AN Experiential education EXPLORATION IN EDMONTON.

Ana-Maria Jerca, Staff Writer

Back in high school, I was fortunate enough to participate in a 5-day trip to Edmonton through the YMCA Youth Exchange Program. My high school was paired up with a public charter high school called Boyle Street Education Centre (BSEC), an institution I soon realized was radically different from the ones I had known.

First of all, Boyle Street has a very high population of self-identified First Nations students (about 95%), unlike my North York high school where the number was practically zero. We got to witness first-hand how the school incorporated Native studies and culture through activities like pipe ceremonies, sweat lodge ceremonies, roundance participation, and Native drumming. It was truly fascinating not only to get a small taste of some First Nations culture but also to see it integrated into a school's life for the first time.

Besides responding to their students' cultures, the school also made it its mission to help teenagers who hadn't succeeded previously in mainstream Alberta schools. At BSEC, students can enroll throughout the year, so it’s never too late to start fresh and seek out a high school diploma. If they are absent for long period of time, they do not lose their credits like they would in a mainstream institution. In addition, the school's capacity is 140 students, so unlike in schools where the population reaches the quadruple digits, the teacher/student ratio is low enough that students' needs can be catered to individually and they can reach success.

Since attendance is a prevalent issue, Boyle Street encourages students to keep up their studies by getting them involved. For example, they have a breakfast and lunch program for all students, many of whom come from families with financial difficulties. These meals are made by Work Experience students who are earning credits while feeding their classmates and learning a life skill to be proud of and apply elsewhere.

The school offers numerous other services as well, including earned transportation for students to-and-from school, and practical, engaging classes not normally offered in other high schools such as hair styling and career transitions. Every service is offered in an effort to facilitate education for underprivileged students, giving them equal opportunities to earn credits and succeed. They have excelled at making learning  fun and enjoyable experience with practical use.

Although five days was not enough to fully experience BSEC, it certainly made me change my definition of what a school is and needs to do for its students, thereby making me think more about what I can do as an educator.