My Trip to Les Peters Academy

It is November19th. 2013 and the school of observance is Les Peter Academy. It is a 24-bed program for boy’s, who are in need of comprehensive mental health services. Les Peters an alternative school for at risk student’s offering nontraditional education to those that cannot meet the standards in a regular, special education or vocational school. Les Peters is a Type 3 program that offers English, Math, Science, Language Arts/ Reading, P.E. and vocational training; such as, culinary and auto. Les Peters also prepares students acquiring their GED. Though Les Peters Academy is nontraditional, the school offers everything of a traditional school and trade school, preparing students to be transitioned from the Tampa Residential Facility. The length of stay is 6 to 12 months, from the time the students are admitted to the Tampa Residential Facility until released from Les Peters Academy. There are others schools connected to Les Peters helping students who have been incarcerated which goes by levels. The levels range from 2 to 10, depending on the severity of the crime. The higher the level, the higher the incarnation program. 

I found Les Peters to be a second (even third) chance for students in obtaining an education and becoming modeled students. Just like Bower-Whitley these are students who maybe experiencing damaging ways of life, finding it difficult to cope with and end up expressing their feelings in a negative manner. These students may feel they are not worthy because they cannot comprehend certain curriculum, lacking behind their peers. With such negative outburst, feedback and surroundings students tend to drop out of school, causing criminal mischief. The majority of  students may possibly be diagnosed with learning disabilities that prevent them from earning a well deserve education, like SLD (Specific Learning Disabilities) or EBD (Emotional/Behavioral Disorder).  

I am glad that there are schools that give such students the opportunity to change their way of thinking and provide them with the tools they need in doing better. As a future educator, my goal is to help at-risk students overcome obstacles that may be viewed as a hindrance. What these students need is lots of love and support. One way is by allowing at-risk students to view something different other what they are opposed to. Another way is making sure students know having a disability does not control their lives, but they can control their disability.