Did you cringe when you read the title? Perhaps with final exams and graduation denoting the end is near, you were looking forward to gearing down for the summer; however, have you considered not allowing these events to mark the end of school year? The Webster 1828 Dictionary states the following etymology of school: "This word seems originally to have denoted leisure, freedom from business, a time given to sports, games or exercises, and afterwards time given to literary studies."

Leisure? Freedom? Aren't these words the antithesis of what school means for most students, teachers, and even administrators? When did we lose this enjoyable view of education? Make a commitment today to instill in your young people that education can be a pleasurable part of life-even in the summer! How? Try these helpful hints:

Start an Internet Class
Chances are your students will spend much of their summer vacation online chatting with friends and surfing the web. Why not start a class web blog or message board? An Internet class would allow you to initiate activities and projects as well as follow up on your students throughout the summer.

Give Parents the Scope
Parents rely on you to educate their children. They would greatly appreciate any direction to help fill their children's time during the summer months. This could include a scope of next year's curriculum, as well as some hints as how to put into practice what they have learned this year.

Here is one more definition from Webster's 1828 Dictionary concerning education:

"Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties."

During these last weeks of school, may we as guardians do all we can to empower parents to fulfill their responsibility to train up their children in the way they should go, all year round.