You’ve seen them in parking lots and public parks: teenagers skipping school and skateboarding, even spraying graffiti. They are simply disinterested in the mainstream school system.
We need to inspire them again.
The Oasis Alternative School’s skateboard design and street art program in Toronto is proving that kids who stray from the conventional academic track can be reengaged with education through activities that would usually result in reprimand.
Ottawa’s education system has a lot to learn from this approach.
The Oasis Skateboard Factory program is an initiative that helps students earn high-school credits by engaging kids with artistic creativity who have been largely unsuccessful with conventional classes.
In the community-based entrepreneurial course students build skateboards, design custom graphics and market their product to local businesses who then sponsor and exhibit their work. They have the opportunity to earn credits and honourariums for doing work they actually like.
Craig Morrison developed the initiative from a one-month pilot project to a one- or two-semester program this September.
His students learn English by creating a Skateboard magazine; they take a business course, which teaches them ethics and marketing skills.
The perfect thing, Morrison says, is that both graffiti and skateboarding are youth activities that would usually get them in trouble, so this is an outlet to focus their energy in a positive direction.
Youth that have slipped through the cracks are still the youth of the future.
This method shows them they can still be successful, although they might not have had prior success in school.
Parents are happy their kids are attending school, Morrison says. The kids are glad they have found a place to learn without conforming to public and private school standards.
“I do more work [at Oasis] than I did at my school last year because I didn’t really go to class,” Tristan Laframboise, 16, says. “I’m here a lot more often, I’m more motivated to get up in the morning and I’m more interested in the things I’m doing.”
Unfortunately, Ottawa is yet to embrace such learning methods for at-risk youth.
James Healey was caught doing graffiti in Ottawa last year. To avoid criminal charges he was placed in the Youth Diversion Program mediated by the Girls and Boys Club of Ottawa.
While the club itself offers recreational arts and crafts activities, James says the diversion program focused heavily on trying to turn him off graffiti.
“They were polite, but they were like, ‘You’re a criminal’ at the same time,” he says.
The Oasis Skateboard Factory is now sponsoring James to design a logo for the school.
Morrison argues an obvious point: you could incorporate this program at a regular school. To give disinterested youth another chance at succeeding in life, you would need a willing teacher, some space and sponsorship or financial backing.
The course need not be about skateboards, either. It could be a Jack Black-inspired school of rock, or haute couture school of design.
Given time and consideration from the community and school boards, this teaching method would greatly benefit Ottawa’s disengaged youth. The improved marks and motivation of the Skateboard Factory street kids is proof.