The Residential School is for 16-to-20-year-old high school dropouts. Eight students live at the School for six months during which time they must hold jobs in the community, pay room and board, and attend classes six evenings a week. Established in August of 1973, the School is state approved and designed to teach students not only academic skills but skills that will help them take care of themselves in a practical sense. Most importantly, students relearn ways of relating to adults and to each other that enhance both community life and individual potential. Those who complete the program successfully are awarded a high school diploma.
After a two-week trial period students are assigned a staff member called their "one-to-one". Students meet with their one-to-ones weekly to discuss personal and practical issues. This experience often forms a close and enduring connection between student and staff member. Students work a minimum of 28 hours and pay $105 for room and board weekly. Although their jobs may be physically hard and the pay low, they learn the connection between earning money and the pride of supporting themselves, and a job well done. One-to-one tutoring in the School's informal setting often restores a positive attitude toward learning.
Each student's academic history, learning style, and interests are considered. In addition to the mandated academic subjects, the School's curriculum covers many challenging areas of personal growth and learning. Students attend classes in substance abuse prevention, conflict resolution, sexuality, diversity, and self esteem and may choose electives in assertiveness, non-violence, and relapse prevention. Cooking, cleaning and menu planning are required courses. Students wake up with their own alarm clocks, budget their own money, launder their own clothes, and arrange their rooms. Once a month they go camping. Trips include climbing, canoeing, hiking, ropes courses, and participation in outdoor science and geography labs.
Students attend three weekly meetings. On Wednesday night residential issues are discussed, and requests for special privileges are voted on by students, pending ratification or veto in staff meeting on Thursday. On Thursday night, staff and students gather for check-in, updates, a short workshop on an aspect of group living, and celebrations, ending every meeting with applause for student accomplishments. Those bagged for rule infractions must stay later for Consequence Meeting, where a rotating team of one student and one staff, facilitated by a former student, must reach consensus in assigning a consequence.
