Chapter 12: Teacher Advisories - A Proposal for Change

Chapter 12: Teacher Advisories – A Proposal for Change
This chapter was about creating a successful advisory committee. According to National Middle School Association’s Research Summary #9, an advisory program “is when one adult interacts with a small group of students on a regular basis to provide a caring environment for academic guidance and support” (pg. 146). Most people would assume that an advisory committee would be something similar to a guidance councilor, and in a way it is, but the example in the book is of the teacher taking his advisees out on a nature hike. It is a good way to get to know students, what they want to do in life, and find out ways that you could maybe help them reach those goals. It also serves as a chance to improve the community because you could take your students out into the area and maybe work at a food pantry or help out at a local daycare. It also talks about how these trips can help students who might not be the greatest academic students shine in other ways.
I was glad to read about this sort of thing and actually see it work out correctly. When I was in practicum, I was sent to Mount Blue High School, and they did use the advisory committee concept. Unfortunately, the mentor that I had did not take it very serious – in fact, a couple times a week the students would come in and all he would do would be to read their grades, out loud, and then tell the students who were doing poorly to get their act together. Once that was done, he would ask if anyone wants “any kind of advice” and when no one said anything he told them they could leave. The sad thing was that these kids really needed help and could have really used someone who would sit there and listen to them, but it was just not happening. I understand that it took place at the high school level, but I don’t think it should be any different. Students should still get the opportunity to get advice. If the administration knew that few teachers really did anything with it, I think they would have just scrapped it and used the time for something else.