Healing and Educational Institutions for School Maladjusted Students... Three Operating in Ulsan
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hong Jeonghwan] "I hate school. I want to escape!" Is there a place where students can meet alternative subjects that greatly reduce the harsh school lessons and teach happiness and self-esteem? They want to receive a diploma from the school they attended...
Every year, more than 6,000 high school students nationwide leave school. According to the Education Statistics Service, in 2018 (from March 2018 to February 2019), 6,968 high school students dropped out due to "school maladjustment."
‘Ulsan Youth Vision School,’ located in Dong-gu, Ulsan, is a commissioned alternative school designed to help students at risk of leaving school due to maladjustment.
Fifty percent of the curriculum is operated as general subjects, and the remaining 50% is organized and operated as alternative subjects such as character, talent, aptitude, and career education. Students who complete the curriculum here receive their diplomas from their original schools.
The students gathered at Ulsan Youth Vision School are youths who have had difficult times due to school violence victimization and learning maladjustment.
They soon experience flexible school administration that considers the positions of leaders with affection and professionalism and the students. It just takes a little time to regain a bright outlook.
Ulsan Youth Vision School has formed a teaching staff consisting of professional instructors who can conduct psychological counseling professionally.
Many teachers, including Principal Lee Giwoon, who also serves as the director of the Lavry Counseling Psychology Institute, incorporate know-how gained from youth counseling guidance into the school curriculum.
Teacher Lee Eunjeong (Ph.D. in Counseling, Daegu University) emphasized the necessity of commissioned alternative schools, saying, "Having met them for over 10 years, youths in crisis have grown up in places like playgrounds."
Principal Lee Giwoon said, "Although it is operated with poor facilities and the sacrifice and dedication of teachers and staff, there needs to be more places where children can meet friends and continue learning joyfully than there are now."
The principal added, "We are putting effort into making this a place where youths in difficult situations can learn how to navigate upcoming social life well and acquire social-emotional skills."
There are three commissioned alternative schools operated by Ulsan City: Ulsan Youth Vision School, MyCause School, and Ulsan Citizen Freedom School.
Only students with enrollment status in regular schools can be commissioned, so students who have been expelled or dropped out cannot apply. It is wise to consider these schools before dropping out or being expelled. Those who have dropped out of regular schools can restore their enrollment status through re-admission or transfer and then apply.
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