Detention Center 06/02/14 10:30am-12:00pm/1:00pm-2:30pm

I have gotten in trouble with the law in my youth, but I never served any time for my mistakes. What I imagined the detention center to be like was about what it was in reality. A secure facility, with a staff that is their to maintain order, not counsel, and a focus on obedience. I was hoping to see a staff that was more interactive and engaging with the teenagers. I can understand how easy it would be to become jaded after seeing the same kids come through the door for the same crimes. Nobody participating in this volunteer opportunity should expect to make a large difference in these kids lives. Our time with these kids is too brief and superficial to make a lasting change. A follow up program after these kids are reintroduced to the world would be a helpful, but I remember being their age and it is very difficult to convince a teenager to change. What I expect to take home at the end of the day is a better understanding of these kids home life, what they consider important, and possible positive interest I can introduce them to, but not push them towards. These kids need to make to decision to go back to their lives of poor choices and bad influences or to jump on the band wagon and become educated and contribute to the "overall good".
My first day was little confusing. Many of the kids were expected to know what credits they needed and in some cases, if they knew, were the books available for them to use. I'm not sure how I came to conclusion that we were going to stand in front of the class and teach, not be a overseer while they filled out work sheets. I do enjoy sitting with a student and discussing how to determine an answer they are having trouble doing themselves, but it is difficult to be enthusiastic when you can see this information go in one ear and out the other. Dr. Leytham has some ideas to help with retention and I am excited to see how the kids like it.