| News
& Views
- Oct, 1992 Issue |
Time Out: Taking a break from school,
to travel, work and study in the U.S. and abroad.
Robert Gilpin with Caroline Fitzgibbons
A Fireside Book published by Simon & Schuster, New York, 1992.
Reviewed by Lon Woodbury
Bob Gilpin, an educational consultant in
Quincy, Massachusetts (617-698-8977) works to help students find an
alternative experience or break from the normal school routine of High
School, College, Graduate School, etc. This book, TIME OUT, is a product
of his experience.
He contacted me because he has started
getting some inquiries regarding students who definitely need a break
from mainstream schooling, but would probably abuse any of the opportunities
described in the book. In this sense, Special Purpose Schools and Programs
can be seen as another category of opportunity for students needing
a break. In this case, an opportunity for those students needing emotional
growth experiences in mature behavior, responsibility, accepting consequences
and attitudes.
The main value of this book to a professional
working in the Special Purpose School and Program field would be as
possible follow-up programs after graduation from a Special Purpose
school or program. Many graduates of Special Purpose schools and programs
still feel a little shaky in their new found values. An experiential
experience like these in TIME OUT might be a perfect structured dose
of the real world for some students as a prelude to returning to the
home environment, or to rigorous college expectations with college temptations.
The programs listed seem to be quite complete.
Included is a list of postgraduate programs at secondary schools, 92
listed, to U.S. dude ranches which use young people as staff, 163 of
them to travel/study programs, 6 listed, to environmental oriented programs,
27 organizations, and this is only a fraction of the categories. Also
is a section answering common questions students, parents, and professionals
might have on the whole process.
This is a handy reference for any professional
who might need to advise parents or students on plans after a Special
Purpose school or program graduation, and we each should have a copy
handy. - Lon
Copyright
© 1992, Woodbury Reports, Inc. (This article may be reproduced without
prior approval if the copyright notice and proper publication and author
attribution accompanies the copy.) |
