LJWorld.com

Photo by Richard Gwin

Pencils used at the Day School must be returned to their numbered slots at the end of each day.

Ashley refuses to go to high school. Not with the throngs of students, the teachers that couldn't get through to her, the distractions.

She's more comfortable clad in the green sweatshirt and blue sweatpants that make up the Day School uniform at the Douglas County Youth Center. The only problem is the outfit is unflattering.

"I will refuse to go back to a regular school," she said. "Here, I can understand it a lot easier."

Ashley, 17, is a former Lawrence High School student sentenced to attend classes at the Day School, a joint educational effort between the Lawrence school district and Douglas County.

The school has the capacity to teach 40 juveniles, ages 10 to 18. Right now, 25 students attend the Day School. The youngest is in seventh grade; the oldest students are high school seniors.

They are sent here by judges for a variety of reasons. Some have committed crimes; others have behavioral issues. All have struggled in school, either academically or socially. And if they find their niche at the 10-year-old Day School, they can choose to stay.

A different classroom

The Day School is a different educational setting. There are no classes, no group projects, no extracurricular activities, no frills. There are no staples or no paper clips; pencils are numbered and every one must be accounted for at the end of the day. Students are frisked to ensure no contraband, iPods or cell phones enter the classroom. An outside basketball court is surrounded by a fence topped with razor wire.

Students are bused from their homes each day. They're patted down and change into the Day School uniform.

They sit in a facility featuring two classrooms and an open space, focusing on individual assignments. Teachers float from student to student, imparting lessons and advice when needed. A map of the world is on one wall. The classroom is dead quiet.

Some attend the program for a full day; others attend district schools for a half a day, spending the afternoon at the Day School.

"One of the consequences of being here is they're missing out on the social structure and the activities of their regular schools," said Diane Spicer, a Day School teacher. The curriculum doesn't use discussion groups or projects to teach; that rankles some students. On the other hand, "There's no getting left behind in a class of 20 or 22," Spicer said.

"The goal is to transition the kids," said Ron May, the school's director of education. While students are sentenced to attend the Day School, exhibiting good behavior and passing academic marks can help them return to Douglas County schools.

Three teachers, assisted by three teacher aides, give students tips as they work to complete assignments each week. With such a range of age and abilities, teachers must be versed in several subjects.

"It's more of the one-room schoolhouse," May said. "You're educating a broad spectrum of kids on a lot of topics. The teachers have to be well-rounded."

'The best teacher'

For Ashley, trouble didn't start until high school. Then she started skipping school and getting into fights.

But the senior has made progress at the Day School and is looking forward to graduating in December. One day, she wants to attend Kansas University and earn a nursing degree.

"It's more structured. You learn at your own pace," she said. Her course load includes math, English and 20th-century literature.

"I would say this is the best place I've ever been to in school," she said. "It's probably a safer place to be."

The one-on-one learning environment has netted Ashley a mentor: a teaching aide named Jennifer.

"She's the best teacher I've had so far," Ashley said.

Alex is a senior at Baldwin High School. He's been attending classes at the Day School for two years. He was released once and returned to Baldwin High School, but bad influences landed him back at the Day School.

"I thought I'd be done the first time," he said. But he, like many Day School students, sees the benefits of the program.

"Part of me says, 'It's not what you want.' But the other part says, 'It's good for you,'" he said.

Alex, 17, has earned points for good behavior and will be able to begin practicing with the Baldwin High School football team next week. Other students can participate in school activities, including prom or graduation.

'They're safe here'

Students are subject to at-home supervision checks and take home a daily report card, which charts behavior and academics.

"What we're trying to do is make them accountable," said Pam Weigand, the program's director. By handing students responsibility for their actions in and out of the classroom, they learn to avoid the problems that plagued them in school.

Students have the opportunity to meet with their parole officers, who have offices in the building. A partnership with the Bert Nash Mental Health Center allows students to receive evaluations and prescribed medication. It can be a tough transition for students.

"At first it was confusing, but now I've got the hang of it," said Courtney, 16, an LHS junior.

The rigid schedule lets students learn at their own pace, free of distractions.

"I think it proves the fact that, as much as we struggle with kids in general, structure is oftentimes a calming influence," May said. "They're safe here."