Wandering Students Part 3- Counselor’s Perspective
Matthew Ramirez and Matthew Barrera, Staff Writers
Previously in our articles, we discussed students bringing up issues of their counselors. When we were interviewing these students, they discussed with us how they often felt as if their counselors were pushing them aside or not valuing their voice when discussing their schedules.
So, we decided to give a chance to our Counselor’s to tell their side of the story. I interviewed one of our lovely counselors here at FOHI- Mrs. Monk.
Mrs. Monk first explained to us her process for talking to students about their schedules. She explained that she first brings up the student’s transcript. She looks over and discusses their transcript with the students.
If they have failed or are struggling in certain classes, she goes over different options the student has to fix it. Mrs. Monk even shows students a “digital four-year plan” for them so that they are more prepared.
She said, “I ask them if there are any AP classes that they’re interested in… and if they struggled academically, we'll talk about what the expectations are, and I will ask them if they're ready to make that commitment. If you're ready to put in that time, work, and effort then we’ll go from there.”
Mrs. Monk also pointed out how each student is different. She does not forcefully push AP onto every student but rather provides a full list of the courses that are available to that student including AP courses.
Mrs. Monk also brought up a point that when students come wanting a schedule change in the middle of the year: “It’s difficult when “99% of our classes are year-long classes.” Giving in to what the student initially wishes for may cause a dramatic shift in their schedule that may be difficult to fix. This change in their schedule in the middle of the year may even cause these students to have to attend summer school to complete their classes.
When asked about how many wandering students did not like the classes they were ditching, she responded that she, “feel[s] like the majority of our teachers are engaging and so if students give it even a bit of a chance, they'll find something that they can connect with.” The reason these students wander could be because they are not giving their class another chance after the start of the year.
The first few weeks of school in new classes set impressions on students on how that class will be for the rest of the year. So, if some students did not necessarily like a certain class in the beginning, this could lead them to ditch that class period often. Classes always fluctuate and change with the students as the school year goes on.
If these wandering students never gave these classes a second chance, they would never be able to connect to them. It may not be a problem of a set class schedule, but maybe a problem of student’s desire to even try.
We’ve heard voices all over our campus on this issue. Although this issue will continue to occur throughout many high schools including FOHI, it is still good to recognize the problems that surround us.
Just because a group of students we do not know are the ones ditching, does not make it any less of our problem, and by “we” I am talking about every student and staff member on this campus. It is our job to listen to each of our voices and let each other be heard; it is our job to be aware of the issues all of us face every day in school.