Column: The Focused Student: An ‘out of classroom’ education
Summer school can happen in lots of places besides school.
When we talk about education during the summer, “summer school” brings to mind a classroom. That is, however, only one of many venues where a student can learn valuable skills or gain important knowledge during the lazy, hazy days of summer. Let’s look at a few ideas.
The Entrepreneur: For too many students, there is only a vague relationship between their worth in the marketplace, hourly wages, and what it takes to buy the latest electronic gadget they crave. Time for some summer school economics education, so they’re prepared to make good choices in life.
Students can learn appreciation for money by working and being paid for their labor. What they can do and what they should be paid will vary with age, of course, but here are a few ideas for summer entrepreneurs: collecting and recycling cans and plastic, a lemonade or orangeade stand (depending on what trees are in the yard), performing services for neighbors such as babysitting, dog walking, feeding pets for neighbors on vacation, watering yards or houseplants, washing cars or even selling excess items in the house on Craigslist (fairly easy), Let-go (easy), or eBay. One lesson to be learned is that they might have expertise in the digital world that will command a higher fee than manual labor. Some kids might want to make and sell jewelry or art. The ideas are infinite and require only imagination and initiative.
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The Volunteer: Depending on your student’s age, volunteering is a worthwhile activity for which the remuneration is psychological rather than monetary. Students learn about the importance of giving back and being part of a community, and the non-monetary importance of work.
Volunteering is of course easiest for older students who can drive, but it may be worth your while to be the transportation committee if need be. The possibilities are as plentiful as the number of nonprofit organizations in our local communities. And some students might have specific skills, such as website design or coding, that would be invaluable while also providing practical experience and a positive line on a resume or college application.
The Planner: Some students love to plan things and have a real knack for organization. Many harried parents might be happy to contract for your student to arrange a birthday party, adult get together, or home office reorganization. Coordinating and managing complex logistics develops a new set of very important and highly transferable skills, from research to creating (and sticking to) a timeline. Along the way, they learn how to work with and within a budget, a skill you will be glad they have when they head off to college.
The Hands-on Doer: Mostly for older students, the opportunity to be a summer apprentice or intern in construction, auto repair, or almost any other skill area can be invaluable. Students learn both a job skill and economic skills, and see how businesses run. Such jobs can be a challenge to find and require a search that begins well before summer. Many of these jobs will be with local businesses, and provide insights into the challenges and rewards of being an entrepreneur. Students quickly learn that all the money coming in isn’t profit!
By expanding our adult view of what constitutes summer school, you will open a lot of interesting paths for your child. Sometimes a combination of traditional summer school to improve specific academic skills and community learning is the best education of all.
ROBERT FRANK is the executive director of the Hillside School and Learning Center in La Cañada. He holds a master’s of science degree in special education and has more than 40 years of teaching experience. His column appears on the last Thursday of each month. He can be reached at frank@hillsideforsuccess.org.
