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Q&A
Debate over effectiveness of middle school SYEP model
4:09:02
·
100 sec
Council Member Althea Stevens expresses strong concerns about the current middle school SYEP model, particularly the project-based learning approach. She engages in a heated discussion with DYCD officials about the program's effectiveness and participant satisfaction.
- Stevens argues that the current model feels too much like school and doesn't provide the work experience young people want
- DYCD officials defend the program, citing positive feedback and high participation rates
- The council member challenges the agency's interpretation of feedback, emphasizing the need to listen to what young people actually want
- There's a clear disagreement between the council member's on-the-ground observations and the agency's survey data
Althea Stevens
4:09:02
Oh don't worry, have questions for Cred.
4:09:04
Don't worry, don't you worry.
4:09:07
And I know that the model for middle school that's something that was implemented before, but is there has there been conversations on changing the model back so that those young people could actually get work experience and not you know basically do this you know model based programming that they've been doing?
Valerie Mulligan
4:09:27
So I hear that feedback.
4:09:29
What I will say is that we really do like the project based learning
Althea Stevens
4:09:35
Who likes it?
4:09:36
You like it or the kids like it?
4:09:37
Because I don't care what adults like because that's not what I'm hearing.
Valerie Mulligan
4:09:39
I hear you.
4:09:40
We do get really positive feedback from our young people.
4:09:42
I could share some of the survey data.
Althea Stevens
4:09:44
No.
4:09:44
No.
4:09:44
No.
4:09:44
Because I can hear the pause I can tell you the feedback that I get.
4:09:46
I have, like, when I so I so
Valerie Mulligan
4:09:50
I hear you on
Althea Stevens
4:09:51
Those kids do not I have not heard one young person be like, I love to sit here and do this project based learning.
4:09:57
They say they feel like they're in school, they already don't want to be there and they're and it's $750.
4:10:04
So we can obviously we can find some kids to be like, alright, I like it, it's better than nothing, but that is not the hearing, the feedback that I get.
4:10:13
Even the ones who say they they like it, they're like, well why we only get $7.50?
4:10:16
I'd rather actually learn some experiences.
4:10:19
So it's okay for us to be like, it ain't working.
Valerie Mulligan
4:10:23
I get that.
4:10:24
I just we do see really high participation rates.
4:10:27
I would love to share with you, we survey all of the young people in that program every year, so I'd love to show you what we get from the survey data and we could talk about where there are gaps, but for sure we like that program.
Althea Stevens
4:10:38
No we like it but I don't but that's not what they want.
Valerie Mulligan
4:10:41
I got you.