information on High School Writing Centers (fwd)

[Dee Baer <dbaer@odin.english.udel.edu>]

I'm forwarding the message below from a high school teacher who is just
starting up a writing center.  I've already met with Matthew and shown him
around our writing center--highlighting our notebooks full of Writing Lab
Newsletters; our copies of The Writing Center Resource Manual, The
practical Tutor, Tutoring Writing, St. Martin's Guide, etc; and directing
him to the NWCA page with its start-up kit.  At this point, the school has
a room for the center, and has the support of the principal who will be
giving some release time to English faculty to staff the center.  The
department is considering using upper level students to help staff the
center. What are the real pitfalls to avoid? For example, 
I would think there would be a lot of pressure in public schools to
require the weakest writers to "go to the writing center." I've rarely
found that students--at least at the college level--who are required to
attend the WC are really engaged in the tutoring session.  What other
models have worked successfully and can be sold to the entire high 
school faculty?    

If anyone out there (Hi, Pam C.) has additional resource suggestions for
a public high school start-up orsupport to give Matthew, please respond to
him offlist.  
Thanks.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 18 Sep 1998 07:04:57 -0400 (EDT)
From: Matthew Stump <stumpm@csdmail.christina.k12.de.us>
To: dbaer@udel.edu
Subject: information on High School Writing Centers

Ms. Baer, 
	I wanted to send my e-mail address to you.  If you could provide 
me with more information about high school writing centers, I would 
greatly appreciate it.  Also, I was wondering if it would be possible for 
me to observe some tutoring sessions at your writing center?
	Thank you for your assistance.
        

					Sincerely, 
					Matthew Stump
					Glasgow High School