NCJ Number: 46309
Title: COMMANDO ACADEMY - FROM CLASHES TO CLASSROOM
Journal: EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP Volume:34 Issue:6 Dated:(MARCH 1977) Pages:429-432
Author(s): E F DEROCHE; J J MODLINSKI
Date Published: 1977
Annotation: A PROFILE OF MILWAUKEE'S COMMANDO ACADEMY, AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL DESIGNED TO REACH YOUTHFUL PAROLEES, HELP THEM STAY OUT OF PENAL INSTITUTIONS, AND REINTEREST THEM IN EDUCATION, IS PRESENTED.
Abstract: DURING THE 1960'S, THE COMMANDOS DEMONSTRATED IN THE STREETS FOR SUCH CAUSES AS OPEN HOUSING AND EQUAL RIGHTS. IN 1974, THEY CREATED THE COMMANDO ACADEMY. THE SCHOOL SERVES LOCAL 13 TO 17-YEAR-OLD PAROLEES WHO ARE MORE AT HOME IN THE STREETS 'HUSTLING' THAN THEY ARE IN THE SCHOOLS. THE ACADEMY HAS THREE PRIMARY GOALS: (1) TO HELP PREVENT YOUNG PAROLEES FROM RETURNING TO JAIL; (2) TO REINTEREST THEM IN EDUCATION BY PROVIDING THE BASIC EDUCATIONAL SKILLS TO GO ALONG WITH THEIR 'STREET' SKILLS; AND (3) TO HELP THEM APPRECIATE THE VALUE OF WORKING FOR PAY RATHER THAN HUSTLING FOR STREET MONEY. ITS WORK IS FUNDED BY A NUMBER OF WISCONSIN EDUCATIONAL, CORRECTIONAL, AND FAMILY AGENCIES, AS WELL AS SEVERAL PRIVATE GROUPS. IT HAS A STAFF OF 10 TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS; ALL OF ITS TEACHERS ARE CERTIFIED. THE ACADEMY HAD AN ENROLLMENT OF 75 STUDENTS IN 1976 WHO WERE REFERRED TO THE SCHOOL EITHER BY STATE CORRECTIONAL OR FAMILY SERVICES AGENCIES OR BY PARENTAL REQUEST. BEFORE A STUDENT IS ACCEPTED, HE OR SHE IS INTERVIEWED, AGREES TO TAKE REQUIRED TESTS (E.G., ATTITUDE, READING, MATHEMATICS), AND EXPRESSES A WILLINGNESS TO ABIDE BY SCHOOL RULES. MANY OF THE STUDENTS, WHO WOULD BE IN THE 10TH OR 11TH GRADES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ENTER WITH TEST SCORES AT THE LOWER ELEMENTARY LEVEL. THE TEACHERS USE AN OPEN CLASSROOM CONCEPT AND EMPHASIZE A PROBLEM-ORIENTED APPROACH TO EDUCATION. EACH SKILL AREA (READING, WRITING, AND MATHEMATICS) IS TAUGHT WITH ITS APPLICATION TO THE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY GHETTO YOUTH. SOCIAL STUDIES FOCUS UPON THE BLACK EXPERIENCE, WAYS TO REDUCE HOSTILITY, AND BLACK HISTORY, AND INCLUDE FIELD TRIPS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE STUDENTS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN A WORK-STUDY PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO APPLY THE SKILLS THEY LEARN IN SCHOOL TO ACTUAL WORK SITUATIONS. TEACHERS WORK WITH THE STUDENTS INDIVIDUALLY AND IN SMALL GROUPS TO IMPROVE THE SKILLS IDENTIFIED AS DEFICIENT BY ACHIEVEMENT TESTS. IN ADDITION, EACH STUDENT IS ASSIGNED TO A COUNSELOR. THE COMMANDO ACADEMY DOES NOT GIVE DIPLOMAS; HOWEVER, ITS CLASSES COUNT FOR CREDIT AT LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS, IN CASE THE STUDENT SHOULD WISH TO GO BACK TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL. THE ACADEMY HAS BEEN QUITE SUCCESSFUL, AND AS A RESULT, IT HAS ENCOUNTERED SOME PROBLEMS WITH SPACE, LIMITING ENROLLMENT, AND FUNDING. (VDA)
Index Term(s): Education; Experimental education; Juvenile status offenders; Parolees; Wisconsin; Youthful offenders
Sponsoring Agency: Assoc for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Corporate Author: Assoc for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Page Count: 4
Format: Article
Language: English
Country: United States of America
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