Blind spots
Sometimes its not a blindspot; we need a complete paradigm shift
I think it's interesting that the students have this preconceived notion that as an instructor, I don't have the ability to be flexible or work with them. I've asked so many students why they didn't show up for their class, and they've replied "I couldn't make it because I work that day." After I tell them if they can communicate that to me before hand, we can work out an arrangement where they can come to another class on a day that works for them. I now try to communicate from the beginning that I am willing to work with the students and be flexible if they are willing to just come talk to me.
I believe is very important all to identify their blind spots it only helps to identify where to strengthen skills and behavior and habits that can be an example and an inspiration to the students they can feel supported by the staff.
But isn't a paradigm shift a form of a blind spot, as it means that there is a change in the basic assumptions? If you look at something in a different way or move it to have it shown in a different light, wasn't it truly in a blind spot. It's the wallet all over again. Sometimes I think we are so busy seeing with our eyes we forget to use our other senses to truly understand what the clear picture is with our students. If they stop coming and we talk to them and find out they got a job that conflicts with their class schedule we ultimately allow the student to change schedules to be able to work around their schedule. In my experience this works in maybe 10% of the time. Why? because we see it as a schedule conflict, what we need to do is look at it as a shift within the student. Maybe a job is all they wanted, and the program they picked for school was a means to an ends, and since the ends came sooner than finishing school, we need to see it as the student is no longer interested in the program.
Naomi,
You have described a common challenge in career colleges. High risk students present high level challenges but present high rewards when we help them succeed.
Jeffrey Schillinger
I totally agree! for our school we have many a times where students don't have money to survive to buy food to eat nor clothes or gas. It definitely is hard on the students to study hard when they have to provide for their own livelihood. I have to keep reminding my students they are in a accelerated program and this difficuly schedule is only for a short time. And when they pull through and see the light at the end of the tunnel it is all worthwhile!
Thank you for this post, Ingrid. We sometimes talk about our students being a flat tire from dropping out. It sounds like your students are in the same place financially. We sometimes have gas cards available to our student so they can get to and from school.
Jeffrey Schillinger
We tend to look at this without analyzing all its entirety, meaning what's around us. We are educators that have been through difficult situations as well, however, a lot of our students sometimes don't even have gas money to make it to school. A very difficult life with plenty of responsibilities and limited resources. A great example is one of my students today didn't come to class because of gas money. It's important to understand that many times they have the strive but lack the resources personally and financially to succeed.
