Posted on 12/26/2007 8:38:52 PM PST by Amelia
THE PROBLEM When Andrew Coburn, a teacher at the Met High Schools in Providence, R.I., met his new ninth grader, a Cambodian immigrant, she spoke fluent English but read at a third-grade level. Her slender frame seemed to radiate depression. School, Mr. Coburn thought, seemed a place she wanted to get away from as soon as she could. Even if she lasted for four years of high school, she would have nine years of academic ground to cover. But first the teacher needed to get her to stay in school.
THE SOLUTION Mr. Coburn, who has taught for eight years at the Met, a network of six small public high schools that serve primarily a low-income and minority population, said many of the students lack academic skills, and just as many hate school. But figuring out how to help has to be tackled student by student.
[snip]
The Met schools encourage strong relationships between teachers and students, on the theory that these can help underachieving students succeed. Mr. Coburn, like all the teachers, has the same students from ninth grade until graduation.
[snip]
“At some point, when nothing was changing,” he said, “I knew I had to do more to connect to her. I discussed it with the other teachers. Together we decided I’d have to cover her with love. I started to talk to her in the evenings. I talked to her like I was a teenage girl — 11 at night on the phone I was like: ‘Your aunt said that to you? She did what?’ I had to build trust with her.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I thought y’all might enjoy this story of a public school teacher who is very concerned about his at-risk students.
While reading the story, I had to wonder if the man doesn’t put himself at risk for the type of accusations we read about each day by becoming so involved with his students.
If a male teacher started calling a teenage girl of mine at 11 at night, it would be time to test the limits of the wiretap laws.
Even if his intentions are pure, his actions could be taken the wrong way by a lonely, depressed teenaged girl. This was probably not the wisest course of action and could have easily backfired.
He has the right idea, but this sort of thing would be far better handled by a female teacher.
We've gone far beyond that. Those who work with children, be they teachers, scout leaders, sports coaches, etc. could find themselves in hot water just for putting their arm around a child. All because of the small minority of predators among us.
This teacher talks on the phone to his student while his wife sits nearby. He and his wife could talk to this student's parent to explain his efforts to help her, and ask that parent to be present during any phone conversation.
Believing the teacher is sincere, he can avoid suspicions on both sides---or walk away from the student.
Unfortunately, same-sex is no guarantee of "pure intentions" or lack of "taking things the wrong way". The only way to do it (IMO) is to make sure all contact is observed or monitored (e.g. chaperoned by someone in a position of equal or higher responsibility). Sex of the teacher vs. student doesn't go far enough these days.
Sadly, too true.
I liked it that his wife was there, family man. But if that were my kid, I would NOT want some teacher calling her at 11. I think it is odd.
We've been told to never touch a student, and not to be in a closed room with only one student. Usually not a problem, although there have been times I've had students making up work when the halls were noisy and it would be better for that student's concentration to close the door...
This teacher talks on the phone to his student while his wife sits nearby. He and his wife could talk to this student's parent to explain his efforts to help her, and ask that parent to be present during any phone conversation.
Part of the article explained that the girl was fatherless, and her mother "wasn't really mother material" and essentially left this girl and a sister to raise the younger siblings, so she might not have been concerned at all.
I was glad that the teacher cared enough to rescue this student but rather disturbed at the lengths he had to go to do it. Of course, 50 years ago, teachers made home visits...
Thanks for posting this. I have on more than one occasion taken a bawling 15 yo in the hall because their bf broke up with them and they are just heartbroken.
Kudos to the teacher for taking the extra step. It is nice to see teachers doing this sort of thing, it pains me, otoh, that some will never see anything positive in anything that a teacher tries to do to reach a student.
gustibus? Wind?
Yes, I posted this because it was a positive article about public education, but I see there's very little interest in that...
Considering the amount of vitriol thrown around this website claiming NOTHING is good/positive about public schools, I would venture many folks prefer not to be attacked for supporting such examples.
I actually find it amazing that the MSM so rarely prints/shows the positives coming from public schools and emphasizes only the negatives. It makes no sense as it plays right into the hands of people they detest and seek to belittle at every turn.
Aw, c’mon. Just ‘cause they think college profs are not qualified to teach HS, who could have a problem with that?
Over the past couple of months, I've actually seen a number of positive stories from schools in this area, including classes and schools collecting food & presents for the underpriviledged and packing holiday boxes for deployed soldiers. I should have posted some of those.
I think I will make it a point to look for positive articles about our local schools and post them here...I don't know how much interest there will be.
More than you know. ;)
I’ll ping them...
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