Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/417576
Perspectives IN CELIA'S WORDS THE BIGGEST REWARD IN THIS JOB…is seeing behavior change. The reluctance, resistance and fear of failure changes into participa- tion and a willingness to take positive risks. When a student first arrives, he may say, "I'm stupid and dumb," but in a week he'll say, "Show me how to do this." I love to see them transform into persistent learners. WHAT BREAKS MY HEART…is sometimes when they leave here they reoffend, get hurt or die. They're young human beings, and the loss of any young person's life is a tragedy. It also breaks my heart when someone does well here and then goes back to their old ways or commits additional serious offens- es when they leave. They don't have much time to practice being successful here before they move on. For some, it's the only time they've worked hard and experienced success in their entire lives. ONE THING I'VE LEARNED…is that you can't respond to their arguments in a way that will cause acceleration. The calmer you are, the less likely a situation will accelerate. I have to be very firm and not let things go too far, because these young men don't always know where that line is in a professional setting. If they have an attitude, I tell them, "You have to drop it at the door." When they walk in the door, there are no grudges. Every day is a new slate. I NEVER KNOW…who's going to make it and who isn't. There's no way to predict it. I've seen some kids do really well here and be- lieve they'll make it, but they may end up in prison, homeless, or going back to the old ways. Others will leave here, move on and do quite well in life, enrolling in community college and finding jobs. I believe that they all can be successful, and I am forever hopeful that they will continue and become successful contribut- ing adults. MY ADVICE TO STUDENTS WHEN THEY LEAVE..."Ask for help if you need it, so you can do whatever you need to do to be success- ful. There are programs and services that can help you. You can always contact me, and I will help walk you through. You don't have to struggle all alone." the probation camp two years ago because she likes the "wraparound services" available that increase the students' chances of success. Along with regular classes, students learn vocational skills such as welding, electrical wiring, culinary arts and construction. These young men have catered CTA Redwood Service Center's luncheons. There are also individual and family counseling services. Her manner is calm and reassuring. But she's also firm — and when she says "That's enough," students usually snap to. Otherwise, she gets on her radio to alert staff that she is sending a student out to work with someone who will help them problem-solve prior to returning to class. Cameras record everything that happens in the classroom, and students know that if they commit a serious violation of the rules, they may have to return to the locked facility. "I love my job," says Lamantia, president of the Asso- ciation of Sonoma County Office of Education and vice-chair of Redwood Service Center. "These are not throwaway kids. They're people who come from difficult situations, and I do whatever I can to help them move forward in their lives." P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y S C O T T B U S C H M A N 23 V O L U M E 1 9 I S S U E 4