Essay compare and contrast

Submitted By Cheryl-Zang
Words: 1304
Pages: 6

Alternative Vs. Traditional High schools

COM/155
April 20, 2014
Cathy Smith

Alternative vs. Traditional High schools
Adolescents are the future of America. With this being well known, why do we as members of society often look down upon the ones that have a questionable past and have graduated from an alternative high school? This is the question that makes me wonder if we are creating a better future for society, or just creating a world that disgraces people for trying to succeed. We all know that we cannot always help the hand that we are dealt in life; all we can do is work to better our life and change our future from the life we were born into. Alternative high schools give adolescents that opportunity to make a better future and to help steer them in the right direction. Alternative schools are more valuable than traditional schools for troubled adolescents because of increased graduation rates, and the ability to make up credits.
Many members of society fail to look at all the details when they hear or see the term alternative. Although, it may seem as if there are a lot of differences between the two schools, they have a lot of similarities as well. Both schools have the same requirements for students to graduate at the end of their senior year. This makes it to where just because the teen has chosen to enroll in an alternative school, they do not get any breaks in the educational requirements needed to graduate. Alternative and traditional high schools have the student’s best interest in mind; they both cater to each student interests. When preparing the students for their future, the faculty members in all school settings look for what is best for the student. Faculty members look for what classes fit the interest or what will help them get where they want to be after graduation. If a student decides they want to earn college credits while still in high school, they have this opportunity despite the program they are in. Just because an adolescent has decided they are better suit for an alternative lifestyle, does not prevent them from certain curricular activities. The same theory is allotted for teens who want to be involved in sports and other recreational activities. Although some may wonder if there are all of these similarities between the two schools, why are they considered an alternative high school, and why does there have to be separate schools for some adolescents? Although there are many similarities between the two schools, there are also many differences that can be very beneficial to certain adolescents.
Adolescent teens with troubled and demanding lives often cause for a higher dropout rate amongst traditional schools. Alternative high schools offer a larger choice of options to meet the needs of teens that have demanding lives. Some adolescents are faced with the outcome of having a child at a younger age (giving them more responsibilities, less time for school, and forcing them to enter the workforce earlier), Being kicked out of their parents home or opting to live on their own (sometimes this is a better option for them), and some adolescents are forced to be the sole provider for their family. This can cause a lot of stress on someone’s life, making them have to choose what is more important in life their education or supporting themselves and their family. With the benefits that an alternative school can offer to these young individuals, they do not have to make that choice. If they have a job that they are committed to alternative schools can work around their work hours. Alternative schools give you the option of regular day school or taking classes at night after they get off of work. If a teen becomes a parent most alternative schools offer a daycare on site so that they can focus on their studies.
Often time’s adolescents who are faced with demanding lives have built up aggression and anger issues. One of the ways that many teens deal with the problems in their lives