Maxx: Schooling that works

Becoming a teenager is tricky, especially during Covid and its aftermath—when the world seems so topsy-turvy. Teenagers in general may feel “different,” and Maxx felt really different. Growing up in a loving, supportive family helped, but going to school left Maxx feeling anxious, like a misfit, as he wrestled with identity issues.

Maxx’s father shared this scientific observation: “I don’t care if you decide to be a Purple Giraffe. If you are happy and safe and loved, you’ve won.”

Then Maxx won a spot on the applicant lottery at the Lehman Alternative Community School (LACS). With new best friend Jade, Maxx made the transition. Even though she felt incredibly fortunate to win a spot, everything was still new and unfamiliar and kind of scary.

This year, with a second special friend, Audrey, in his posse, things are really coming together in so many ways: Maxx‘ Mother, a wildly popular nurse, told Maxx: “We love you. We support you. Life isn’t perfect. But this year you are so much more open and honest about your triumphs and your struggles. Even with some huge family losses, you are soaring.”

Maxx: “When I returned to LACS after the summer, I felt so good about the fresh start of a new school year. I never felt that way before. My mom and I celebrated the beginning of a new school year by going together to get piercings. Great start!”

“This year my teachers tell me this is my Year of Growth… and I feel that. I’m doing better academically and socially, and they are interrelated. I have learned how to write realistic self-evaluations: I self-reflect upon what I have done, and I can see the accomplishments. But I am also more open about the academic challenges I am struggling with…This year I am at grade level with my reading and my writing,” Maxx said. 

“Socially, I am more out of my shell. I feel secure enough to voice my opinions. Now I am in my first year of high school, and I feel mature enough to see how successful I can be with LACS’ independent learning format: In class we have lectures and work. The information we need is presented in ways that demonstrate why what we are learning will make a difference in our lives. And when we hit rough spots, we can ask for guidance to improve the situation on our own.”

At LACS, the school year is divided into four blocks. In the first blocks, students focused on how to do research in a class called Researchers. At school they are taught the Burger Method (named for hamburgers). It goes something like: Come up with a thesis. Gather general research. Focus on a Main Argument. Explain how the evidence proves my thesis. Conclude the essay, Maxx said. 

“In my work in Researchers I learned how to write essays about my chosen topic, Harm Reduction. The second two blocks are entitled Presentation; I wrote essays on my topic. By the end, I reduced the lengthy research into my PowerPoint, and I presented my topic.”

“When I look back, I realize I learned a lot about a topic that mattered to me, because we are surrounded by so many addicted people in society, and addiction affects them and all of us.  I also saw how much I had learned about gathering information about a topic, and then using new skills to document and share that information.”

In order to do Research and Presentation blocks, sometimes students need Special Accommodations like support on note taking, or computer literacy, Maxx said. And when the older kids are thinking about college or tech schools or jobs and life on their own, they may need special support on writing resumes, applying to colleges, understanding credit cards and credit scores and finances.

“LACS helps kids leave with the practical skills they will need,” Maxx said. 

“During each week we also have two Project sessions,” Maxx added. “One of my projects is Double Split Ceramics. I love my teacher and so does everyone else. Ms. Ana Goldsmith rocks! We are going on a trip to Brooklyn to an art museum, and we will get to see lots of ceramics.”

Maxx said that LACS also urges all students and staff to volunteer, since everyone needs support sometimes, and everyone can share support sometimes. 

“I volunteered every Thursday to be with first graders in an elementary school,” Maxx said. “I loved being with those kids in the school I attended when I was in first grade.”

“We have about 300 kids in 6 to 12^th grades. Everyone in 9^th grade knows everyone in 9^th grade. Students feel comfortable using the awesome support system that’s there. And are encouraged to link with tutors,” Maxx said. “When I struggled with New Math, another student asked a 12^th grader to tutor me and linked us up. I get tutoring every week and it’s changed from having an anxiety reaction, which made my brain freeze up, to something I can work through with my tutor.”

When touring LACS, Maxx learned that the entire school (all kids and all staff) meet regularly. 

“We base the meetings and the way we carry out the plans we make on Democracy. How can everyone be heard? How can we reach agreement, carry out the agreed upon plan with everyone included” Maxx said. “It is a fun way to be together, and it is an important way to work together democratically.”

“Our LACS community is not perfect,” Maxx added. “Some people are not easy to get along with. Sucky people aren’t nice to be around. But the number of difficult people is way outweighed by kind people. And we learn that people sometimes seem mean, because people were mean to them growing up, or they didn’t get what they needed of love and support. At LACS we are trying to support each other the best we can.”