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Show Goodbye students, hello Europe Instead of updating his lesson plan for the coming school year, Park City High School art teacher David Chaplin renewed his passport. pass-port. After eight years of teaching, Chaplin decided to take advantage of the sabbatical sab-batical which he became eligible for last year. Chaplin and his wife Marianne Cone, who is part owner and former art director direc-tor of Great Ideas Marketing - and Design, left for England last week. "The trip is not a vacation. I consider it a genuine continuation of my employment employ-ment with the district," said Chaplin, who will continue to receive monthly paychecks totalling 50 percent of his salary last year. Teachers earn the right to apply for a one-year sabbatical after seven years of employment with the school district. The primary objective of the sabbatical is to improve the quality of one's teaching, Chaplin explained. In exchange ex-change for the year spent pursuing an individual goal, teachers promise to return to their school district for at least two years. Teachers are further required to submit a sabbatical program pro-gram to the board of education for its approval. "It is a commitment on both sides which is meant to encourage the person to take the opportunity seriously," said Chaplin. During the coming year, Chaplin plans to develop the quality of his own artwork by painting and drawing his way through England, Spain, Greece and Scotland. -He said he also plans to visit some of the schools in each of those countries to observe their art programs. Chaplin Chap-lin said he nopes to arrange an exhibit of his work when he returns. "When you deal with artwork all day, it is hard to do it when you get home from work too. The creative process requires a great deal of concentration, and I believe that this opportunity will give me a chance to isolate my thoughts," Chaplin Chap-lin said of the need to get away to work on his own paintings. "But I'll miss the kids, they are the best part of any teaching situation." Marianne Cone will also use the time to work on her artistic skills. She has taken a leave of absence from Great Ideas and plans to "study art and language, to paint and drink wine." She Is looking forward to getting away from "day to day distractions like telephones, . financial concerns and car inspections." |