A change of view of summer school

I read the article which reported on the Forrest City School Board’s actions on pay for summer school workers. It came to me that, just maybe, summer school today ain’t what summer school was back in the ancient days when I was a public school student.

I remember when summer school was something to be avoided. It put one in disgrace. “He had to go to summer school” was usually said in a whisper, followed by gasps. Well, maybe not gasps, but the response definitely wasn’t positive.

It means you had failed. Flunked. In one or more subjects, keeping you from advancing to the next grade, or in some cases, keeping you from graduating unless you went to – shudder – summer school.

Then I remember, after I got out of the service and was in college, I went to summer classes, evening classes, any classes I could get into around my work schedule. My own opinion of summer school had obviously changed.

Also just as obviously, summer school for kids these days doesn’t carry the stigma it once did. It’s a much more pleasant experience. It’s often called remediation classes, which sounds a lot better than, “Okay, dummy, you failed math and reading so you have to go to school during the summer.”

My best wishes to those students in summer school this year. Keep at it, don’t quit. You can do it.

•••••

I have read, and also heard, that many election workers are frightened about the upcoming presidential election in November.

People are threatening violence. I note two things about the people who are doing this threatening: First, they are, practically unanimously if not totally unanimous, among the idiots who still claim that Trump won the 2020 election; second, I’ve noticed that all the threats are being made anonymously.

For that reason – the second one – I’m not terribly worried. People who make anonymous threats do so for one reason – they are yellow to the bone. Cowards. If they had any manhood at all, they’d look people in the eye to make their threats (yes, I said manhood; these people are almost certainly men; if you are a female anonymous phone caller and feel discriminated against, tough; you should be ashamed of yourself).

I’m thinking, or at least hoping, that officials are a little better equipped this time around to handle any morons who actually try anything, either before, during or after the election.

Whatever, if you are a poll worker don’t let the threats keep you from doing your job. And if you’re a voter, don’t let loudmouthed bullies keep you away from the polls. No matter which candidate you support, get out there and vote. If enough people vote, the USA will get, whether for good or ill, the government it deserves. No matter who’s making threats.

•••••

I find it disturbing in a way that there are 32 states (including Arkansas in a limited way) which allow teaches to carry concealed weapons.

In one way it is disturbing because it’s come to this, or at least some lawmakers think it has. Violence in schools, and against students from outsiders, seems to be getting worse.

Looking back, there are times when I think it’s a good thing that my teachers didn’t have guns. There was more than one instance in which a teacher might have been provoked enough to shoot one of us hellions.

Our neighbor, Tennessee, is the latest. Lately, strangely enough, I haven’t heard much from the National Rifle Association on this matter. I figure the NRA would be for open carry, not just for teachers, but administrators and students. Then rivalry games could turn into the O.K. Corral.

Yes, the law, at least in Tennessee, requires training, and it doesn’t mandate that teachers must carry. I can still see some bad things happening.

•••••

Maybe I should talk to some doctors before I write about this, but something I saw on a news program really struck me as strange.

It seems that insurers are increasingly refusing to cover some of the new weight loss meds that are being offered. There were two reasons given. First was the cost of the stuff, over a thousand bucks a month (which a lot of folks can’t handle without insurance).

The second reason was the number of people wanting these drugs. It was called almost overwhelming. And that is what struck me as strange.

Okay, doctors, be honest. Are there really that many people who need these weight loss drugs because of life-threatening conditions? Are there really that many people for whom these drugs are the only hope?

I do believe there are people who desperately need these medications. But are there really that many? If there are people who are only looking for an easy weight loss solution, I think they can and should be weeded out, so those who really need the stuff can get affordable access to it again. Plus it wouldn’t hurt if they lowered the cost some.