This School is My Sanctuary: The Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Alternative High School

This article describes the history and curriculum of the Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Alternative High School and explores the student-based notion called the school as sanctuary concept. Students suggest that a school is a sanctuary when there are caring student-teacher relations, students cultural and linguistic realities are valued, when a safe communityschool connection is present, and when high academic expectations are held for students. Teachers suggest that maintaining a school as a sanctuary is important and yet problematic because of the high turnover rates and personal tolls on personal relationships that they experience. The implications of these experiences will enable scholars, teachers, community activists, and teacher trainers to develop and critique pedagogical projects that attempt to put forth a critical pedagogy that addresses the social realities of urban students of color in the United States