After 27 years of teaching special education at the Christopher Columbus School, Linda Mitchell began to feel that her years of hard work and dedication had taken their toll. She realized that the educational opportunities that were once available to students, like mentoring and counseling programs, are now scarce. The Union City school system recognized that too many students were in danger of dropping out of school, and in a bold initiative, they implemented a state approved program that would address the needs of the “disaffected” youths in three targeted schools – Edison, Christopher Columbus and Robert Waters. “It has been an amazing experience to see how far this program has developed in the last three years,” said Mitchell, who is the coordinator for the alternative education program, last week. “We started out with 40 kids; now we have 52. That goes to show how effective this has been for these kids and what we have been willing to do to help them. I can’t tell you that all of our students have been able to succeed in the program, but a good majority of them have, and that’s something to be proud of.” The principals of the schools, along with the guidance counselors, vice principals, teachers and parents, decide who is eligible to be a part of the alternative learning program. At the program’s beginning, Edison had 11 participants, while Columbus and Robert Waters each had 10. In addition to the general program which addresses various student needs, the “Buy Back A Year” Alternative Education Program, which Mitchell calls her baby, soon followed for students who have been left back. Columbus School Principal Frank Acinapura is enthusiastic about the program for left-back students. “I feel this program has given these students a second chance in life to make up a year they missed,” he said. “As the former principal of Union Hill High School, I was able to see firsthand how the program helped students advance into the high school curriculum. Ms. Mitchell should be proud of the work she has done. The transformation of these students has been significant.” According to Mitchell, one needs to understand the criteria for eligible students of the program. Her written material on the program reads, “We all know him. He is 16 years old. His command of the English language is somewhat limited. School attendance is not a priority. He is bright but bored. Homework is not turned in, books are lost and reports are forgotten. He is sent to detention but does not show up; consequences do not deter him. He gets into a fight and is suspended for three days. He is happy to have a legitimate excuse to stay home. He is in the seventh grade. He is a perfect candidate for Buy Back a Year.” Often students help themselves on their own initiative. Sixteen-year-old Dixie Artiles is one of 12 students in the program at Columbus. In December, she received the New Jersey Transit’s 1999 Hispanic Heritage Award for Best Essay about the “Wrinkle Face,” an emblem created by the Inca Indians in the 1400s. She wrote that it is an important symbol for the country of Peru and that it represents old people. “At first, I couldn=t believe that I had won,” said Dixie, who is of Dominican and Swiss descent. “When I was a kid, I lived with my grandma and we moved around a lot, so it put me behind. I think just being a part of this is helpful to me and we are like a big family here. I’m getting credits and I’m learning at the same time. It can only help all of us be better.” The program, which lasts from September to June, places these students in a variety of job sites as volunteers where they contribute at least two hours a day during the academic week. Some participating companies in the program are Palisade General and Harborbridge House for Seniors in North Bergen, Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City and St. Mary’s Hospital in Hoboken. Mitchell added that the program could not have lasted without their support. “Not only do they serve as employers,” Mitchell said, “but they are mentors that really help to grow. We couldn’t have come this far without their continuous support of our program.” For students like Dixie, the academic instruction of their day is based on their level of proficiency in math, language arts, science and world history. The students are studying to be in an age-appropriate level and they are also taking midterms on a ninth grade level to help them earn credits to start in the 10th grade when they graduate. “I feel great because not only are we getting our lessons, but we’re able to take a break in the day, go to work and come back to school,” said 15 year-old Cindy Marquez, who has a job working in payroll at the Jersey City Medical Center. “It helps to be better and have some fun, at least for me.” Cindy’s classmate Gustavo Marquez, who is not related to her, agreed. “I have learned a lot from being here and I’m glad we have this chance to participate in the program,” said the 14-year-old, who works in the library of the JC Medical Center. “I like reading through their magazines and I’m learning a lot about science. It’s helping us and that’s what is important.” The students’ teacher, Deborah Shine-Doherty, who just joined the school last year, felt confident that they would continue to excel with the program. “I’ve seen a tremendous amount of improvement with my students since they’ve started at the beginning of the year,” Shine-Doherty said. “I feel this program has helped them to build their self-esteem and has really taught them how it is to dress and act professionally so they can contribute not only to themselves, but to their communities. When you look at their faces just light up when they’ve realize they can do something in the classroom or are gaining responsibility from their jobs, you can’t help but stop and be proud of what they have been able to achieve.” The program of alternative services is in its third year and Union City is the only municipality in the state to offer it to elementary and high school students.
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