So many students opt to take core academic classes such as US history, government, or English over the summer at community colleges. Is this shortcut a good idea? I believe students should not take state-mandated classes over the summer; instead, they should choose elective courses or other enrichment programs.
Taking core classes such as US History or English IV over the summer deprives students of actual quality education. These summer classes supposedly squeeze 180-day long courses into about a month-and-a-half, compromising in-depth understanding for efficiency.
Secondly, taking core classes over the summer in place of electives or other enrichment programs is not necessarily a great show of student character. You are a student; you go to school to get an education. Choosing to take a core class like US History over the summer in place of an elective can rob you of exploring your actual interests or passions. Classes such as Java programming, accounting, digital art, or Spanish are some electives to name a few. If you are interested in a potential career in the tech industry, you especially would reap a greater benefit taking an introductory course in programming instead of a US history class this summer.
The only real reason I believe a student would benefit from taking a core class over the summer is to fulfill MHS’s graduation requirements in advance in order to pursue a class in the fall semester that has some meaningful importance to the student for the following reasons.
First off, a core summer class may be beneficial for a minority of students because they can replace a class in the fall with another that is extremely useful for their future interests. Whether that be pursuing a career in chemical engineering or law enforcement, a possible exception of taking a core class over the summer in order to take courses that will help students get an early start on their potential higher education and careers.
The only other reason I see in taking a core class over the summer is to ensure you are meeting graduation requirements. Certain students currently involved in special programs within the school such as academies, leadership, AVID, or music, may find it impossible to schedule their classes accordingly without utilizing a summer course for a core class. Otherwise, for most students, an elective class would be much more beneficial this summer.