Extra effort ----

Many of the issues and problems students and families bring to schools could easily be resolved if the folks at the schools would make a little, tiny, minimal, extra effort. Take for example a parent I met with this morning. Her son is a junior student in one of our high schools, a good student. He really wants to take occupational drafting and pre-architecture classes, and his high school doesn't offer them.

I actually got a call from this mother about the whole dilemma on Wednesday this week. I told her I would call the counselor, have her talk with the student to see if going to another high school for just those classes would fit into his schedule. The counselor responded by telling me that she had already given the student the other high school's telephone number and told him to call the school -- slacker indicator number #1. The counselor has the primary responsibility to help create the best schedule possible for every student in her caseload even if that means making arrangements with another school for a few classes. I decided to turn the conversation into a teaching moment, I strongly suggested that she call the school for the student and make the arrangements for him.

So, this morning the mother came to me indicating that she wanted to take her son out of the unhelpful school and special permit him to the school that had the drafting classes. She had received no help at the school (even after my call to the counselor, she didn't make the extra effort for the student) and felt like the school did not want to help her son. I made a few calls (like the counselor could have) and made arrangements for the mother to meet with the new school's assistant principal for a special attendance permit.

The mother was so appreciative. She then proceded to tell me the rest of the story ---
She and her husband moved to the US from Central America eighteen years ago. Her husband had a good job, they had a nice home, everything was great until the homeland security/INS folks tracked him down for being here illegally. They had paid an attorney many years ago to get their "paperwork" in order. They have social security numbers and work cards, but for some reason the "attorney" took advantage of their naivite and abscounded with the money for her husband's legal status process. So, eighteen months ago, he was deported. She lost their house and pretty much everything else and is now living in a basement apartment. She and her son (only child) miss their hunband/dad like crazy. She was just so appreciative that someone was willing to help her out. Tears trickled down her face as she thanked me.

No sure what is going to happen, but I am so glad I gave a little extra to her this morning. Helping others and being kind about it is really a good thing to do.