By:KEITH GRANT
From West School to Lido, Lindell to Blackheath, thousands of students began a new school year this week.
For 47 other students, the week marked a beginning of a different sorts. They earned their high school diplomas at the 27th Annual Commencement ceremonies of Long Beach's Harriet Eisman Community School.
The students were the latest in a long line of proud graduates.
When The Harriet Eisman Community School opened its doors in the tumultuous early 70s, Long Beach High School suffered one of its highest drop out rates. The school's goal was to bring those students back, to enable them to challenge themselves, and obtain an education, to prepare for a reemergence into a society that would in future so need them.
Nowadays, the political climate is drastically different and American attitudes in general have changed. But, the need to reach children, to find their individual learning styles continues. Last Thursday evening, 47 more students from the Eisman School earned a high school diploma, adding their names to a roster of nearly 1,100 graduates. The location for the graduation, The Long Beach Public Library was filled to capacity with many latecomers standing in the back.
Amidst the chattering of toddlers, crying of babies, and whoops of friends standing in the rear, the graduates sat quietly wearing smiles that radiated more warmth than a ray of summer sunshine.
Back in the 70's when the Community School was getting its feet wet, people generally believed that failure was inevitable. Bucking the education system they used volunteers, didn't charge tuition, lacked traditional funding, and insisted upon enrolling a diverse population of students. Many felt that racial infighting would close the doors of the school if financial ruin didn't close it first.
In 1972, most people didn't think the program would succeed then, and certainly not until this point,Dr. Joseph Smith, Executive Director of Long Beach Reach, Inc. (the sponsoring agency for the school) said at the ceremony.
We know that given the opportunity and encouragement, young people will grow, learn and meet challenges.
Director Johanna Mathieson-Ellmer attributes the school's success to many factors, one important one being the small class sizes. There are no more than 15 children per class.
Because it's smaller, you really get to know the students and they get to know the
teachers,Mathieson-Ellmer explained. Teacher Appreciation student speaker Elisa Lucero felt that the superior quality of teachers at the school also made a difference.
They plant the seeds for success, love, and knowledge in our hearts,she said. Some of us had fallen through society's cracks and were ignored. Some of us felt lost and hopeless, fortunately we found our place here.
Another speaker, Siobhan Erin Daly, this year's New York State Lotto Leaders of Tomorrow
