When the mainstream model doesn't fit

(Left to right) Debra Ualesi, Stevie-Leigh Wood and Stamy Cooze are part of the Beautiful Daughters programme at Mary McKillop House in Glendene. Photo / Natalie Slade

Stevie Wood wants to be in a mainstream school, alongside her friends and working towards a career in fashion and design - but the mere thought of heading into a crowded classroom can make her physically ill.

The 14-year-old is one of 1800 students in alternative education because the mainstream system just didn't work for her. Though it's easy to assume these students are there because they are "naughty or rebellious" the reality is the reasons are far more varied.

Some, like Stevie who was enrolled at Henderson High for year 9, are simply "school phobic".

"It's a good school but I came here (to alternative education) because I had anxiety problems and I was off for practically a whole year."

Stevie has had anxiety for most of her life. She takes medication but still struggles at times. Doctors are at a loss to explain why mainstream schooling is such a trigger.

"I get nervous and anxious and I start to feel sick and usually end up throwing up ... I hated it because I love going to school and learning and hanging with my friends."

Stevie said she never wagged school or skipped classes for fun. She just couldn't face going to school. After a year of problems truancy officers recommended Stevie give alternative education a try.

"I haven't missed one day of school yet since coming here. I love this place, I don't want to leave."

Part of the difference seems to be the smaller numbers. She is one of 10 girls in the Beautiful Daughter's programme run by the Mary MacKillop house in Glendene. The smaller classes means she gets more one on one but they are also easier to be in than the large classes at her old school.

The girls in the class are there for a range of reasons. Some have been excluded for behavioural issues, some were truant. Others, like 15-year-old Stamy Cooze, felt they just "didn't fit" in the mainstream.

At intermediate Stamy said she felt like "the poor kid with all the rich kids". At high school she got sick and ended up depressed and unable to face a day at school.

"I wanted to go but couldn't face it so I did correspondence."

At correspondence school you have to submit your work within a month but due to her illness and a spell in hospital Stamy missed her deadlines and could no longer do it.

"It was weird, I didn't really have anything to do during the day. I did have some of my old booklets so I did some of them for a while."

Late last term she was referred to alternative education by a psychologist and now she is enjoying learning again and wants to be an archaeologist.

"It's great I love it here,' she said. "I want to get my NCEA credits and get into university."

Stamy believes there are misconceptions about the students doing alternative education.

"I think most of them think that we have done something really bad to get expelled from school but most of us have just been really unhappy."

"All of us aren't stupid or anything, we have things that we are good at and things we are bad at."

SEEKING ANSWERS

Saturday: Alternative education.
Teens in Third World schooling
When the mainstream model doesn't fit
A far better alternative to dropping out
Monday: Truancy and dropouts.
School dropout levels fall over past 10 years
Tuesday: Issues of transience.
Message sinking in: switching schools bad for kids
Absenteeism often cry for help
Transient students struggle to catch up
Wednesday: Who kicks kids out?
Second chance works well for student
Expulsion seen as tool of last resort
Aorere strives to improve record
Thursday: What can be done?
Help for those who fall through cracks
Trust moves in well before students get out of control
Schools can't do it all on their own