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Monday, Dec. 24, 2012 | 2 a.m.
When Aarik and Aalik Poeling were in high school, their future could’ve ended at any moment. The 18-year-old identical twins lived lives of fast money and drugs. Aalik Poeling fell into the clutches of drugs at 14 years old and became addicted to methamphetamine. He’d go to school for a week, maybe a month, until he either was suspended or stopped going because he couldn’t get high when he wanted. He ran with a gang — a clique of friends. He stole, sold drugs and ripped people off; he was shot at, watched friends die from overdose and saw another ...
Good for you, boys! Keep it up! Your story may just inspire other young people to get back in school.
Also, thank you, to the educators that are changing lives.
Why did they not receive the proper education the first time around? Because the public school system is an abject failure set up to indoctrinate rather than to educate. It's become a political tool, not an educational center. It's main purpose has become protecting the worst teachers and filling the union's coffers so it can spread its Socialist agenda. The public school system should be scrapped and replaced by charter chools which would put competition in a system that badly needs it. Parents should control how and where their children are educated - not some pencil-pushing bureaucratic drone.
If you became involved with the teachers you would change your opinion. All teachers are not lazy and incompetent. Most are dedicated to educating your children. We have all asked the same question these last few weeks- What would we do to protect our students? The answer is pretty much the same-anything and everything. Teaching requires the same passion.
You could take that strong opinion and turn it around. Get involved rather than walk away.
The alternative education facility, Desert Rose High School, provides a path towards completing high school for those who were UNable to do so, those who struggled with appropriately functioning within the traditional educational setting. As one shoe size does not fit all people, so it is with the delivery system of education.
Students who have problems with attending a traditional, regular education school site, might succeed at an alternative education school. The majority of students who enroll at an alternative school, have had major challenges in their life that impeded their ability to learn in a regular education classroom environment. They become disengaged, and are disconnected with not only learning, but living a functional life. Most always, there are underlying problems: lack of parental support, homelessness, medical issues, psychiatric/mental health issues, behavioral issues, instability in their lives and at home. It's a mighty long list.
The important thing is, that those who decided to attend an alternative school to finish their high school education, have RESOLVE to do so. The reasons can be one or many, but they realized their lives were not the best they could be without finishing high school. Now they have the resolve and opportunity, and will dedicate their efforts, to complete their educational program and glow with pride over this fact for the rest of their lives.
Few places have such dedicated, skilled, compassionate, and flexible educators as does alternative education. It is our educational social safety net, and continues to be needed in today's world. A heartfelt THANK YOU, to all who work diligently on behalf of those reaching out to realize their academic success and achievement. You are truly golden!
Blessings and Peace,
Star
lvfacts101: it appears from your comments you were just laying in wait to post something disparaging about public schools and teachers.
Please explain, then, how a charter school would do better in dealing with this: "Aalik Poeling fell into the clutches of drugs at 14 years old and became addicted to methamphetamine. He'd go to school for a week, maybe a month, until he either was suspended or stopped going because he couldn't get high when he wanted."
You can't explain it, because a charter could do no better with a meth-addicted child skipping school than a public school can. There is one difference though: a charter school could, and probably would, have refused to enroll him in the first place, or would have kicked him out permanently very soon after he enrolled. But the bottom line is the same, he would not have received an education, due to is OWN choices.
Another point: the adult schools in this article -- where these young men ARE receiving an education -- are also, you guessed it, public schools.
But God forbid we should spend our precious public funds on helping living breathing human beings to make a better life for themselves. Better we should wallow in ideologically-driven hate for public schools and public teachers, because that is such a useful response. Yep.
Comment removed by moderator. Inappropriate
"I had a lot of friends die over stupid stuff." Sounds like a student willing to try--now that he has an idea of what real life is like. Mr. Henry and students could make some fantastic videos for use throughout K-12, perhaps focusing on how no graduation limits your options. Concentrate on do the job of K-12--graduates who can read, write and calculate. Those destined for higher ed will focus on AP and the tougher electives unless they have no idea what higher ed entails.
Jerry 5:21: I do not disagree. If CCSD and teachers haven't figured out yet, your proposal will happen, soon. We are just amazed that they continue to try to sell the same old mantra of more money for their caring and knowing "leadership". They have NOT DELIVERED even mediocre results but think we're listening to the diatribe. Modest improvement in graduation rates in the last year or two can be explained by correcting the number crunching--not ANY improvement in K-12 performance. More and more students are opting out and into home schools, charter schools, parochial schools--anywhere they have a modest chance of success. Our tax dollars need to follow this trend since the options have much better results than public K-12. We've lost too many students/people to difficult lives without the ability to read, write, calculate, get / keep a job. Since CCSD results have been about 50% (graduation rate), let's put 50% of K-12 funding into adult ed.
Congrats are in order for those 2 young men. Congrats are in order for Desert Rose. Keep fighting the good fight.
Aalik and Aarik are my son's and I have had so much trouble with the school system but this school is the one that has given them hope. They are actually learning plus they are given lots of options to think about. The teachers are not just going through the motions, they make going to school for my boys something they look forward to. You try to teach your children to do the right things but some kids are going to do things the hard way and as a mom it is heartbreaking. I am so happy with the progress the boys are making and I think Desert Rose High School has made a impact on their life's. I am just saying as a mom this school is helping them to graduate and have self-confidence in their abilities. Thank you Desert Rose High School you are making a difference in our family and we are grateful.