governor, Former actor, A Schwarzenegger, declared that it was a fiscal state of emergency in the state. Reports state that these cuts are very disturbing and parents and children alike are devastated by these announcements. Some children actually look forward to do something constructive while at summer school. Especially kids from the low income family groups.
However, it is surprising that the federal education department is channeling $ 100 million to the public education sector and strongly urging schools to keep the summer school programs going. But it is not turning out to be what they want as many districts have ignored this. Schools across the nations are making huge pay cuts and other cost cutting methods which have left the parents and children baffled.
Even retirement funds are being halted and no pay hikes will be done for more than a year now. Although the 15000 school districts are cutting down on their summer schools, larger districts like Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis and Seattle, still have a few summer schools going on. But there are cuts in these too. New York which had more than 100000 students and 562 summer schools, it has been cut down too 369 schools this year. Most of the children want to enroll as it would add to their grades but only a few will be admitted this year.
But some schools are making arrangements to carry out the summer schools. Here, morning are reserved for Math or reading activities. In the afternoon, children will study environmental science or gardening or yoga. They might even learn ballroom dancing if they like.
While some students may heave a sigh of relief, some parents will be worried that they will be leaving their kids back home to television or computers. It is difficult for kids today to go out and play as we are all gripped by the computer/ video games fever. Even though summer schools might have not been great but they were a great source of fun and huge learning experiences. Children with abnormalities enjoyed themselves here too as they were given a chance to interact with other children their age. We just hope that these cut downs are a temporary phase as it would be great for kids to be a part of a cool summer school.