Parents/Gardian
When students are suspended, parents often worry about a lot of different issues. What will happen to my child during his or her suspension? Will I be able to supervise my child, take time off work, and get him or her to think seriously about the reasons for the suspension?
Having so many questions can lead to a great deal of anxiety.
But when suspended students are referred to the Alternative Suspension program, they receive supervision from highly qualified youth workers. Students in this situation (and their parents), feel more secure when they know there’s going to be continuity in their supervision and education. Students continue with their school work and at the same time are able to reflect on the reasons for their suspension. Moreover, program participants are required to develop solutions that will enable them to effectively reintegrate their schools and continue with their education.
Suspension is a critical time in a student’s life. Parents who invest in their child at this crucial moment increase the chances of their child’s successfully reintegrating his or her school environment. And while a parent’s contact with the youth worker during the suspension period is very important, the parent’s presence at the student’s reintegration meeting is essential, as experience has shown. Being present at this meeting ensures that the school, parents, youth worker and student have a common understanding of the situation and that there is a consensus on the solutions chosen.
To find out more about the Alternative Suspension program’s objectives and activities, please see the Program section.
Here’s one parent’s testimonial
Although Johanne Gordian is optimistic about life today, it has not always been the case. After a divorce, she found herself alone with her two sons, one of whom had problems. He lacked self-confidence, was depressed and aggressive. At the early age of 12, he started taking drugs. At age 13, just before the year-end exams, he was suspended from school for six weeks with no other options.
Johanne knocked on a lot of doors until someone told her about the Alternative Suspension program at the West Island YMCA. Her son met different and “smart” adults there, she said, with whom he built relationships of trust. In addition to taking courses, he had a chance to talk about his problems one-on-one and in groups. When the six weeks were up, he continued going to the YMCA practically every day. He felt comfortable, appreciated and well supported—so much so that after a major fight with his mother, he took refuge there. That day, the youth workers sat down with the mother and son and encouraged them to not only talk, but to sign a contract of mutual respect, which was a turning point in their relationship. “The YMCA provided tremendous help to my child and helped me as well” she said.
Three years and a few wrong turns later, the youth took charge of his life. He was determined to succeed, studied hard, stopped taking drugs and broke all ties with people who could have a negative influence on him. His ambition is to one day become a youth worker. Johanne Gordian can finally relax now. She speaks about her 16-year-old teen with great pride. “If that child becomes an honest citizen, it’s because the Y helped me. I take my hat off to the two youth workers who took care of us. Sometimes it doesn’t take much to influence a youth one way or another. But it takes time… three years in our case.”
