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NOT EVERY high schoo! drop out is destined to a life of lower wages and lower self-esteem.

Schools that offer an alternate way of studying used to be treated like babysitting services where students might obtain the skills necessary to gain low-level employment.

Bul today’s alternate schools contain rnany articulate stu- dents who are aiming for a high school diploma.

Both North Shore schoo! districts have alternate schools catering to studenis who, for a variety of reasons, were un- able to be successful in the Mainstream schools.

The Keith Lynn Alternate Sec- ondary School (KLASS) in North Vancouver and the Sentine! Work Activity Programmes (SWAP) in West Vancouver take students from their respective school districts, while the Youth Learn- ing Centre (YLC) in Norih Van- couver operates through North Shore Continuing Education.

The people attending these schools vary from those who may not graduate, out are gaining some employment skills, to some that are on an accel- erated acamedic course of studies or are planning to return to a mainstream school.

One student tound himself in the Youth Learning Centre after being kicked out of severa!

schools, but he is now on the Carson Graham Secondary School honor roll, said Jay Merilees, secondary school area counselior for the North

Vancouver School District.

“Some students just need time out of the system.”

That can become a question of priorities — if a student is hungry because he or she lives in a poor family, or there is a break-up, a death or an illness within the family, school becomes much less irnporiant.

At times like these, Merilees may even counsel a student to drop out for a short time, rather than seeing their interest in schoo! deteriorate until they drop out on their own with no in- tantion of coming back.

“We lose the short term to gain the long term.”

Alternate schools are part of the solution to the drop-out problem because many of the students in them have no inter- est in going back into a “reguiar school,” even though they are motivated to graduate.

Typical of these programs is that students work at their own level and speed, and they at- fend classes for only half the

day.

Secondary Setiars goes over school work with Gc student attending what §s said fo be one of the best allemate programs in

Students at the alternate schools learn that homework is often not mandatory and that they can negotiate studies and

STUDENTS AT aiternate schools say they appreciate the indi- vidual aitention they get, as well as the feeling that they are respected by their ieachers.

“A lot of adults have the feel- ing that kids are out of school because they‘re dumb,” said Youth Learning Centre (VLC) feacher Lynda Woodhead...

But these students are ceriain- ly not unintelligent, and most are independent and crective.

“In other schools, you are one in 4,500, it’s like you're not even there,” said Jennifer, who said she had not really been attend- ing classes for three years prior to dropping out, then took a year off, and now attends classes at the YLC.

Learning disabilities or per- sonal problems can often get in the way of school work, but the individual study programs at the alternate schools mean the stu- dents won't miss anything — they will just take longer fo complete the work.

“In regular high school, the feacher was the enemy. They couldn't undersiaind how | felt,” said Jennifer.

Teachers in alternate schools have fewer students fo deal with and can take the time to give them more individual at- tention or talk about personal problems, said Woodhead.

work loads — they also learn that they are the only person who benefits or is hurt by the amount of work they do or do

.

The students also see the alternate schoo's as their last

hope. _ “This is your last chance to get - a diploma, without it youcan't get jobs. | just don't want to be working at McDenaid’s all my life,” said YLC student Yusuf.

Jchn Blaine at the Sentinel Work Activity Programme (SWAP) pointed out thatalfernate school students are offen mak-

_ ing adult decisions In their per- sonal lives.

“The mainstream is always felling them what to do. i's like working for an employer that is always looking over your shoulder “

Vanessa is going back to a mainstream secondary schoo! to finish her Grade 12 because - : : there are some courses that aren't offered at SWAP. 3ut she said, “regular schools are too big.”

Jennifer said she feels more productive at SWAP. “I felt that! had baiier things to do” than attending ciass at a mainstream school, “i liked the social part of it too much.”

The alternate school system has also forced these students to take more responsibility for their future.