|
Alternate School Students Need to Interact
By Joe Cadrain, Winsted
There are many different issues concerning Winchester’s Alternate High School, which need to be clarified by the parties involved. In my view students at our alternate high school are isolated from other students in their age group, which denies them the chance to take advantage of opportunities that so-called regular high schools provide. I feel we need to close our alternate high school next year and move these students to a school where they can interact with all students in their peer group, and not be isolated by keeping them confined in a stand-alone box-like atmosphere.
For the moment let us put aside purely educational opportunities and focus on the social reasons that all high school students could benefit from being at the same location. First, this is what real life consists of—a mixture of the races with different religious beliefs and different physical and mental abilities. This is true in the places we work, the area we live in, and those places we travel to. I find it amazing how much one can learn from others when you are able to socialize with them. Remember, our alternate high school students are not mentality or physically handicapped; therefore they can participate in sports and social events as well as other high school students can.
Most school systems do not have stand-alone buildings for students who need different atmospheres and methods of teaching to provide them with an education equal to their abilities. I am not suggesting that all students should be educated in the same classrooms, but I believe that having access to the same social climate is a plus for understanding one another. Simple things such as eating in the same cafeteria, being able to try out for sports, and being able to attend social events should provide an education on life.
We need to change how and where we educate students who are being isolated in stand-alone schools. The answer for us could be Gilbert School or Regional School #7, both located in Winsted. The idea of building a new stand-alone alternate high school would be a costly experience, especially if a previous plan was adopted. I believe that if we decide to build a new alternate high school, we should consider a new school that would house all our high school students. The cost of a school for all our students compared to that of a new alternate high school could possibly surprise us.
As a local Board of Education member, I agree with our Connecticut Board of Education policy that students should be educated together to the maximum extent appropriate. Have a nice day.
| 
