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Justin C and Big Picture H.S. principal Jeff Petty |
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Justin C. is a soft spoken 9th
grader in the Highline School District. I worked extensively
with Justin during the 2004-2005 school year. Justin had had
poor attendance for a couple of years, but he could not word out
why. Sylvester Middle School staff worked very hard at providing
the services Justin needed, but could not tell whether or not
they made a difference. When asked why he did not come to
school, Justin usually said he did not know. Justin gave the
impression of being removed from the educational process and was
considered to be at high risk of dropping out.
Things are quite different this year. Justin is doing very well
now. I was curious to see what made him change his mind about
education. I visited Justin at his high school and interviewed
him. I asked him if he could remember why he stopped attending
in Middle School and if he could recall any particular time when
things started to change for him. Justin told me he did not like
the way some of his classmates were talking in class, back in
7th grade. They were impolite and made him feel different. He
thought he did not belong, so he started staying home instead of
coming to school. Justin told me he did not think about what his
behavior meant for his future, he actually did not think about
his future at all. Staying home from school became a habit. He
just did nothing.
Justin was petitioned and he and his mother attended a truancy
workshop. However, he still did not attend. Justin appeared in
court for his preliminary in March of 2005. He listened closely
to Commissioner Bradburn-Johnson when she explained to him what
it meant for a youth to be under court supervision, and what
sanctions the Court could impose on students who persisted on
being truant. Justin now says that the possibility of detention
was what convinced him to go back to school. He still did not
like school, did not really want to go, but he knew for sure he
did not want to go to jail. So he came back to school and
started attending very well. He was still far behind and only
passed a couple of his 8th Grade classes. He just did not like
it. However, his counselor thought there was hope for Justin,
who at least was there, and referred him to Big Picture High
School, a brand new alternative program in the District. Justin
remembers very well his interview with Jeff Petty, Big Picture
High School Principal. He found himself to be interested and
hopeful he would be accepted. That was a brand new feeling for
Justin, and he liked it. Justin did get in. This is what
Justin’s principal says about him: “Justin is a star, he is here
all the time and doing excellent work. Justin is more socially
involved in terms of speaking up during discussions, he has even
organized events involving other students. He is a central part
of a group of friends in his advisory. His presentation skills
have improved. His last exhibition was quite strong. He is
focused and works hard”.
The biggest difference I saw in Justin is that he now has some
perspective in life. Not only can he explain to himself and to
me why he did not like school in years past, but he can also see
himself several years down the line. Justin knows he will
graduate from High School and attend college. He is interested
in the technical aspect of music production, and is looking for
an internship, as part of his Big Picture program.
I am grateful for the truancy process. I believe a mix of
services and firm boundaries does help young people like Justin
find their way.
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