What do you think of Alternative schools??

Question

I go to one (a middle school) and I'm just wondering what others think of them..

Answer 1

I think they are bad. Especially if they are all students with behavioral disabilities, they have no age appropriate role models with appropriate behavior?

Answer 2

I think it depends on the school and staff.  I've been to several non-public special education alternative schools that were excellent.  However, I've also observed in one that was not good!  Having a strong administration and qualified staff member is key, in my opinion.

Answer 3

I used to go to an alternative school (Village School in Great Neck; it's a public school) but I realized it wasn't right for me to go to one.  I had special needs and the school was not right for me.  The school had a lot of students who had behavioral problems.  I learned so many bad things from them.  It wasn't right so I went back to the traditional school.  I would suggest that general education students go there.  But I would NEVER recommend anyone with special needs to go there.  It's not right and they shouldn't be taking advantage of them.  Students with special needs that go to alternative schools TRULY do NOT have special needs because they get away with a lot at alternative schools.  The resource room program at alternative schools is totally different than in traditional schools.  It's more relaxed and they don't teach them anything.  They don't have speech therapy.  They say the small classes are all that it is needed for ALL students to be successful.  This is not true at all for special needs students.  They need to be part of society and NOT be isolated from them.  They have difficultly with learning.  Just ignoring the fact that they don't have special needs is WRONG!

I didn't receive speech or any special education classes at the alternative school.  I felt IGNORED by the teachers because they truly didn't understand what my needs were.  That is why I left.  I hope the principal of the Village School reads this because he should feel GUILTY about the way the school treated special needs students.  Basically alternative schools are SNOBS.  They think they know everything when they really don't.  They think that giving tests to students is wrong.  If they had a choice, they would probably not let their students take the state exams.  But too bad...they have to take them, which proves that exams are important for student's success.

**By the way, you put this question in the wrong section.  Alternative schools are not part of special education.  It is for ALL students to attend.  General education students can come too.  So it should be placed under primary and secondary education.