By Molly Piotter
Recently, we passed out a survey to a class of mainstream students. We found out that there are a lot of misconceptions and kids probably don’t know much about Mini-School. This might help clear things up.
Mini-School is actually a program within the school that helps kids with individual learning issues. Mini-School is not an easy way out, it’s for people who have issues with credit, attendance, family, etc. and need more help to graduate, among other things. We do school work just like mainstream students. One of our students says, “I think Mini-School is possibly one of the best programs ever thought of. Without it, I never would have graduated and since I joined three-years-ago, my life has done nothing but prospered.”
At one time we used to get credit for camping, but it wasn’t only camping for fun. Students had to work for service learning project hours and the trips were also good for character building. We could get credit for PE, Health, and Science. We no longer have this as an opportunity.
It is true that some students in Mini-School may have issues with chemical dependency, just like some mainstream students do. But Mini-School is not just a school for students who do drugs. People are often in Mini-School for credit problems, or because they like the small classes and atmosphere. It is also true that some students in Mini-School may have issues with ADD or ADHD, just like some mainstream kids do. But again, it is not a problem with all Mini-School students.
It is also true the people in Mini-School are diverse and have unique issues, but this does not make them abnormal. Kids in mainstream are also diverse and have unique issues. Every student has unique needs and learning styles that simply can’t be addressed in mainstream classes. The alternative for many students is Mini- School. One Mini-School student says, “I think Mini-School is one of the best programs created for this school. Without this program I would not graduate or even be at school this year.”
Students in Mini-School care about grades just like mainstream kids do. If the students in Mini-School didn’t care about school and grades they wouldn’t be in an alternative program changing their grades and coming to school at all.
We work just as hard as Mainstream kids just in an environment that addresses our individual needs. The people are just doing their work at a slower pace and the work is mostly done in class. One Mini-School student points out, “The same things happen in here as in mainstream, we do work and learn the same things that mainstream does and what we don’t finish in class, we take home as homework.”
Most of the kids in Mini-School stay in school the whole day; some may be in school for half the day and are in work programs or are taking classes at local colleges the rest of the time.
Despite the misconceptions out there, the students in the Mini-School program have nothing but good things to say about the program. It has helped each and every student in different ways. Students tell us they like Mini-School because, “Mini-School cares about their students. We are a family. The kids that join find a renewed faith in the school system and teachers…the teachers in the school are there to try and help.” It just may be harder for some students than others to learn within mainstream teaching. But they do have an alternative in Mini-School where the teachers know their individual needs so that they can succeed to the best of their ability.