North of Montgomery

Every weekend, I get a report from one of our teacher leaders who supervises our Credit Recovery program at my current school.  This report summarizes the students who have completed courses over the previous week and gives a shout out to the teachers, aides, and staff members who have assisted in their progress.  Normally, I only give this email a rudimentary glance to keep my finger on the pulse of the work being done, but something jumped off the screen at me this week.  As I scanned the list, I saw the name of a student whose name was not unfamiliar to me for attendance and disciplinary reasons.  What struck me was the comment this junior student made about his rapid completion of a freshman physical science course online.

“I like science.  I just don’t do the work.”

There are many layers and levels to this statement, but as I peel this particular onion, I am left wondering two things foremost:

•  What is “the work” exactly?  And…
•  If the student likes the content area but just doesn’t do “the work,” whose fault is that?