Conley-Wilson+Film+Entry+15+Dropout+Nation

Dropout Nation //Watch [|Dropout Nation] (75 minutes) then describe why kids drop out, and how the teachers portrayed in the film try to help. Note that a school featured in the film (Sharpstown) is in Houston... a different part of of the city than the part hemmed in by chemical plants (see the work of [|TEJAS] ), but rough in a different way. Also describe four interventions that you can imagine, at least two involving environmental education . //

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Dropout Nation is a film that focuses on the Sharpstown High School, a school in Houston, Texas that is a part of the Apollo 20 Schools. This school system is an independent network of schools K-12 that work to have a specialized approach to education in a way that tries to provide for at risk students as well as every other student. This film follows four specific students being Marcus, Lawerance Sparkle and Macro. Each of these students have stressful, unstable home lives and families and face various barriers and obstacles they must overcome on top of their school work. Kids dropout of this school for various reasons including: disinterest in school, lack of financial support, no family support, and other circumstances that make school hard or impossible to prioritize.

Out of these four students only one was able to graduate on time at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. Marco, although balancing a 40 hour work week and his mother potentially being deported with his school work, still found the focus and motivation to complete all of his required courses to graduate. Sparkle, Lawerance, and Marcus however were not able to complete high school in that academic year. Sparkle and Lawerace both dropped out of Sharpstown and did not complete high school, at least in the span of the film. Marcus does start attending Sharpstown again, however it is not stated if he graduates. Each of these student are provided with some sort of support from the staff and faculty of this school however some students require more assistance than can be adequately provided for them. These members of the school staff participate in various interventions to these students however I feel as if the follow-up and sometimes the execution of these events were lacking. Four specific interventions I can think of taking for students experiencing difficulties in school specifically from personal life is environmentally based activities, check-in with follow up, access to counselors, and trips outside the school buildings. A type of intervention I could see working for students needing some sort of activity during the day for stress relief and anger management could be to create a schedule that includes both academic and physical work throughout the day. I think instead of just telling some of these kids they just have to wait for the next season to play they could get these students involved with classes and afterschool activities that involve learning and connecting with the outside world. Opening up a garden for all students could have countless health benefits to both the mind and body. Having activities throughout the day will take some of the stress out of school and help them manage their emotions a bit better.

Pulling students aside during the day either in the morning before class, during first period, any study periods, or passing between classes is an effective way to check in with students. Although this is a good check point with students I don’t think it allows for these students to process their feelings completely. Student that journal or externalize their emotions in a more effective way than violence, can focus on school as opposed to ruminating over aspects of home life. Informing students of what the school can provide them along with outside resources could help the student develop personally and academically as well. I believe many of these student did not have access to counselors that specialize in diagnosing and therapeutic measures to help with mental illness or stress management. An intervention with trusted teachers or staff and an expert in counseling could benefit the students and staff. I believe if this school had a handful of counselors who were responsible for keeping track of the students and their well-being the interventions to get these students on track would have a massive impact on their future academic performances. Although this school ended up being the highest performing HISD School, there was lots of improvements that could have been done on maintaining and connecting with students who were at risk.

Getting students outside of the building could be an effective intervention method as well. Just allowing students to calm down and take a walk outside could be beneficial to student because they could not only think about other things but develop appreciation of their atmosphere. I think this could be most effective if these students are accompanied by a trusted adult in a safe space. This could be good if it was a field trip to a space unique to the student. If the school does not have the budget for field trips, sending the student on nature trips to document nature for some sort of elective like Photography class could benefit student and the resources around the school.

Although these tactics could be really useful, their success depends on the general environment of the school, the location, and other assets the school has (for example grounds to explore, number of staff members).