In praise of summertime learning

One opportunity I’ve been privileged to enjoy this summer is seeing the activities going on in our local schools.

When I was growing up, “summer school” was a particular kind of punishment I had no wish to endure. Much as I loved school, I loved summer better – sleeping in, playing in the backyard and visiting local hotspots like the KOA pool and the nearby state park were, to me, what summer was all about. Who wants to spend long hot days in a stifling classroom?

But Franklin County and Russellville City schools’ summer programs aren’t summer school, at least not the way I always understood it – even though they have had a strong educational component.

Students in TRACKS and PAWS this summer have enjoyed field trips – to movies, bowling, the pool and Skyzone. They’ve had treats and fun galore. But to me, the best part is that a lot of their fun has also advanced their knowledge and their understanding of the world. I’ve gotten a birds-eye view of it.

They’ve learned physics, engineering and myriad other principles of science. They’ve learned foreign language; they’ve learned history; they have learned about the arts.

Through a variety of activities and lessons, from building ships that can tote a cargo of beans, to constructing hot air balloons that really floated away into the summer sky, these kids have gotten an extracurricular view at where education can take them. It’s textbook summer school – without the textbooks.

So I just wanted to tip my hat to the teachers who have been involved in our local summer programs and worked so hard to make education fun. I know these kids have learned lessons that will continue to impact them and last a lifetime.