AA: Is it Necessary?

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Corrie Vandyke
December 1, 2009
Filed under News

Students in Mr. G's AA

The 3:10 bell rings at BMC; school is out. It’s a Monday afternoon. Most students are thankful that they even got through the day. The new week hasn’t quite set in yet, and students are happy to play basketball, go home and take a nap, go out to eat with friends, maybe see a movie, anything except for more schoolwork. It isn’t uncommon for Brashier students to stay an extra hour after school once or twice a week to receive mandatory help. AA is considered a pain for some; to others it is appreciated as a helpful tool; and to others it is a necessity.

Sophomore Bralin Rector says about AA, “I don’t think it is unnecessary. I skipped because I didn’t want to go. I would consider myself a slacker.”

Okay, so some people who don’t attend AA skip it just because they don’t want to go, but what about the kids who have work or other things they have to do after school? Are they excused from AA? “I send their names to Mrs. Freeman and ask the student why they didn’t come. Mrs. Freeman usually then calls home,” said Mrs. Yon.

The students who really want to do their best and are having a hard time in certain areas are happy with the fact that AA is provided. It gives the students a time when they know that teachers aren’t too busy to sit down and discuss the troublesome concepts. “I think it is a good idea but I don’t think it should be mandatory.” Senior Megan Janiskee said. Blake Jones, also a Senior, thinks it is unnecessary. “If you need help, ask, you shouldn’t be forced.”

In the AA’s I have been to, students are supposed to do quiet, independent work, but some teachers allow them to help each other – a group effort working towards the same understanding of concepts.  Mr. Roberts usually reviews his lessons in his AA. Mrs. Yon said, “I try to work on what we are working on each week, like going over a lesson again. It’s hard for English, it is not that the students don’t understand concepts, it is that they haven’t turned in their work. I also have them turn in makeup work.”

Most teachers would probably say AA is a necessity. “I think AA is necessary if you are not passing. It could be a good tool for the struggling students. I think they should make up the work in AA. A partial credit is better than a zero.” Mrs. Yon stated. ”I think it’s necessary.” Mr. Roberts said.

So whether or not students think AA is important or a waste of their time, it’s up to them to determine the outcome of their grade. But remember, teachers will probably not be as generous towards students who skip, especially if they get the feeling that a student  just doesn’t care. If a student can’t make it to a certain AA, they should let their teacher know their reason if their teacher doesn’t ask, it would help teachers know that the student is still interested in doing their best.