There have been many surprises in my new job working in an Outreach School. As a quick explanation, Outreach Schools were brought into the province of Alberta in order to provide a way for students who have not been successful in traditional, classroom based schools, an opportunity to complete their high school graduation requirements. There are many reasons why a student would choose to enroll in my school. Any time a new student sits down for his first day of work it never takes long for some one to ask, “Why are you here?”
Interestingly, no one has asked me that question yet. (But that is another discussion.)
Most of the students have had very limited academic success. At my school they find hope as they work through their courses and realize that they are capable. Despite this success during the year, I fully expected the students to suffer high anxiety at test time. Yesterday, at the first diploma exam of the year, the anxiety was high but it was of a very different sort.
It wasn’t the anxiety of understanding the questions. The students formulated and planned their essays. They didn’t draw blanks. The anxiety for most of these students came from having to sit through a two – three hour exam.
“Derek, you need to take up smoking to understand,” one student begged. Their only real question was how were they to be expected to be expected to write an exam without a smoke break.
The students were correct, I don’t understand what it’s like to face an addiction as strong as cigarettes or nicotine. I don’t find myself planning my day’s activities around a habit that absolutely must be carried out. While I do stop at Tim Horton’s when I have the chance, I’ve driven by many even though a coffee would make things just a bit better.
And, so I am beginning to realize the struggles many of my students face. I want them to take school seriously, to come on time, make their time commitments, and do their work. I want them to learn. It’s not that they don’t want to learn but many of them have other things that are simply just more important. I am also seeing that addiction is just one barrier. In that exam room there were students who could do without the smoke break but couldn’t focus long enough because their mental health issues were not being looked after or that they refused to take their medication. Another student may be more worried about what happens after school at home. If he decided to go home. These all have the same purpose. They keep a person from moving the South in the learning cycle. The intention, the motivation, the interest of the Southeast may be present.
So, my colleagues and I keep trying to find ways to help them be successful. A glass of juice may help during an exam. Perhaps to our box of pencils, erasers, and calculators we need to add nicotine patches.
