[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 871]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     CROSSROADS MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL

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                             HON. BOB BARR

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 7, 2002

  Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, Cherokee County is proud not only 
of its traditional school system, but also its emerging programs that 
reach out to students with additional needs--students who are bright 
and full of potential, but do not do not thrive in traditional routines 
found in contemporary middle and high schools. I recently had the 
pleasure of visiting one such school, and would like to take a moment 
to highlight CrossRoads Middle/High School for its innovative teaching 
skills and exemplary efforts in teaching the youth of out community.
  CrossRoads is an ``alternative school,'' yet the staff is quick to 
point out ``alternative'' is not a label that refers to ``bad'' 
children. It is a school that provides extra needed attention for 
students who may have academic or behavioral problems, such as 
attention deficit disorder or low attendance. According to principal 
Jeffrey A. Garrett, ``alternative doesn't mean bad but rather a 
different way of approaching school.''
  Students at CrossRoads are held to extremely strict guidelines 
regarding course work, as well as behavior. All students are forced to 
be accountable for their actions; and if they fail to meet the strict 
standards, they must leave the school. The most amazing thing is, even 
students originally forced to attend the school for disciplinary 
reasons learn quickly to appreciate the approach at CrossRoads, which 
makes them accountable, and do all they can to avoid being discharged 
from the school.
  The school has developed a clear-cut system of communication between 
teachers and students, providing definitive steps for handing in 
assignments; erasing any confusion or miscommunication between teacher 
and pupil. Students are given ample time to prepare and finish 
assignments, with instructions given out a week in advance. They are 
then required to complete the corresponding assignment and turn it in 
the same day of the following week; but students are encouraged to plan 
ahead and turn assignments in early. Behavior is monitored with the 
``zero tolerance'' policy. Any student who steps outside the boundaries 
set by this principle is expelled from both CrossRoads and the Cherokee 
County school system completely. Parents provide an additional branch 
of support, being required to know the school's homework guidelines and 
sign each of their child's assignments.
  The ``staff'' of CrossRoads includes not only the attentive teachers 
in each class, but also parents, educational administrators, and state 
officials who work every day to ensure the best possible outcome for 
the students. CrossRoads is a haven where children with a few more 
challenges than regular students, can turn to learn a new academic 
process, improve their socialization skills, and prepare to return to 
move on, either back to other schools, or on to post-secondary 
education. CrossRoads provides a sound scholastic base of reading, 
math, science, and language arts. Teachers are committed to develop not 
only child's mind but also his or her self-worth, leading them to reach 
towards their full potential as leaders of tomorrow.

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