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Show Here's text of Alpine District philosophy EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is the complete text of the Alpine School District's newly adopted statement of philosophy and goals. Education is the process of helping students improve their power to think productively, to discern between the significant and the less significant, and to act competently and responsibly. It is more than filling students' minds with information to be recalled upon demand. Wise judgment, continued learning, and the ability to productively apply knowledge in solving problems are marks of a truly educated person. There is more to education than schooling. Much of what constitutes education is learned in settings other than formal schools. 'Ultimately education is something that one must do for oneself rather than something that can be done to a person.' Education is a process which should continue throughout a person's life. Ultimately, education is something that one must do for oneself rather than something that can be done to a person. Hence, the basic responsibility for becoming educated rests upon the individual. Schools are places where planned, purposeful instruction is systematically provided with the intent of helping students become educated. The school curriculum should help students learn how to learn independently so that they can function as self-reliant, lifelong learners and maximize the educational value of their out-of-school experiences. Schools should not be expected to become the primary agent for resolving all of society's social, economic and political ills. Schools lose their focus and dilute their resources when assigned to serve increasingly peripheral functions. The consequence is that schools then become unable to do well that which is their primary educational responsibility. . The mission of the Alpine District schools is to help students acquire the skills, understandings, attitudes, at-titudes, and values necessary to become productive, responsible members of society. The schools share this role with the home and the community. The schools are primarily responsible for providing instruction in those skills, understandings, un-derstandings, and behaviors which can be taught better in a formal, organized setting. Schools are also responsible for providing a safe, supportive, caring environment that encourages each student to excel. The home, -the community and the school are jointly responsible respon-sible for the physical, social, emotional and moral development of the youth. Intended Student Outcomes . The curriculum of the Alpine schools is designed to help students achieve the following goals: 1. Become proficient in the basic communication skills of reading, writing, speaking,-and listening. 2. Become proficient in mathematical reasoning and computation. 3. Understand the value the processes of democratic governance gover-nance and actively exercise the duties of responsible citizenship. 4. Make informed consumer decisions based on appropriate knowledge of products, needs, and resources. 5. Become skillful in analyzing problems and in formulating and testing alternative solutions. 'Schools should not be expected to become the primary agent for resolving all of society's social, economic and political ills.' 6. Apply basic concepts and principles of the sciences to understand un-derstand natural phenomena. 7. Apply basic principles of the arts and humanities to appreciate aesthetic objects and events., 8. Practice appropriate habits of personal health and hygiene. 9. Gain the skills and confidence necessary to engage in autonomous, self-directed learning and recognize the need to continue learning throughout life. 10. Develop skill in coping with change in a rapidly changing society. 11. Develop a positive self-concept. self-concept. 12. Develop skill in making decisions and a willingness to accept ac-cept responsibility for their own decisions, actions and habits. 13. Respect the rights and property of others and act on the belief that each individual has value as a human being. 14. Base educational and career decisions on a correct understanding un-derstanding of personal needs and capabilities and the options and opportunities available. 15. Qualify for high school graduation and adequately prepare for post high school activities. Conditions The Alpine School District is committed to educational ex-"" cellence for all students enrolled in the schools of the district. This excellence is more likely to result when the following conditions prevail: 1. Each student functions as an active participant rather than as a passive recipient in the educational process and accepts responsibility for hisher own progress. 2. The home and community provide a supportive environment which honors effective teaching and encourages students to achieve their potential. 3. Each teacher and administrator ad-ministrator is a model of a knowledgeable, sensible human being who has a contagious enthusiasm en-thusiasm for learning and a concern for the progress of individual students. 4. Goals for learning are clearly stated, widely accepted, and regularly used as guides for evaluation and decision-making at all levels of the educational process. 5. Instruction is designed to meet the needs, interests, and capabilities of each student. 6. Activities which interfere with the time students spend in class are minimized. 1; Necessarv 'f matenals, sup faciiti resources which nd are provided. "ltate learfe 8- Policies nrft practices are RE?ran and and revised as they facilitate ary 50 lb and learning. ellve teacg , 9- highly competen, . classified, and ad" Personnel are "ZT assigned to the a, Preparation and expe J adequately compel V"d professional servi'I 'ed tor their 'The mission ofth Alpine District school s to help students acquire the skills understanding ' attitudes and values necessary to become productive, responsible members of society 10. A fair, objective, perforT" appraisal system is iSL " which fosters prot3 countab.hty and improver! each evel of the J 31 program. educal'l 11. Open, honest, courteous effective, communication re,! occurs among the board education, district personnel, a the public so that all gmpi J cura ely understand the strength! problems issues and constraints oi the district. 12. Patrons and district persons are informed and given opportunity to provide input before decision' are made which directly affecl them. 13. A grievance procedure is established which allows person; having concerns about district policies, programs, or practices to express their concerns at the appropriate ap-propriate organizational level and to receive a fair, courteous hearing and response. 14. District policies, program; and practices are appropriate integrated and coordinated m harmony with the philosophy and goals of the district. I |