Care Matters: Student Perspectives of Mental Health Determinants in an Alternative High School

Public alternative schools in the United States are multifaceted educational entities that often serve students marginalized from traditional spaces, yet little research exists highlighting the perceptions of alternative school students regarding mental health–promoting school practices. In this qualitative study, the voices of seven alternative high school students (four female and three male) are presented through the use of a targeted focus group. The following two research questions guided this study: What aspects of the public alternative school environment do students perceive to facilitate their mental health? What aspects of public alternative school environments do students perceive as barriers to mental health? Using qualitative descriptive methods, findings suggested that for these students the alternative school is a unique institution, designed for them, in which they can thrive due to the caring nature of the professionals they encounter. Implications for practitioners dedicated to producing mental health–promoting, inclusive school spaces for marginalized youth are presented.

“I Hope I Make It”: Alternative School Students’ Attendance and the Need for an Expanded Accountability

Few empirical studies describe the interior world of alternative school settings. We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 11 alternative school students, discussing factors that contribute to absenteeism as well as the circumstances that led them to enroll in an alternative setting. We find that students’ regular attendance is facilitated by (1) stable housing, (2) a means of transportation to school, (3) feelings of belonging, and (4) flexible supports from staff. Given that two of these pertain to matters beyond the school, we argue for an “expanded accountability,” in which the language of “accountability” is broadened to encompass non-educational policymaking.

Implikasi Pedagogi Paulo Freire dan Antonia Harder Terhadap Tindak Pidana Perdagangan Manusia di Nusa Tenggara Timur

Current research on human trafficking in the Christian Evangelical Church in Timor (GMIT) does not currently involve an educational approach to analyze the problem. So, the aim of this article is to contribute ideas about the pattern of contextual education for GMIT in countering human trafficking cases in East Nusa Tenggara. This study is based on a literature study comparing the critical pedagogy of Paulo Freire and Antonia Harder. After that, the authors uses this pedagogy to analyze the praxis of the mission of the Christian Evangelical Church in Timor and the contextual education practices of an alternative school named Lakoat.Kujawas. Through the mission and education dialogue, the authors see that the resistance base of GMIT has not involved culture and nature as a basis for resistance. Through the critical pedagogical analysis of Freire and Antonia Harder, the author shows the relevance of Lakoat.Kujawas’s liberation pedagogy and contextual education model for the resistance process undertaken by GMIT. Finally, this research is limited to the exploration of critical pedagogy for cases of human trafficking and not involve further politic of education, intercultural theological and practical studies on the pedagogy of liberation. AbstrakPenelitian tindak pidana perdagangan orang oleh Gereja Masehi Injili di Timor sejauh ini belum melibatkan pendekatan pendidikan di dalamnya. Oleh karena itu, tujuan artikel ini ialah membedah perdagangan orang dari sudut pandang pendidikan dan memberikan kontribusi pendekatan pendidikan terhadap pengembangan perlawanan Gereja Masehi Injili di Timor kasus perdagangan orang di Nusa Tenggara Timur. Penelitian ini didasarkan pada studi pustaka dengan mengandalkan pendekatan pedagogi pembebasan Paulo Freire dan Antonia Harder. Ide kedua tokoh tadi penulis pakai untuk menganalisa praksis misi perlawanan yang dikerjakan oleh Gereja Masehi Injili di Timor. Melalui tulisan ini, penulis menunjukan bahwa dengan mengembangkan praktik pendidikan, Gereja Masehi Injili di Timor mampu mengembangkan perlawanan yang berciri membebaskan, dan berdimensi multi keilmuan dengan mengandalkan konteks warga Gereja agar Gereja Masehi Injili di Timur mampu mendidik warga Gereja agar tidak lagi menjadi pelaku perdagangan orang.

Alternative school discipline principles and interventions: an overview of the literature

Increasing evidence shows that punitive discipline is ineffective and detrimental. Using the theory and the opportunity-to-learn conceptual framework, this literature review seeks to broaden school personnel’s knowledge of alternative discipline interventions. Searching ERIC and JSTOR databases, we looked for English language, North American literature published between 1996 and 2016 that discussed alternative individual and school-wide disciplinary approaches. The literature we found indicates that punitive measures are counter-productive; that several alternative disciplinary models share common principles; and that studies point to favourable outcomes of some alternative school discipline models. While the transition towards alternative discipline may require additional resources and years of adjustment, a healthier school climate can foster the empowerment and academic achievement of marginalized students.

Alternative school discipline principles and interventions: an overview of the literature

Increasing evidence shows that punitive discipline is ineffective and detrimental. Using the theory and the opportunity-to-learn conceptual framework, this literature review seeks to broaden school personnel’s knowledge of alternative discipline interventions. Searching ERIC and JSTOR databases, we looked for English language, North American literature published between 1996 and 2016 that discussed alternative individual and school-wide disciplinary approaches. The literature we found indicates that punitive measures are counter-productive; that several alternative disciplinary models share common principles; and that studies point to favourable outcomes of some alternative school discipline models. While the transition towards alternative discipline may require additional resources and years of adjustment, a healthier school climate can foster the empowerment and academic achievement of marginalized students.