Dear Readers
There is a quiet revolution going on in our engagement with schools. The difference one knowledgeable person – a retired School Principal – can make to the life chances of hundreds of pupils is extraordinary. It’s inspired, careful work. Read about it on page 1.
‘Qualifications for Chelaship’ starts on page 2, on “the power of the Adepts over forces of nature… and their goodness and their solicitude for the welfare of the race”.
There’s lots more inside: on growing wheatgrass, the dangers of MSG in our diet and an announcement from a new study group in Toronto Canada – have a look inside and spread the word.
Grateful thanks to you all for your contributions and making the AQ what it is. Why not do a little propaganda of your own – if you feel like it, print it off and pass it around.
The Editors
A Quiet Revolution
by Ann Colburn, “Once Upon a School” http://onceuponaschool.org/stories/232
[An inspiring account of how one person’s work can affect the life chances of many pupils in the critical teenage years at school. Ed]
I have always been dismayed by the discrepancy between the poor educational opportunities of low-income students in the inner-city in contrast to that of affluent students in private education…
One of the biggest problems for students in inner-city schools is setting goals for after graduation and making a practical plan for reaching those goals.
Far too many students do not make it to graduation and the result is a huge pool of under-educated young people, too many of whom end up stuck in poverty in dead-end jobs or in jail. I wanted to help inner-city students dream a positive future and create a viable plan to achieve their goals.
What we did
The director of the Academy of Finance (AOF) at Manual Arts High School noticed my work with a few of his students who had been chosen for the One Voice Scholars program.
He asked if I would be willing to work with his whole class of seniors to enable them to reach goals similar to the One Voice scholars.
He offered me class time in his block schedule to work with the entire class and encouraged me to meet with students one on one to create a plan tailored to each student’s dreams, needs and individual situation.
Manual Arts High School, 4131 S Vermont Ave a few blocks from the ULT in LA, USA.
Each year for the seven years I have worked with the program, I have expanded my understanding of how to help these students succeed. I now reach out to students beginning in 9th grade to help them to see that college and a better life is in their future…
In the larger school, fewer than half of entering freshmen graduate. Of those who do graduate only 15% or so go to college. In the AOF program, 99% graduate and 90% go on to college.
The remaining students enroll in trade programs. One or two have gone into the military. We have not had to find much funding for our college program, since it is run by volunteers …
In general the AOF students fund-raise constantly for better classroom equipment, textbooks, desks and even a culminating senior trip to Washington DC.
~ End ~
