At-risk Montreal schools fight high dropout rates

Two weeks after introducing a program that gives laptops to every seventh grade pupilatLakeside Academy inLachine, teacherLorne Nathan says he is already seeing results he hopes will keepstudents in school.

"By giving them these devices we're giving thema wayto drive their own learning. We're hoping it's just another way to make them want to be here and come to school," said Nathan.

Lachine's high schools havesome of the highest dropout rates on the island of Montreal, averaging around 25 per cent.

Astudy by the University of Quebec inChicoutimireleased in November showed majordisparity in dropout rateson the island and thatseveral of Montreal's boroughs are suffering disproportionately.

Teachers atLakesidesay their school hasbecomethe exception after introducinga number of initiatives includingthe laptop programto encouragestudents to stay in school.

Lakeside student David Michelle, 12, says he has been using his laptop forworkon group projects.

"My favourite part is that if you're doing a project with somebody, you're able to share everything with them, and you're able to let them edit so they can help," said Michelle

Not all areas equal

The studyshowed children living west ofDcarieExpresswayare twice as likely to earn a high school diploma than those who live east of the highway.

For example, about 25 per cent of students in Verdun, Ville-Marie and Hochelaga-Maisonneuve drop-out before completing high school.

In the West Island municipality ofKirkland, the rate is less than 10 percent.

The studyfound that poverty was a significant factor in the dropout rates. Lowerincome areas were the worst hit.

Though schools say there is little they can do to alleviate these larger socioeconomic factors,teaming up with community partners to keep kids interested is effective.

Help from community programs

Most days, when Terry Gallagher has time off between or after classes at BeurlingAcademy in Verdun, he's playing music at school.

Gallagherparticipates in a music program run by Youth Fusion,a charity that works in many Montreal-area schools.

The 10th gradersays music is what keeps him studying.

"[I wouldthink] 'I don't see why I'm learning half the stuff I'mlearning, I'll never be able to use it in life,'" said Gallagher.

Beurling Academy is located a "red zone,"where studentgraduationrates are the lowest on the island of Montreal.

Eric Burnet, the music coordinator with Youth Fusion, says the program encourages students to set goals for themselves and achieve them,thentransfer that energy into their schoolwork.

We try to provide programs that will interest kids to do things that they may not be able to do during their classes, saidBurnet.

"Then they can go to class and they remember that putting in a few hours towards a song paid off, and think, 'Why don't I try this math problem?'"

BeurlingAcademy's principal,DavidAbracen, says people also need to be more open-minded about how they measure students'achievements.

How you define successit really can't just come down to numbers," saysAbracen."What we do is we ask the students.

Though theseefforts may not be enough to keep the mostat-risk youths at schooluntil they have their diploma, Gallagher's case, joining the music program worked.

"I just love coming to school now," he said.