Four years ago I wrote that many of our struggling schools needed full time social workers and counselors because so often why kids do poorly in school has nothing to do with school; that we had to take a holistic approach to education.
Fast forward to today when the district announced that next year Jackson high will have a social worker and two case managers.
That is a nice first step; though there are so many other things we could be doing too, that would make Jackson and other schools better and changing the schedule is where I believe we should start. The A/B block allows for to much time in between classes, ninety minutes is to long and seven or eight classes is to many. Plus kids should always have at least one elective that they chose on their schedule so they have a safe spot. We can’t make school such drudgery for kids and then wonder why they do poorly.
You throw in student accountability, an end to grade recovery and a return of discipline and treating teachers with respect, like valued colleagues rather than easily replaceable cogs and we will really be cooking with gas.
I wonder where we would be if they had listened to me four years ago.
Chris Guerrieri
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