Published October 4, 2024

Photo courtesy
Katie Lowry, Executive Director of Phelps Helps, poses with a group of students who participated in the organization’s youth committee, a program designed to foster leadership and life skills through community events.

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Just days after Quebec’s “Journée du Refus de l’Échec Scolaire” , a day that focuses on school success, Sept. 25, Katie Lowry, executive director of Phelps Helps, sat down to reflect on the progress made and the challenges that still lie ahead. The annual event, organized by the “Regroupement des organismes communautaires québécois de lutte au décrochage” (ROCLD), is aimed at raising awareness of the systemic barriers that continue to impede educational success for many Quebec students.

“The ‘Journée du Refus de l’Échec Scolaire’ is a chance to focus on the bigger picture,” Lowry said during a Sept. 27  interview. “Kids don’t drop out of school because they’re not motivated or because they aren’t trying hard enough. There are deeper issues at play, and we need to address those if we want to see real change.”

Barriers to success in Stanstead

Phelps Helps, a community organization based in Stanstead, has been on the front lines of this fight for over a decade. Founded in response to the alarmingly high dropout rates in the area, the organization now serves 400 participants annually, reaching one in three youth in the region.

“When we started, only about 50 per cent of students in Stanstead were graduating from high school,” Lowry explained. “By 2021, that number had improved by 21 per cent, but the pandemic set things back. We’ve seen how hard-hit families have been, especially with rising inflation, and it’s having a direct impact on students.” Across Quebec, the dropout rate has risen by 2.5 per cent since the pandemic, and disadvantaged youth are feeling the brunt of the pressure.

One of the most significant barriers to education in rural areas like Stanstead is transportation. “Our kids are spending an hour to an hour and a half on the bus each day,” Lowry said. “For a student who’s already struggling, that long commute can make it even harder to stay motivated.”

Additionally, economic factors play a major role. “We know that kids from low-income families often start the school year already behind. If you don’t have the school supplies you need, or you’re coming to school hungry, you’re at a disadvantage from day one,” she said.

A broader solution: Community involvement

For Lowry, the solution lies in stronger collaboration between schools, families, and community organizations like Phelps Helps. “The schools can’t do it all on their own,” she emphasized. “Teachers are doing their best, but they’re under a lot of pressure. What we’ve seen work is when schools partner with community groups like ours to provide the extra support that kids need.”

This partnership model has been key to Phelps Helps’ success. By working closely with local schools and school boards, the organization has been able to create programs tailored to the needs of students in the area. But Lowry stressed that families also need to be engaged. “There are families in our community who have had negative experiences with institutions like schools, and that can get passed down to the next generation. Community organizations can help bridge that gap by building trust and creating a positive connection between the family and the school,” she said.

Lowry highlighted the importance of giving young people real responsibilities and engaging them in meaningful ways. One successful initiative at Phelps Helps has been their youth committee, which empowers students to plan events for their peers. “We had a group of kids organize a winter ball last year. They were responsible for everything—budgeting, decorating, even cooking some of the food. It gave them a sense of ownership and taught them life skills, which translated into academic success,” she explained.

Photo courtesy
Phelps Helps Executive Director Katie Lowry with several youth from Stanstead, where the organization has been working to combat school dropouts through community-driven initiatives and educational support programs.

Reflecting on the “Journée du Refus de l’Échec Scolaire”

While the “Journée du Refus de l’Échec Scolaire” helped raise awareness, Lowry emphasized that the work is ongoing. The initiative, now in its sixth year, highlights the structural causes behind school dropouts, particularly in disadvantaged communities. As Lowry noted, the dropout problem is not just about individual students’ performance or motivation but is rooted in larger societal issues.

A press release from Phelps Helps and ROCLD pointed out several key areas where action is needed, including anti-poverty measures and increased funding for community organizations. “In Quebec, a student’s social background is the primary determinant of success at school,” Lowry explained, echoing the sentiments of the press release. “We need to strengthen our support systems for students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and that includes everything from ensuring they have access to proper school supplies to addressing broader economic inequities.”

Another critical issue is the lack of support services for students in the anglophone community. At Stanstead’s regional high school, Alexander Galt, for instance, there is only one guidance counselor for nearly 1,000 students. “It’s impossible for one person to provide the individualized support these kids need,” Lowry said. “We need to advocate for more resources, particularly for English-speaking students, who often don’t have the same access to services as their francophone peers.”

Looking forward

As Phelps Helps continues its mission to support youth in Stanstead, Lowry remains optimistic but realistic about the challenges ahead. “We’ve made progress, but there’s still so much work to do. We need more community involvement, more volunteers, and more recognition of the role that organizations like ours play in helping kids succeed,” she said.

Phelps Helps invites community members to get involved, whether by volunteering, donating, or simply learning more about the challenges facing local youth. “We all have a role to play in this,” Lowry said. “If we want to see real change, we need to take responsibility for our part in supporting the next generation.”

For more information on the work Phelps Helps is doing, or to get involved, visit their website. To learn more about the “Journée du Refus de l’Échec Scolaire”, visit: www.refus-echec-scolaire.ca

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