MISSION VIEJO : Top Students Teach Peers Lessons in Self-Respect

Sometimes the toughest part about being a teacher is trying to handle a classroom full of teen-agers.

Just ask a few students at Silverado High School, who have been leading classes for half an hour each week.

“It gave me a whole new perspective,” said Eric Cheney, a 17-year-old senior who guided a class last week through a lesson on natural frustrations, separations and anger, part of a curriculum called “Respect Yourself.”

“A teacher’s job is really hard because there are students who don’t want to learn,” Cheney said.

The idea of letting honor students lead the weekly lessons is the brainchild of Silverado High School teacher Scott Ferry, who said the approach has generated more serious debate on campus.

Every Wednesday, the students fan out to classrooms at the continuation high school for discussions on everything from drug abuse to stereotypes.

Such subjects have provoked strong feelings in students and helped them gain a better understanding of themselves and each other.

“I learned that I have to listen,” said Augdosha Ajawara, a 17-year-old senior. “I talk a lot and usually don’t want to hear from the other side, then I ran into somebody who was just like me.”

Kendra Sheffield, a 16-year-old junior, said that students are more willing to share their thoughts when a discussion is facilitated by one of their peers.

“I learned that people really care more than I thought they would,” she said.