Just clipping across the Lake

The semester is at a close and it only seems appropriate to reflect on all that has transpired.  Okay, maybe not all, we’ll just focus in on my blogging experience.  As I said in my opening post, this was my first attempt at keeping a blog.  It really was a lot simpler than I thought.  Sounds lame I know, but you must understand that me and technology, we ain’t friends.  This was actually a big leap for me and I’m proud of all that I have accomplished and learned.  I’m so impressed with the RSS aggregator.  I never knew that such a thing existed.  I want to hug the person who came up with it.  It makes life so much easier for researching a topic.  I get all the news feeds, blogs I subscribe to, and just articles.  Everything is in one place for me so I don’t have to waste a lot of time just floating around the internet.  I’m definitely adding some sports pages to my RSS aggregator.  I need to keep up with the NHL playoffs. 

As for my topic on alternative schools….Boy, did I learn a lot!  For some reason I always thought alternative schools were like a cookie cutter mold or one size fits all.  Nope, they’re as unique as the students they serve.  I like how they help students graduate when there is no other alternative.  Without a high school diploma, you can’t do anything nowadays.  People are working to improve the system.  That is the absolute best thing.  They are trying new approaches and methods to get the best outcome for the kids.  It simply amazed me at how many negative articles there are about this topic. I had to hunt to find any positive ones.   The media definitely needs to look at the bright side of the issue.  Maybe someday the positives will outweigh the negatives.  I think this was a great experience and I hope to get to continue this blog, either on the same subject or a new one, in the future.

Well, here are the links to all the (wonderful) comments I have made this semester. 

1.  “Fuel for the Media Fire“  Commented on January 30

2.  “Read it.  Learn it.  Write It“  Commented on January 30

3.  “300 Million“   Commented on January 30

4  “It’s Like the Inquisition or Something“  Commented on February 28

5.  “From the Horse’s Mouth“  Commented on February 28

6.  “No Teacher Left Behind“  Commented on February 28

7.  “Science of Lunch Packing“  Commented on April 11

8.  “Ohhbese“  Commented on April 11

9.  “A Day in the Life of Forest Hills Central“  commented on April 12

10.  “How to get a Couch Potato to Read“  Commented on April 12

How long is long enough to observe a program to see if it works?  2 years?  5 years?  Longer?  The school board in South Lyon, MI decided 2 years is more than enough time to evaluate their night school program.  Board members who voted to disband the program cited that

  It was a great program for its time…But the state keeps increasing the rigor.

And that

  You can’t get swayed by emotions.

Don Beagle, one of the board members who voted to eliminate the program, is quoted as calling

The alternative certificate ‘a diploma based only on self esteem without substance.’

As of right now, those individuals who will graduate by June 2009 will be allowed to complete the final year of the program, all other people will have to find another program or return to traditional high schools.  Monday’s comment forum was full of emotional success stories.  Some individuals couldn’t understand why the program is being shut down after only 2 years.  They suggest redesigning the program instead of eliminating it.

                I’m sure that there are a lot of people who haven’t had a chance to voice their opinion, especially those involved in the night school program and the students in the traditional high school.  Thinking as a teacher, I can view a lot of opportunities for writing.  Taking pointers from Linda Christiansen, who teaches writing for social justice, I would have my students write in response to this revelation.  As of right now the decision to eliminate the program has been made, but who’s to say that can’t be changed?  Students could write letters to the board citing reasons the program should continue in its current form or give suggestions for changes.  They could also write the superintendent voicing their opinions.  The board says that they are thinking about the kids, but they don’t seem to be listening to them.  It’s important to give voice to the voiceless, in this case the students.  If nothing else, you could have them write in their journals or simply have a class discussion.  It’s definitely important to let the students, who will be effected by this decision, have a say in the matter.  I just wish the school board would try some alternatives to their alternate plans. The kids may have some great ideas that weren’t even thought of yet.   Give it a shot.  What’s the worst that could happen?

No alternative:  Night school cancelled by board

By Jessie Ellis

10 April 2008

Full Article

                I went with my boyfriend on March 7 to see the play A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Grand Haven Area Arts Council.   It was the first Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company performance I had attended.  Some of their methods really stuck with me because they were unique.

                The setting itself was different from most I have seen before.  The stage was set up as a thrust stage, meaning that there are audience members on all three sides of the stage.  The set itself was very minimalistic.  The backdrop was a red and white curtain reminiscent of a circus tent.  The only other physical prop were boxes.  They were rustic and served as bushes, trees, and benches.   The lights were left up so the audience as well as the actors were illuminated.  This allowed for the audience members to view other people’s reactions as well as for interaction between actors and members of the audience.

                Costuming was also an interesting element.    The story takes place in Athens hundreds of years ago, however, the director took it upon herself to adapt the story to more modern times.  The actors were dressed in contemporary costumes.  Most of the costuming, for the mortals was reminiscent of the 1930s.  These clothes consisted of skirts, blouses, vests and hats from the time period.  They were all in sepia type colors; tans, blacks, pale pinks.  The fairy world, on the other hand, was in Technicolor.  Oberon, the fairy king, wears a coat that is glittery and consists of every color of the rainbow.  Puck, Oberon’s helper, wears a costume like the ringmaster of a circus, except the coat is pink and he has a purple bow tie.

                I thought the roles the actors played were a neat aspect to the production.  In Shakespeare’s day young boys played the roles of the women, however, Pigeon Creek does cross gender casting, meaning that sometimes women play men characters and vice versa.  A woman played the role of a man in the acting company that performs for the duke.  Puck, Oberon’s helper, is a male character that is played by a woman in this production.

               I absolutely loved this production and would definitely go see another performance by this company.  The humor they brought to the production was memorable.  It is a comedy,  but the way they interpreted the storyline made it even more hilarious.  The physical aspect of the play also struck me.  There were points when Hermia, jumped off the stage and into the arms of Demetrius and Lysander.  They then toss her to her feet.  At another point Helena attaches herself to Demetrius and he practically drags her around the stage.  The actors also ran around the auditorium area and up and down the stage.  It was a play that kept me very entertained.

                As a preservice teacher, I look at events like this and wonder what kind of writing activities can arise from them.  Shakespeare plays definitely lend themselves to numerous activities.  The students could compare what they saw to what they read in respect to the setting, language, etc.  They could also write a reaction piece, as I am doing.  It could be based on what they liked/disliked about the production or if it helped them to understand the play better than simply reading it.   I have included the link for Pigeon Creek just in case anyone is in the area and wants to see a great adaptation of Shakespeare.

Link to Pigeon Creek Shakespeare

After reading an article from my home state of Michigan, I’m very pleased and proud.  It’s an article I’ve been trying to find for a long time.  It gives the positive side, one that seems to be overlooked, of alternative schools.

The article focuses on several students in Riverview East High School.  Shane Warrick will graduate in March from the school.  At his previous school he didn’t talk to hardly anyone and now he greets people as they come into the building.

Students told reporters

Many students simply don’t fit in at their home schools and were referred to places such as Riverview East so they could get a second chance in a fresh environment.

Courtney Rice was one of the students who, like many others, were referred to the school because they are in danger of not graduating on time.  Due to her experience, she plans on studying nursing after she graduates. 

Riverview has the philosophy of creating 

 a nurturing, warm environment to support students’ goals… Keeping class sizes small and giving one-on-one attention to struggling students helps them reach their potential.

Studies have shown that smaller class sizes do benefit the students.  It seems like the school is on to something here.

Senior Autumn Ward sums up the average opinion of the public concerning alternative schools.

They look down on us, but they don’t understand it’s a second chance to improve (our) education, she said.

The students are given the opportunity for the second chance as the program is strictly voluntary.  No one is forced to participate.  Students are asked if they will commit to the program and if they have a desire to graduate before they are admitted to the program.

Another quote from the article reinforces Ward’s previous comment.

Like graduates of other high schools… students from alternative schools find success in college and the work force.

It’s great to hear about the positive side for a change.  It seems as if the kids love the program and are getting back on track with their lives.  I would like to know what kind of curriculum the school has implemented.  Are the hours longer?   Is it geared more toward employment skills or is it the same type of curriculum as traditional schools?  I hope to find more positive articles in the future like this one.

 “Students find classrooms offer second chance”by Nicole Gerring

Times Herald    22 February 2008

Full Article

I read an article this week that greatly disturbed me.  It’s about an alternative school that has not met state requirements for alternative schools.  Union Bower Center for Learning had a score under that deemed as an acceptable rating.  The acceptable school rating is 45 percent of students must pass.

In 2007, 10 percent of enrolled students who took state exams passed the math and science portions.  Less than half of students passed reading and social studies exams, according to the Texas Education Agency.

Administrators plan to reopen Union Bower next fall with a different design while still serving at least 75 percent of students at risk of dropping out.

They also group students a

…over-age eighth-graders, students who failed ninth grade, pregnant students and immigrants lacking formal education from their home country.

This article seems to be horribly bias.  If we look at the situation critically, there are several things that seem to be socially unjust.  My first question is why alternative schools are given such low standards.  I’m not sure if every state is like this or not.  It seems as if the school and the teachers have low expectations of the students, then when the students don’t reach the low standards the administrators are upset.  It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.  If the teachers expect little effort, they will receive little.  Another thing that seems to be unjust is the grouping of students.  I could understand grouping them into grades like 9^th, 10^th etc, but by  putting students in separate groups based on other factors, the students are limited in their contact with other types of people.  They can’t gain the perspectives of those who immigrated to
America nor learn life skills from other students.  It’s like they are put in a box they can’t escape from.  The other issue that really got my guard up is that Ms. Fraley, the director of secondary teaching and learning, called the students who come to this alternative school “problem.”  Her direct quote is,

 Problems used to get dumped at Union Bower.  Now we want those students to stay at their home school.

I’m a firm believer that students are people not a problem that needs to be fluffed off on someone else. When will teachers learn that the words that come out of their mouths will affect the students for a long period of time?  Students, like the rest of us have problems in their lives that need to be addressed, but the people are not a problem themselves.

Well, I think I have added enough fuel to the fire for one day.  I hope this article gets everyone’s minds working like it did mine.

“Changes at Irving alternative school in overdrive after unacceptable rating”

By Katherine Leal Unmuth

The Dallas Mornig News

22 February 2008

Full Article

The San Francisco Bay area has chosen its Jefferson Award winner just this past week.  The Jefferson Award is given to a person who has made a difference in his or her community.  Ina Gyemant is the winner featured in this article.  She has worked in the court system since 1969 helping youth.  She began as a young attorney representing juveniles in court pro bono.  In the 90’s Gyemant served as a criminal court judge.  She began asking the 19 and 20 year olds

Have you ever had a job?  Have you ever interviewed for a job?  And they would say, ‘no.’

She then had them come back on a weekly basis with job applications, proof of interviews and finally proof of employment.

 In 1995 Gyemant was assigned to a juvenile court where she saw 14 to 16 year olds in court.  After working with many other individuals, she opened a new court called Youth Treatment and Education Court in 1997.  It consisted of drug treatment, academics and weekly meetings among other stipulations.

Finally, in 2000 the school got a permanent home in the yard of an elementary school.  The school has since changed its name to The Youth Treatment and Education Center Academy and accepts teens age 14 to 18 who are on probation.  The goal is to get the students to graduate with skills for employment.

It’s a very comprehensive program,” said Gyemant. “Drug treatment is part of the curriculum, as is socialization and anger control and moral reasoning. The teachers are cross-trained in behavioral techniques, and YTEC provides behavioral counselors who are in every classroom….It’s basically turning kids away from the path to state prison and giving them the education and vocational skills to have good lives.

 This seems like an awesome idea to me.  I feel like teens who have already gone down the path of crime are pushed to the sidelines when it comes to education.    I’m impressed with the improvements in the grades of those students.  I didn’t have a chance to view the school’s website, which is linked in the article, but I wonder if this alternative high school’s English program differs at all from the traditional high school’s?  If the goal is college or vocational skills, is the curriculum structured more around skills employers would look for, such as resumes, typing skills, etc? 

My other question, and maybe this is cynical, shouldn’t “the system” have gotten a hold of these teens before they entered the justice system?  If the goal is to give kids the best possible opportunity and prevent them from leading a life of crime, shouldn’t some sort of prevention implemented in the schools?  I don’t have any answers to my questions or solutions to the problems.  If anyone does, it would put my mind at ease if you could share them.  All I can say is way to go Ms. Gyemant for tackling a problem in your own community.

“Retired juvenile court judge turns focus to treatment, not jail time”  by Shelah Moody

The Chronicle

24 February 2008

Full Article

After doing a post yesterday, I came across another article that caught my attention.  It seems to fit in well with the idea of school districts and states getting on board with alternative options for students in school.

This article came from the Bay City Times in Bay City, Michigan.  The State Board of Education is considering a proposal to allow for five years before graduation for some schools in Michigan.  Right now students who count as “dropouts” are those who don’t finish high school within four years, even if they get their diploma the next year.  This part of the article really caught my attention:

Carolyn C. Wierda, superintendent of the Bay City school district, said she’s pleased with the idea of giving students who need it that extra year. Students sometimes need just a couple of classes or a semester of schooling in order to graduate, she said.

Many kids need only a semester or a few more classes to graduate.  They’re trying to make up for skipping classes, failing or personal long term illness on most occasions.  I personally know someone who did not graduate high school in four years.  He exhibited habitually skipping class for his first three years of high school, but then he got his act together his senior year.  He was only a quarter credit shy of graduating and had to take another semester before receiving his diploma.  Under the current legislation, he would count as a dropout and any other individuals like him would make the graduation rate of the district seem lower that it really is.What’s the big deal you may ask?The way the state counts graduates now artificially lowers schools’ graduation rates, interfering with efforts to make adequate yearly progress, Handeyside said.

Missing adequate yearly progress, the standard by which the government measures how well schools work under No Child Left Behind regulations, can mean sanctions for schools and districts.  

If dropout rates, however they will be figured in the future, are too high, schools could lose accreditation and even funding.  I think the article does have a point and I think I’m in agreement with the district in Bay City.  University students usually take five years to complete a program so why shouldn’t high school students have that chance?

Now don’t get the idea that I’m condoning slacking off and using the system.  I believe in hard work and attaining the skills one needs to be successful in life.  I do think that the extra year for graduation should be approved on a case-by-case basis and that schools shouldn’t have their accreditation and funding put in jeopardy for implementing this program.

In case you’re wondering, the State Board will vote on February 12 and if passed the U.S. Department of Education must approve it.  This will be an interesting story to follow.

“Michigan considering five-year high school plan” by Amy Payne

Bay City Times

28 January 2008

Full article

I picked the topic of alternative high schools for my blog because I know very little about them.  I want to be able to form some sort of opinion from my research so I thought this article was a good jumping off point.A school district in Georgia is looking to implement night school as an alternative punishment for students.  The author interviewed an individual who gave a reason for this program.

Hello, all.  This is my first post and my first blog, so here goes nothing.  Just wanted to give everyone an idea of what this blog will be about.  When thinking of ideas for this blog one thought crossed my mind.  I figured it would be a good topic for ENG 310.  I am going to focus on alternative schools, possibly more on the high school aspect of it     I want to focus on the how English  is taught in these settings to students.

I chose this topic because I’ve had experience with alternative education and adult ed programs.  My boyfriend graduated from the adut ed program at our high school because the schoo counselor missed a quarter credit, which kept him from graduating on time.  He said he really enjoyed the experience of that school, so I want to look at the good and bad of alternative schools.

Right now I have subscribed through RSS to the education sections of the New York Times as well as CNN.   I figure that these are two really big news sources which will give me lots of articles.  Some will just be interesting to rad while other may pertain to my topic.   I have also got feeds coming in from a Google News search on “Alternative high schools.” This has also generated tons of articles for me to sift through.  From that search I subscribed to a blog that has information on teaching and alternative high schools.   I’m not sure if I will keep this blog.  It will depend on if the author writes about my topic.  I may simply add some more blogs to my account.  I’m sure I’ll have an interesting article for y’all soon.