If you’re reading this article, thank you! Chances are, many folks who got this paper mailed to their house won’t read all of it — they will look at the pictures, some of the ads, the comics and maybe check out the sports section, too.

I don’t fault people for being too busy — it’s the world we live in. I know well educated people who do not read for pleasure anymore. For a whole lot of people, the most they ever read is on Facebook (if you’ve read this far without picking up your phone or some other device, thanks again!).

Our students face those same challenges — they need to stay focused if they are going to succeed in school. The more focused and engaged they are, the better they will do in class. Those same habits will carry on to college and careers. Focused and engaged people simply get more productive work done.

I read about a study done in 2007, where more than 50 percent of the students in a high school said they were “bored every day.” More than 15 percent said they got bored every class!

I’m sure they would rather be texting, with friends, watching TV, or hundreds of other things. It’s probably no surprise. Even older folks like me, who had no social media no internet, and lots less to choose from on TV, got bored in class. Yet we can remember those classes where we did pay attention, or where we worked with others, and we were engaged.

Our teachers all read a book this summer on getting more students engaged in school. The less time they are bored, the more time they are learning, the better they will do, and the more success they will experience. That is our theme, our goal, and our job this year — engaging students in school more often and using better instructional strategies. And, hey, if you finished this article, congrats!

You stayed engaged!

 

John Jarpe is the superintendent of Brandywine Community Schools. He can be reached at (269) 684- 7150.