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Most High School Seniors Looking Forward to Wearing Cap and Gown in Few Weeks, But Some L.A. Grads Won't Be Allowed To
Aired May 09, 2002 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Most high school seniors are looking forward to gathering that cap and gown in a few weeks time. But some Los Angeles students will not be allowed to, even though they have completed all their school requirements. Under a controversial new policy, in one part of the district, only those who are going on to college, trade school or the U.S. military can participate in graduation ceremonies. Robert Collins is the man behind the plan, superintendent of district C in the L.A. unified school district. He's our guest now in Los Angeles.
Good afternoon to you, Robert. Good to see you.
ROBERT COLLINS, DISTRICT C SUPERINTENDENT L.A. UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT: Good afternoon.
HEMMER: Your intent from this policy is do what, sir?
COLLINS: Well, first, let me clarify the policy. It's unfortunate that it's been misinterpreted so often. The policy does include college and a trade school, but the policy really is directed at students having a plan, and that plan can include work, it can include a whole variety of things that go beyond college. It's really for each student to have a goal and a plan for where they go once they graduate.
HEMMER: We are hearing, though, that some students essentially lie or get the paperwork done just to walk down the aisle on graduation. They have no intent of going on to the military, or some sort of trade school or community college. Does that simply say that for many students who have no intent to go further that they are just carrying out this act it fulfill the requirements placed upon them?
COLLINS: Over the past several years, over the past year and a half in particular, with this group of students, our counselors have intensely worked with the young people, all 3,700 of them. Most of our students, 95 percent of them, or more, have actually developed post-secondary plan. I believe most students are very sincere about the plans they have. And we have hundreds of stories about young people now who have discovered careers, who have gotten into college where they may never have been even thinking of going to college.
And for the one or two or three students who are maybe doing it just to get by, I think when august and September rolls around, and they don't have a plan...
HEMMER: You are saying it's only one or two students, just a handful.
COLLINS: I think have you a handful of young people who really don't have an idea or a goal for themselves.
HEMMER: And then if I hear you correctly, your intent from the program is to get them to start thinking about something to do after high school, is that right?
COLLINS: Absolutely.
HEMMER: What are you hearing from parents on that?
COLLINS: Well, we haven't heard very much from our parents. We've met with our parents over the past year and a half. They are fully aware of the program. There have been a lot of people who are outside our district, who don't understand it, or interpret it as college-only, who don't have a problem with it. Once they understand what the program is, once they understand that we're about counseling youngsters, that we're about changing the culture in public high schools, they are very appreciative.
HEMMER: Robert, quickly, in the short time we have left here, just want to know from you, do you feel that some are punished unfairly because of this proposal, this implementation of this procedure now in some schools?
COLLINS: First of all, we do not expect that there will be any student not walking across the stage in the ceremony. In the years that we have done this, every student has managed to put together a post secondary plan with their counselor. What's going to happen, though, is that you're going to have thousands of students, and we have thousands of students, who really have a new future and new goal, and I think they are really pleased with that.
HEMMER: All right. Robert Collins, L.A. Union's school superintendent from Los Angeles. Thank you, sir, much. Our time is short, but we appreciate you sharing your thoughts and the goals of your program there.
COLLINS: Thank you very much.
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