Weekend Shrinks For Serious Students Voluntary School On Saturdays So Kids Can Boost Grades

Where have you gone, Rocky & Bullwinkle?

For generations, kids have spent Saturday mornings in front of the television, feasting on cartoons and cereal, unwinding from a tough week of reading, writing and arithmetic.

That’s all changing at one school district, which held voluntary weekend classes for the first time Saturday, giving students a sixth day to improve their grades.

“Just because it’s on a Saturday, that don’t mean it’s gonna spoil your day,” said Toro Davis, a junior who signed up for extra math and history classes at Uniondale High School.

He didn’t mind getting out of bed on a cold, rainy Saturday morning. “It helps students get a better grip on the things they don’t understand in class.”

It’s unrealistic to think all students can learn at the same rate, Assistant Superintendent Michael Allegra said. Some just need more instruction to catch up.

“Most people realize that the expectations on students nowadays are higher,” he said. “We believe all kids not only can achieve, but can excel - the variable being time.”

The district started with an elementary school program in January and expanded it to junior and high school students Saturday. The effort is in response to new state graduation requirements that demand all students pass tougher exams in math, science, English and social studies.

The program is not remedial, because it is open to all students looking to improve their grades, Allegra said.

With fewer kids and only 10 teachers, all-but silent hallways replaced the usual Monday-Friday bustle.

School officials did not immediately have a count on how many students took part in each 90-minute class, with the school day running from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The federal Education Department had no figures on how many schools across the country offer Saturday classes, but several education experts said they believe Uniondale, near the center of New York’s Long Island, is among the first.

Janet Bass, a spokeswoman for the American Federation of Teachers, said that while Saturday sessions are “not a common practice, it may become more prevalent as districts get more serious about ensuring that kids are meeting tougher standards.”

The cost to open eight schools in Uniondale to hundreds of students each Saturday is about $20,000 through the end of the academic year, 75 percent covered by district funds and the remainder through state grants. Teachers are paid at an hourly overtime rate, Allegra said.< “It’s a great idea, because when we get to review the classes, we’ll know what’s on the (exams),” said sophomore Patrice McLean, whose mother woke her up to remind her about the Saturday session.

Teacher Colleen Wright enthusiastically greeted students in her biology classroom, stopping to hug some. Ordering the boys to remove their baseball caps as they entered, she warned them she would be stricter because there was a lot of work to be done.

“I think it takes a lot of commitment from a student to give up a Saturday morning, where they could be home sleeping, going to the mall, watching TV or something,” she said.

Some students “Might not be doing that well during the week.” she said. “But on Saturday, they’re here and they’re focused.”