“Elverson’s COC program is helping our student “champions” to openly confront intolerant/biased perspectives, to demonstrate socially competent attitudes, and to value cultural differences. What’s more, this program is beginning to bear fruit. Students who seem disengaged in or refrain from participating in their required courses (e.g., English, mathematics, etc.), exhibit confidence and enthusiasm in COC class.
Furthermore, they share revealing personal stories about their neighborhoods, families, and decisions. I think these discussions have a healing affect akin to “talk therapy.” Students discuss the poor choices that their family members, friends, and they themselves have made, and as a result, can focus on changing maladaptive, dysfunctional, and just plain unhealthy patterns of behavior.
These gains, however, are still in their infancy and would certainly be lost if the program was disruptively uprooted.”
Jennifer Thomas, English Teacher Philadelphia Military Academy at Elverson, 2012-13 November 17, 2014
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