Students lament programs moved to big school

Special needs students at Jack James High School have lost some of their favourite trades courses to the much larger Forest Lawn High School, where they fear they won’t get the individual attention they need.

Jack James, a small, unique trades school for students with learning challenges, has just completed a $10-million modernization. Some programs have been expanded, like horticulture and child care. But others, like cosmetology, automotive mechanics and welding apprenticeships, have been moved to Forest Lawn, just a few blocks west of Jack James.

While Jack James has only 450 students registered, Forest Lawn is rapidly growing with more than 1,500 students.

“I really wanted to take cosmetology, it’s why I came to this school, but now I can’t take it here,” said Caitlin Krause, a Grade 12 student at Jack James.

“There are lots of students at this school with special needs, they’re coded for things like anxiety, and they don’t want to go into Forest Lawn because it’s so big and it would really stress them out.”

John Friesen, also a Grade 12 student at Jack James, agreed.

“There is no way anyone wants to go over to Forest Lawn to take anything. That school is way too big.”

Another student, who asked not to be named, said he was looking forward to learning about mechanics in the relaxed supportive atmosphere at Jack James.

“But now I have to choose to walk over to Forest Lawn, and I don’t think I want to. That’s a big, tough school.”

Diane Yee, Calgary Board of Education’s area director for the two high schools, confirmed that some programs have been moved to Forest Lawn in order to save money and avoid replication.

“We cannot replicate all of the same courses at all of the high schools. That calls for a lot of space and equipment and it’s very expensive. The automotive shop, where you’re learning mechanics skills, yes, that’s gone at Jack James. But they still have autobody, where they’re learning how to fix the body of a car.”

Yee added that if Jack James students are stressed or concerned about going over to Forest Lawn, and joining a larger population, they can ask for assistance from Jack James staff.

“We can make phone calls for them, we can take them over, and we can help them deal with that.

“It’s always important for the kids to talk to their teachers about these issues.”

Jack James High School’s $10-million modernization was created to build a “shared campus” benefitting both schools, added CBE spokeswoman Megan Geyer.

“One of the most notable improvements to Jack James High School is the additional space it has provided and the opportunity to share programming with students at other area high schools.

“Forest Lawn High School is within walking distance, which gives students from this neighbouring school easy access to optional courses at Jack James that require specialized equipment, space and instruction. In turn, Jack James High School students can choose to take CTS courses that are offered at Forest Lawn High School.”

But Jack James students worry that inviting Forest Lawn students into their high-needs environment may also be problematic, and may reduce their own access to programs.

“This is supposed to be a school that supports kids with special needs, and I’m not sure that’s happening,” Krause said.

“We have been facing a lot of problems with administration, and the dual-campus thing is a real problem.”

But Yee stressed that because of strict safety standards, many trades courses normally have smaller class sizes.