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Show V. '1 THE ZEPHYROCTORER i PAGE 7 R0 n research from A.C.T., the exam Juniors and seniors take to qualify to enroll In college. Two years ago our average A.C.T. was 22; I believe the national average was 18.7. Last year we dropped a little, to 20, but were still above. The Citizenship Policy Zephyr: Can YOU ' GREAT PLACES! GREAT PRICES! . explain the old tardv policy and the changes vou Imple- 369 mented this year with the citizenship policy? Tom Martin: You bet When I first came here, I had more students In the halls than were in the classroom. I was appalled at the number of students wandering about Its my opinion that this Is a work place, the students need to be to work on time. I brainstormed some ideas with faculty members and came up with a 382 Secluded, near golf course, acreage plus 2 homes. Adobe with character, 3 bdrms. great condition, $37,000. 376 policy. The Idea was: if they dont come to work on time, I wont let them go to class. It wasnt a punitive thing. A lot more was made of that policy than there really was. . It solved the problem. Human behavior shows that if youre placed In a situation where you dont know anyone, you get kind of quiet, and you behave. And thats what we were doing - putting seniors In freshman classes, and vice versa. They went there and studied and were given credit for attendance. Zephyr: Were they allowed to make up what they missed In class? Tom Martin: Yes, If they met with the teacher during that school day, not during the work day. The concept was to show that being to work on time pays dividends. But some teachers were being Interrupted by tardy students 7 or 8 times in the first ten minutes of class. And what happens to the kids that always show up on time? They never get any credit for IL So the focus of the policy Is to put the responsibility on the student Since the school year began, weve trashed that old tardy policy Zephyr: Whv did vou change It? Tom Martin: We changed it because we wanted to come up with a plan that gives students credit for good citizenship. Before, tardiness or bad conduct could affect a students academic grade and the students had a legitimate complaint there. Its an old traditional grading system. In Utah, a teacher can assign up to 30 of a grade based on behavior and attitude. The goal of the students, parents, faculty and myself was to write a model plan. We contacted other schools that had citizenship programs and then wrote our own program. We had 40 people They made changes, we put a participating In this - an excellent cross-sectiout a and . plan. put packet together Zephyr: So vou feel It was a real bipartisan effort? Tom Martin: Oh yea. And thats the key to success. It cant come from the top down. The basic concept behind the citizenship program is this: It started where we wanted to separate academic from behavior, truancy, tardies and those kinds of things. So now the academic grade Is based on tests, quizzes, group participation, term papers - anything that can be accurately measured. The other part of the grade Is the citizenship grade. In this world today, it Isnt Just what you know, its how you get along with other people, whether you can get to work on time, basic work ethics, and so on. What you know will follow who you are and how you act So that s the basic thrust behind citizenship. What we came up with Is that every student has to earn 7.25 credits In citizenship per year. That 29 credits total from your freshman year out of 32 credits. Were not here to hurt people. Todd Pene visited the Board meeting with me this month --hes the.student of the month. And the Board asked him what he thought of it and he said, for the first time in high school Im getting credit for how I behave and its important Now this Is going to be quite severe for those who to dont want be here, but then again what do you owe them? But theres a way When you get your first "unsatisfactory , out of this; you can earn the credit back. on a report card because of citizenship, youre going to be required to pay a ten course. Ive got some video tapes and dollar fee and take a self-este- em workbooks which well do In the noon hour -- 1 teach the course. The course Is to Its a dynamite class and Id like to have everyone help create a better self-imatake it. I think well see some dividends. Zephyr: But vou cant fall an academic course because of vour citizenship 21 units, all currently rented. self-stora- ge $55,000. All it needs is a house-6- .4 acres, well, septic, fenced in Castle Valley. 310 Not many of these left- -3 bdrm. 1 bath, brick. Only $25,000. 299 Duplextriplex? You decide. Excellent investment property. $69,900. ' 345 Nice family home, nice neighborhood, nice price. $61,900. V 378 Highway frontage with great shop, lots of potential, on 1 acre. $69,500. Call for a complete list of homes, acreage, & commercial properties. 224 t . . if ' i V 4 4 on. t ) T 259-502- 1 ' r Quality Realty 59 S. Main Western Plaza 4 1 t Moab, Ut 84532 Put your trust in Number One: Equal Housing Opportunity $ EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED I 'zz r 7 JERRY WALKER for CITY COUNCIL ge. flCPde. Thats right Thats why we separated them. We had some concerned students and thats why we addressed the Issue. And because the citizenship aspect used to be figured In the academic grade, It sometimes raised a students grade in a class higher than what their real knowledge of the subject was. I dont think thats fair. Ive always teased the students that I could put a pet Tom Martin: . i rock In a class and if It did what It was told, It would get a passing grade. Anybody whos serious about their education Is going to pass. Zephyr: But can students with oood academic grades actually be kept from graduating because of their citizenship grade? Tom Martin: Absolutely. Thats Board policy. They need the 7.25 credits per that year. I think citizenship is very important Over the years, since Vietnam I I was from 1965 schooL in was a very painful era for me. high graduated alarmed at how citizenship In the country dwindled. The belief in the country to stand up for some principles that are right But then, whats right? Thats the we all have our own opinions. Thats the tough thing with beauty of our country my Job, even with the citizenship policy. Still allowing for different Ideas to come forth. Zephyr: Does the student have the right to appeal a citizenship grade? Tom Martin: Yes. The appeal process is outstanding. The committee consists of two honor students, two teachers, and two parents. The only evidence that the committee will hear is the documented evidence of the student or teacher. The committee makes the decision. What can be foirer than that? to poor academic Zephyr: Are many students held back in high school, due des? Tom Martin: Its the kindergarten, 4th, 5th and 6th grades, they really need to be helped. Ive picked up students from the Middle School who have no business and Its being here. They earned the credits but they have difficulty reading, In retention the a not have policy primary professional because their district does If a parent were to disagree with the educator, that student would be grades. a board policy where to promoted. And to me, thats Improper. We need develop We for cant continually decision the promotion. the professional educator makes or want son their daughter to feel promote students because Mom and Dad dont bad. We need to do it at the lower grades. High school cant be a remedial schooL It should be a final fling with learning. Youre putting the final touches on the lower level of your education. who are not excelling Zephyr: Dg vou find a correlation between students In their education? Interest an to fail take academically, and parents who a home front that to have Tom Martin: Absolutely. That is criticaL Youve got cares. If they're constantly negative, then the student will be the same. Im pretty I would sure appreciate more support happy with my experience here so for, but for education. i Lets put consistency back in government VOTE ON NOV. 7 a paid political advertisement .'M ' . .ll I.. .f, , mVlT 'tiN to 4 v r r mi- y1 it s ' V !W |