I was listening to NPR this morning (big shocker, I know) and a program called 848 came on, which is produced by Chicago Public Radio and focuses on stories about the city. The segment I was listening to in particular was Turnaround School Posts Sharp Drop in Enrollment.
In summary, the story was about a public high school who proactively took steps to shed its problematic students by sending them to other schools and reduced its numbers by 400+ in a formerly 1,200 student body (a number that is somewhat debated in the story, but it's clear that there has been a drastic reduction in students). It's siphoned off the gang bangers to other schools, which has agreed to accept them on the theory that if you get a kid out of their environment, they will do better and be less disruptive (who knows if that theory will hold or not?). And, those other disruptive kids whose friends were placed in other schools will be more prone just to drop out rather than continue going to school.
One of the existing students at this high school commented in the piece that they felt like they were finally able to learn and not having to sidestep the fights involving hundreds of students as in the past. It seems to me that this school, while well-intentioned, basically sacrificed a portion of their student body in order to teach those who are genuinely there to get an education.
What do you think? Is this a good thing? Should we give up on those who don't seem to be interested in their education in order to educate those who want it and yet are under-resourced?
2 comments:
Nick really enjoys listening to 848 (they're on during his commute). I don't get to hear it much but that segment sounds interesting.
I'm torn on what I think about it...b/c I almost feel like by the time you're dealing with those issues in high school the place for solutions was years and years ago for the most part, yk? On the one hand, students who want to learn should be able to learn - they shouldn't have to endure violence in their schools. So I'm glad for them that they're seeing an improved environment.
But on the other hand - those 'problem students' are people too - people created in the image of God whose value and worth is equal to those 'good students' who are there and want to learn. Writing them off altogether doesn't seem like a Christian thing to do.
Have you watched Freedom Writers? It was such an awesome movie, in many ways dealt with this exact issue (and was based on a true story). I cried during parts of it, it was so good. I think its message and story would really resonate with you.
to me it sounds worth a try. moving the other kids to a different environment might help and it definitely seems it will help those who want an education. it's clear that the high school in it's form of 1200 students probably wasn't helping either. you can't help one at the expense of the other, though. hopefully they can find a way to help both, but i think separating them probably is a good start. they should send the gang bangers to the most heavily resourced schools in the city so they can go through special programs, but you know that will never happen!
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