Conflicted...
Student schedule's are getting finalized this week, so I took a sneak peek to see the schedule for one of my students. This is a kid who I had his freshman year, he came to be when he wanted to get help getting clean from his drug issues, we talked about his depression issues, needless to say, we've got history. Due to all sorts of problems, he's a year behind in history and English, the two classes he must have 4 years of to graduate. His schedule this year has him with two teachers in those subject areas that I think will be a horrendous match. The one man is very conservative, and has little patience with most students, the other history teacher has been teaching for 33 years, and is very set in his ways, lectures the entire class period, and I'm sure won't care if this student skips every day. I love this kid, I know he's really tough. I know he needs a teacher who can ride his ass and yet, help to make sure he doesn't shut down.
On the one hand, I am highly tempted to go to his guidance counselor and facilitate a switch into classes with teachers that would be better suited to helping him. On the flip side, as one teacher pointed out, I'm making assumptions that he will automatically do poorly with these two other teachers, and I'm helping him out in a way that he won't get out in the real world.
I just don't know what to do. I want him to graduate, above all students I've taught, I want that for him. Yes his life will still be incredibly difficult, but I just feel like it's an accomplishment he can achieve and should achieve, he just needs help to do it. On the other hand..I see the point of interfering too much in the situation. I'm feeling sort of stuck.
Do I try to help the kid...knowing it might not work out, but at least I did what I could for him? Or do I let the situation play out.
On the one hand, I am highly tempted to go to his guidance counselor and facilitate a switch into classes with teachers that would be better suited to helping him. On the flip side, as one teacher pointed out, I'm making assumptions that he will automatically do poorly with these two other teachers, and I'm helping him out in a way that he won't get out in the real world.
I just don't know what to do. I want him to graduate, above all students I've taught, I want that for him. Yes his life will still be incredibly difficult, but I just feel like it's an accomplishment he can achieve and should achieve, he just needs help to do it. On the other hand..I see the point of interfering too much in the situation. I'm feeling sort of stuck.
Do I try to help the kid...knowing it might not work out, but at least I did what I could for him? Or do I let the situation play out.