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At Booker T Washington Middle School in New Orleans’ recovery school district, Khalil Osiris is doing things a little bit differently. In his “Circle of Courage” class, students share their problems, concerns and desires with one another. One common desire? To get out of middle school and move on, at long last, to high school. Booker T is an alternative school that caters to students who have had trouble succeeding in a traditional school environment; many students at Booker T are 16 or 17 years old and are still performing at an elementary school level.
Osiris’ “Circle of Courage” is one strategy the school is using to try and help students stay out of trouble and pass their classes. But how much can sitting in a circle and talking really help?
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Piece Description
At Booker T Washington Middle School in New Orleans’ recovery school district, Khalil Osiris is doing things a little bit differently. In his “Circle of Courage” class, students share their problems, concerns and desires with one another. One common desire? To get out of middle school and move on, at long last, to high school. Booker T is an alternative school that caters to students who have had trouble succeeding in a traditional school environment; many students at Booker T are 16 or 17 years old and are still performing at an elementary school level.
Osiris’ “Circle of Courage” is one strategy the school is using to try and help students stay out of trouble and pass their classes. But how much can sitting in a circle and talking really help?
Additional Credits
Field producers: Jane Renaud and Valerie Visconti
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