This does NOT make me happy!

The phone just rang and a lilting female voice greeted me. I could tell she was smiling by the rise and fall in her opening words. She said, "Hello, Mrs. N., I am M's [DS 2] AP Science teacher for next year!" It didn't really register, just WHY she might be calling here in JUNE for a class that starts in AUGUST.

The conversation went something like this: "I didn't get my class list for next year until late."

I thought: "Interesting, our teachers STILL don't have theirs, and won't, until the new school year begins."

She continued: "I was unable to connect with the students before I left. So I left their assignments at the school for them to pick up. M needs to go to the IB office and get his. It's due DAY ONE of school. He must pick it up by Friday or else I'll have to give you my home phone number so I can deliver it to him."

After asking myself, "Did she just say 'Deliver it'?" My next reaction was: "He's not in IB {International Baccalaureate}"...but as she continued I realized that she was dead serious and she was, in fact, his new teacher. She was only using the IB office as a clearing house. The other thing I am quite certain about is that she was very proud of herself for giving her students a "head start" for the class.

She explained further: "I am concerned about the block schedule and our time together, so all students need to memorize these tables and formulas first. There's a textbook waiting there for M too. He can use it as reference if he'd like. I've also included the first set of homework so that he can really get ahead if he'd like to do so."

I have no problem with kids having a Summer Reading List for extra credit and even early discussion...but charts and tables to memorize before day one of a SCIENCE class!?!?! That, I have issues with. I mean it's unsupported learning. And being someone who is Math/Science challenged, I have to wonder if I were given this assignment how well I would do. Thankfully, my son is a Math/Science whiz.

I know the curriculum is dense. The task of teaching, especially at these upper levels, is huge. I know it's harder than it was when I was in school. I also don't think we "should" have three months off in the Summer. I'd rather see it spread out over the year more evenly, so less is "forgotten" over such a long time off.

But, when I hear about this type of stuff over the "breaks" I have to wonder just WHAT each teacher is doing with his or her time off. I mean are they sitting at home and studying for their upcoming teaching? Are they learning something new? Are they preparing, in some way, to be a better more effective teacher? Some are. But, I fear that most aren't.

I don't know which category this person falls. I hope it's the latter. I hope that she truly IS a conscientious teacher who is wanting to give her students every advantage. She seemed very nice on the phone...and I'm pretty sure she didn't hang up and give her best "bwa-ha-ha-ha".

The other thing I know, though, is that my DSs all live in a house where there are supportive parents who will ensure that the work gets done. And for the most part, this is the type of student that is at DSs school. Where I work, however, students are lucky if they see their parents during the day....and school work is not really a priority. I know these students DO exist in every program. What happens to those kids?

Regardless of the "kind" of teacher she is...or the kinds of students she is teaching...I still have to question whether it's right or fair to impose assignments such as this as "MUST DO's". I know that my opinion is contrary to what many other people think...but I'd love to hear what you think....

{Edited to Add: DS 2 seems fine with this arrangement. It's just me and my "old-fashioned" thinking, I'm sure. And certainly it's because it's an AP course vs. a regular Science.}