Students “unmanageable” : “Our school must not die !

Photo courtesy

Stéphanie Bossé, special collaboration

Saturday, February 17, 2018 05:00

UPDATE
Saturday, February 17, 2018 05:00

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“My” school ? It is an extraordinary school that as a teenager, I narrowly avoided dropping out of school, with everything that would be followed by maladaptive social. But within a year, Mr. Minister, this is a wonderful school, the Centre d’intégration scolaire de Montréal (CIS), a serious risk of closing its doors.

As you already know, the CIS will be permanently expelled from the building of the Commission scolaire de Montréal, he holds, to respond to the demographic boom in which she is facing. The problem is that the CIS, did not needed to be replace elsewhere on the territory of Montréal. Why ? Because this ” school of last chance “, as some call it, which is entirely funded by public money – either the amounts payable by seven school boards that make use of its services by transferring students from 8 to 18 years of age, judged to be “unmanageable” – is considered by you, Mr. Proulx, and by your officials as a private school.

False private school

“Private school “, you say, because it does not belong to any school board specific ! And it is because of this that your firm has informed us that she will not be eligible for any government funding for its removal or for its redevelopment in another building, it would obviously turn into a school. In short, this kind of abstraction, administrative, private school that is not one of them, might prevent students like me, on the way to school drop-out and social, take advantage of the resources required to be able to believe again in a system that has so often rejected. Once again, there seems to be ” we “put aside, we are “unmanageable” !! Is this your vision of support for school perseverance Mr. Minister ? I find it hard to believe.

Mr. Proulx, I have personally been a part of these young people at high risk of dropping out who attend the CIS. My school career had, in fact, very badly started. Before even finishing my second year of high school, I had attended thirteen schools. Labeled ” conduct disorder “, I was not able to evolve within a school system that I felt little flexible, routine and who do not believe in me. Even if I was talented, I collected the failures, and I wanted nothing more than to leave school for good. In fact, this is the school I attended, then took the lead and brought me to the door. I was 15 years old.

Pride

Fortunately, there was a resource for students like me, the Centre of academic integration. There, a team composed of educators and specialized teachers welcomed me, and without complacence, but with a lot of dedication, and openness gave me confidence in the québec education system. And guess what ? For a first time in a long time, I believed in my abilities, I was re-motivated !

Today, me, ” the lost cause “, I finished my bachelor’s degree in communications, I became a responsible adult, and I seat the same to the Board of directors of the CIS. A journey that I am proud of !

This is why, all of the students who co-directed adventure of this letter and I pray you, Mr. Minister, to review your positions and to support finally the practical one of the few public institutions that specialize in the integration of school students too often are rejected by the regular system.

Our school must not die, don’t you think, Mr. Minister ?

Stéphanie Bossé is a former student of the Centre for academic integration. Seventy-three other students and employees of the CIS have signed with it.