Post-program experience of secondary alternative school students who have returned to a regular school : the student's perspective
Date
1991
Authors
Wassing, Aaltje
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
In this study the experience of former alternative school students during the process of reintegration into a regular high school was examined in order to make recommendations for improvement of services to alternative school students before, during and after reintegration. By means of a telephone interview twenty-seven male and thirteen female former alternative school students were questioned about their (a) reasons for leaving regular school, (b) reasons for returning to regular school, (c) difficulties they had encountered in the regular school, (d) support provided by teachers and counsellors in regular and alternative school, and (e) recommendations for improvement of service. It was found that while a large number of students are referred to alternative programs, few students, in particular few females, return to regular school to complete graduation requirements. Those students who returned felt they had been prepared to return and were successful in completing their programs, but would have benefited from more support from teachers and counsellors in the regular school programs. Students expressed a wish to be treated as individuals by school staff.