It seems Bowers/Whitley Career Center is more than just a school. It is a second chance for students to better themselves despite family issues, community problems and learning disabilities.
It is October 22nd, 2013 and I have just arrived at Bowers/ Whitley Career Center. Their aim is to provide quality performance based career planning programs and training facilities for at-risk students. The school is well exemplified by the Principal, Mr. Anthony Colucci. He goes on explaining, in detail how the school works and differs from regular high schools. In his introduction he states that career centers provide a different way for students to earn a high school diploma. Any pupil who is at least 16 years of age or older, who is at least one grade level behind in school and who does not have a history of severe behavioral problems may apply. The interesting part is if the student is accepted at the age of 16 and is not able to complete grade level he/she is bumped up to the 11th grade, depending on their FCAT scores. What makes Bowers/Whitley different from other high schools is that they eliminated the 2.0 G.P.A, the standard diploma, and the 24 credits earned, as explained in Mr. Colucci's presentation. What the students earn is a performance based high school diploma, which does not get them into college or the armed forces, but does allow students to attend community college, as would a G.E.D. Career programs provided are Building Construction Technology, Culinary Operations, Digital Design and Early Childhood Education, just to name a few. After are brief introduction with Mr. Colucci and selected staff, the practicum class are split up into groups, by colored wrist bands provide upon arrival and observe the different classes as scheduled.
We begin our tour by observing Mr. Alexander's class who teaches auto mechanics, where the students wear red shirts. From my perspective, in each career program the students wear different colored shirts to give them a sense of individualism and to differentiate the classes. Each class is observed for approximately 15 minutes, giving the group and I barely enough time to write notes, but enough time to visit various other career programs. Though our observation is short Mr. Alexander is a teacher who gives his students tough love by being stern and to the point.
The class observed next is Mrs. Simpsons reading class. It is to my understanding that though the students have been accepted at Bowers/Whitley, before they can be placed in the appropriate grade curriculum, the students must pass the FCAT and GED testing. Mrs. Simpsons class helps the students prepare for such task.
Mr. Hess teaches marketing. He utilizes the group and I to help teach his students about product and sells. Written on the bulletin board are three types of soft drinks - Pepsi, Coke, and other. Two members of the group are asked to conduct a taste test. Both members appear to be drinking Coke instead of what they believed they were drinking. The result of this test is to ensure the product and provide the marketer valuable information from the customers response.
The 4th class being observed is Mrs. Brown, who teaches gaming. On this day the students conduct a power-point, where they must talk about themselves giving brief information and in addition, add photos. The last three classes visited were Mrs. Maye teaching administrations, Mrs. Brooks teaching nursing and Mrs. Hatfield teaching fashion design.
The majority of these students go through family issues, not knowing how to resolve or get through the problem(s) presented. These students grow up in low poverty areas, not knowing they can change the outcome of their living situation. These students may also have some sort of learning and/or behavioral disability that makes them feel unworthy in the eyes of other non-disabled. I found Bowers/Whitley Career center to be interesting in a way that assists students through troubled times, giving them other alternatives and making good choices.
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