@qualitygalAs one would expect, in most cases, the students who respect education and come from more functional homes will cut off the devices and study. Often, the atheletes are more driven because the coaches put pressure on the students to keep up their grades. Occasionally, I'd have a athlete who preferred to "play" and wouldn't join the program. They quickly learned all the coaches know the teachers, as well as teach in some cases, and they'd be on task.
There is a problem with working students. High school has, in many cases become almost a "mini college" and some courses earn college credit. Many times I have had students tell me they "closed" a fast food resturant at 2am! Our bell was 8:00 am. These students were supporting a car in many cases. The buses drove for an hour from the school, and it was horrible to have to ride them.
In some cases, they were from dysfunctional families with no support, unable to study because because there was a movie or show they wanted to see. The parent (s) provide no structure. Some parents do drugs with the children.
Some students can't get up because of depression, or being ADD, or other health issues and sometime their meds that are really necessary.
I have seen a different hour structure work. Our county started an "Early College" (10:00 am.) for those kids that just couldn't deal with traditional colleges. Classes of ten are held on the campus of
our technical college. They have high intensity courses, and can take a college course a semester free of charge. A lot of students like driving themselves there, they don't deal with some of the immaturity and negative aspects that teachers deal with in high school. They graduate, finich up at the tech college and go into CNA training, paralegal training, in some cases the milatary.
It does work and I know other states have looked at this program.
I taught in a high school of 1400. I was in charge if one of the main committees for Southern Association Of Colleges. and I was one of the ten on the Principal's Stearing Committee. I turned down the Hearing Committee, although, the students wanted me on it. I was just too close to the students and so many of them did well for me.
I have worked with students with issues. I had a young man who just wasn't "connecting" with anyone but me and I had met the parent and we had spoken at length. He did well in my courses, but he just had no drive anywhere else. I suggested to the principal and his parent that we make him my assistant since he liked more responsibility. Being my aide was the "carrot" to meet the requirements of the other classes. I told him I badly need some help and he could assist me as long as he passed everything else. When I had nothing for him to do, I expected him to study. We had just started this and he was out for several days and I called his mother. He just wouldn't "get up". Since I was about to have my planning period, I asked her if I might come over. She was happy to give me a chance. I told him that I couldn't believe after I made promises to his teachers, the principal, and my work was piling up because I had no help, that he could actually do that to himself, his parents, and me. We talked about fifteen minutes, he showered, and I took him to school. He was my assistant for another year.
His mother invited me to his graduation dinner, and I went with her when he was sworn into the army She constantly sent me pictures and they were all over my office.
She, herself, went back to school and became a teacher~!
One time I had a student that was living in a car with his little sister and grandmother, which I took to guidance.
I have been signed into treatment facilities as a family member to be with students.
I LOVED teaching. I got out because it looked like the state was going to make us pay for half of our health insurance, but if I left while it was being paid, I wouldn't lose mine.
You might want to ask Lola and some of the other posters who are teachers and have seen it from the inside.
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