Case Study – Richard

‘Richard’
Richard’s lack of interest in conventional schooling, compounded by his lack of engagement, caused a great deal of concern to his Years 9 and 10 level coordinators.

He was facing certain expulsion for his unruly behaviour. Total withdrawal of Richard from conventional classes for four days of the week, for three months, and participation in the HOL program for that time, was suggested. His parents agreed with the idea that meant an extremely high level of immersion in the HOL program for this candidate.Richard accepted the position and proved to be a ‘natural’. He was enthusiastic, exercised great initiative and quickly revealed many practical skills. His teachers, family and peers noted the positive changes in Richard’s behaviour. The negative attitudes, which had previously dominated his behaviour, evaporated, and Richard was soon actively contemplating his next step in life. An apprenticeship or a TAFE course were now viable callings. If Richard had remained within the conventional schooling system, he was facing certain expulsion. This would have meant enrolment in another school where the same damaging scenario would likely have been repeated or he would have left school early. Richard’s classroom teachers had noted a significant maturing of the former ‘problem student’ and they felt that his personal prospects and likelihood of success had been greatly enhanced by his participation in the HOL program. This was proved right when within the last few weeks of the program, Richard secured a three-month trial apprenticeship with a landscaping firm. In short, the three intensive months that Richard spent in the HOL program provided a very positive end to his school career and directly averted his expulsion.

Another very important outcome to be realised from Richard’s involvement with HOL was that his deeply-concerned parents have been able to fully accept their son and see him in a positive light, rather than as a ‘failure’ at school. A crucial consideration of involvement in HOL for parents, and students alike, is that a child’s success should not be judged only within the orthodox academic framework that is usually prescribed. Richard successfully completed his landscaping apprenticeship and worked for the same company for four years He now works for a specialised concreter and is doing very well with a small firm doing quite technical work.

Edited extract from Education Foundation Journal.