The students
My students would call themselves many things before they would call themselves students. Often they have been out of the classroom more than in it over the last two years. Inevitably, they are behind in credits and in their skill levels, especially with math and reading. The greatest number of my students' scores on last year's end-of-year Lexile test fell in the 2-4 th grade range. In the course of our shared experience, I've learned that many do not have some basic skills that we take for granted, like reading a clock or a map. Their lives, at least temporarily, have been defined by other experiences and situations, especially those that come out of generational poverty, physical and mental trauma, criminal behaviors, and substance abuse. Many have full time jobs, children, or generally difficult existences. Attendance and family involvement, consequently, are a challenge them. They tend to be between fifteen and twenty, but we usually have a few as young as thirteen and fourteen. Last year about 85 percent were Black, and about 85 percent were male. Their living situations are often non-traditional and inadequate. All of our students are involved in the juvenile justice system and are there because their probation counselor, their guardian, and our director think it is the right place for them.
Comments: