Character Relationship Map: Summer School

Characters

• Pam House (played by Courtney Thorne-Smith) — supporting

  An easily distracted underachieving student in the summer English class. She negotiates with Shoop for a favor in exchange for studying, eventually earning the privilege of moving in with him.

• Alan Eakian (played by Richard Steven Horvitz) — supporting
• Dave Frazier (played by Gary Riley) — supporting

  A horror film-obsessed student who, along with Chainsaw, throws a party at Shoop's house. Both are arrested for alcohol possession and later team up to terrorize Shoop's dull replacement before joinin...

• Mr. Dearadorian (played by Carl Reiner) — minor
• Rhonda Altobello (played by Shawnee Smith) — supporting

  A pregnant student in the remedial class. Shoop accompanies her to Lamaze classes as a study incentive. She goes into labor during the final exam, delivers a baby, and later puts the child up for adop...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Mr. Dearadorian → Rhonda Altobello (Professional Teacher) — He is initially responsible for Rhonda's summer English instruction.

  Mr. Dearadorian is scheduled to teach the remedial English class that includes Rhonda Altobello.

• Mr. Dearadorian → Dave Frazier (Professional Teacher) — He is Dave's initially assigned summer-school teacher.

  The plot states that Mr. Dearadorian is scheduled to lead the class attended by Dave Frazier.

• Mr. Dearadorian → Alan Eakian (Professional Teacher) — He is assigned to teach Alan before quitting.

  Mr. Dearadorian is scheduled to lead the summer English class in which Alan Eakian is enrolled.

• Mr. Dearadorian → Pam House (Professional Teacher) — He is initially designated as Pam's summer-school teacher.

  Mr. Dearadorian is scheduled to lead the remedial English class attended by Pam House.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Dave Frazier → Rhonda Altobello (Social Classmate) — They are classmates within the troubled remedial group.

  Dave Frazier and Rhonda Altobello are both identified as students in the summer-school English class.

• Alan Eakian → Rhonda Altobello (Social Classmate) — They share the class whose final examination determines the teacher's fate.

  The plot names Alan Eakian and Rhonda Altobello as students assigned to the same remedial English class.

• Alan Eakian → Dave Frazier (Social Classmate) — They belong to the same group of reluctant summer-school students.

  Alan Eakian and Dave Frazier are both members of the summer English class.

• Pam House → Rhonda Altobello (Social Classmate) — They are fellow students facing the same academic requirement.

  Both Pam House and Rhonda Altobello are listed among the underachieving students assigned to remedial English.

• Pam House → Dave Frazier (Social Classmate) — They share the summer-school classroom and its group activities.

  The plot places Pam House and Dave Frazier among the students attending the same summer-school class.

• Pam House → Alan Eakian (Social Classmate) — They are members of the same remedial class.

  The plot identifies Pam House and Alan Eakian as underachievers assigned to the same summer English class.

Story Analysis

A failed summer class becomes a community of students and teacher who overcome academic and personal crises together.

Plot Progression

1. A Class Without A Teacher — Underachieving students are assigned to summer English school. The scheduled teacher wins the lottery and quits, leaving the school desperate for a replacement.
2. Lessons Become Vacations — The new class quickly collapses into recreational outings instead of study. A family complaint exposes the teacher's failure and raises the academic stakes.
3. Favors And Consequences — The teacher bargains with the students by granting personal favors in exchange for studying. Their growing bond is tested by an alcohol-related arrest and other setbacks.
4. The Teacher Walks Away — Repeated demands push the teacher to quit in anger. The students recognize their responsibility, frighten away the replacement, and bring him back.
5. The Test And The Reward — The reunited class studies seriously and takes the final examination. A childbirth emergency interrupts the test, but the students' improvement ultimately earns the teacher tenure.