According to Athletic Director Marcus Clarke, more athletes are enrolling in summer school. Clarke says only 15 out of 257 athletes attended summer school in 2009. In 2010, numbers have increased tremendously. There are now 64 out of 228 athletic students taking courses over the summer. Chelsea Robinson who is an Athletic Training major playing softball says,
“Summer school enables me to take my harder courses in a smaller class environment. This allows me to have more one on one time with my professor if I need help and stay on track without the distractions of my friends.”
Although numbers are increasing, some students feel that summer school is in fact hurting them rather than helping. Senior Jayson Royal who is a Business major playing football says,
“I think less athletes should enroll into summer school because I feel as though athletes should get there training done in the summer. I’m more focused in the academic school year; summer time is more of relaxation.”
Some coaches say in the summer time there is no pressure and the workouts are less strenuous. They encourage their athletes to attend summer school because they become more involved and hands on with their work. Coach Calvin Page, football coach, says he encourages his players to go to summer school for two reasons:
“I support my boys to attend summer school to get their GPA up and getting ahead in order to graduate,” says Page.
Some professors say that they definitely see a change in grades improving and it is helping them because they can get the attention they need since classes are typically smaller. Also, they are most likely taking fewer classes, so they can focus more on a particular subject, which is what’s needed to do better in a class.
“The few athletes I have taught during the summer seem to be more focused because they don’t have a game schedule or coaches to compete with in terms of their classes,” said Mr. Derrick Justice, English instructor.