Square pegs, round holes

Teaching Pre K-8, Oct 1997 by Cook, Jimmie

How can we help children stay in school?

Most teaching today is reminiscent of the essentialist philosophy that has prevailed in this country since the "Old Deluder Satan Act" was implemented in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The act required townships to provide instruction for young people so that they might read the Bible.

Much of the teaching of reading followed what might be labeled the "Alphabetic Approach." The alphabet was taught "A to Zed" and the children were then expected to take that knowledge and be able to pronounce "man." Think about it for a moment - it does not work.

Alive and well. Granted, much has changed, but essentialist thought is still alive and well today. It holds that the teacher is the source of all knowledge; the teacher can "tell" children what they need to know and when they need to know it; and any individual thoughts are not tolerated.

Many children do not function well in such environments. Years ago, they dropped out and took some kind of job that required muscle and that was that. There are fewer "muscle" jobs available today. Jobs now require a certain literacy level and the ability to learn new skills rapidly.

Yet, many children still leave school prior to graduation and larger numbers than ever are expelled or suspended because they do not fit the mold of the traditional classroom.

Three years ago, the School of Education at my university shared a vision with the chancellor and the superintendents of the seven school districts that make up Spartanburg County. We proposed that the University of South Carolina-Spartanburg establish a school for children who had been expelled, suspended or were on the verge of either.

The school districts would pay for admission to this school since they had the funds from the state if the children stayed in an approved school, but lost them if the children were expelled.

There were negative reactions from the faculty of our university initially, but the superintendents accepted the idea. During the following three years, we carefully explained to our faculty the objective of the program and one by one, they began to buy into the idea. The end result: the Faculty Senate approved the concept at a meeting last May without one dissenting vote.

Seven requirements. The University School of Spartanburg County opened last September with 150 students from the seven school districts. A director was employed along with a counselor and 12 faculty members of various disciplines. The school has the following seven requirements:

1. Class size will not exceed 15.

2. Selected staff will know exactly what kind of students they will be teaching - kids who have been or are in trouble.

3. Learning styles will be a focus of staff development.

4. Instruction will be as hands-on as possible.

5. Mentoring will be an important part of the program with every student having an adult as a mentor (community involvement).

6. Block scheduling (90-minute periods) will be utilized with the students starting at 8:30 a.m., staying until 1:25 p.m. and leaving for jobs or back to their home school for transportation home.

7. The period from 2:15-3:45 will have all teachers together in a meeting for the purpose of planning interdisciplinary teaching activities.

Another stipulation is that the instruction will not take place on the school site where the student was I failing in the first place. Many of these districts had tried such plans before without success.

Persistent mistake. We recognize early on the students who are having difficulty functioning in the traditional school environment, yet we persist in keeping them in place, determined to make them fit the "hole." It doesn't work.

Will this work? I cannot answer that, but I can compliment the superintendents, the chancellor and faculty of this university for attempting something "different" to answer a problem.

Your school district needs to be seeking ways to answer its own problem. Expulsion does not solve the problem - it merely assigns it somewhere else, often prison.

I'll be happy to discuss this program with any teacher, principal or superintendent. You may write me at the School of Education, USCS, 800 University Way, Spartanburg, SC 29303, or call me at 864-503-5577.

Jimmie Cook is Dean, School of Education, University of South Carolina at Spartanburg, and a Teaching Editor of Teaching K-8.