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Show M,pft Gmld Chmmg3 ID) mm Bdumh By TOM BUSSELBERG North County Editor lot atR,.INGT0N " The national report, "Nation could t ls tal:'n8 on some grass-roots meaning that fmn, sform the Davis School District's schools On,0"e end to the other. on- ah!id'iiRS?AY and Friday saw about 40 educators in ; ma;0r e that resulted in 76 ideas formulated into 13 j hilemnCepts With far-reaching implications. And Mot' inv0Vg y wil1 require sizeable cash outlays, others i other "f8reater use of community volunteers or I tfsthr" concePts. icy c' stin I'"! ma-'or step taken by the district after nhdf - I'niver V "Nation at Risk" report supervised by " consid yof utah Pres. David Gardner while also ' yJ8 two other reports dealing with the quali- ty of American education and ways to improve it. AMONG THE concepts outlined were improving public relations between the homes and schools. That would include informing parents what a course listing is about and student expectations, rather than merely listing "intermediate algebra concepts practi-cum," practi-cum," using a fictitious example. That public relations rela-tions effort would also involve working with volunteers volun-teers in the community at large, explains District Public Information Officer Bonnie Durrance. A major goal is smaller elementary class loads that would see classroom teachers assisted by more sup-port sup-port personnel, specialists such as in music, art, foreign language, computer science and physical education. Currently, elementary teachers must handle music, art and physical education on a regular basis and "already have 11 basic areas they have to teach," Mrs. Durrance notes. INCREASED requirements for students will be studied, including graduation requirements. "Benchmark" "Ben-chmark" testing would be implemented in elementary elemen-tary grades "to carefully survey (teaching of) the basics, to make sure the 2nd, 3rd grades are up to snuff' in reading, mathematics, etc., she explains. More time on task for students in all grades will be sought. For secondary students that includes moving extra-curricular activities outside the regular school day, fewer interruptions in classwork with assemblies, assemb-lies, from the intercom, etc. That problem goes beyond Davis District, incidentally, and has been the ' subject of a board-commissioned study in the Salt Lake City School District, for example. COORDINATION of curriculum between schools in grades kindcrgarten-12 will be stressed, meaning every 7th grade alcebra class in every junior high school would be teaching the same material, for instance. in-stance. A uniform district wide procedure for removal of those students who will not learn was formulated along with "differential staffing" including summer classes with extended teacher contracts a possibility. possi-bility. MORE PROGRAMS for the gifted and talented received a go-ahead for further study along with a proposal to provide adequate materials and textbooks text-books for every class. As Mrs. Durrance indicates, several of the proposals propos-als would cost additional funds, such as purchasing enough textbooks or providing the teacher assistance. assist-ance. That issue will be tackled later as the district CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ULepovt Gould Ch&mge I$m?i$ County S chools Continued from Front Page continues outlining plans it hopes can be actively pursued early next year after more input is received from anyone interested, from students to parents, teachers and the community at large and details worked out. THE WORKSHOP also saw discussion on ways of teaching, such as teacher training concentrating on the field a teacher intends to follow, reducing the education-related classes programs require. Many suggestions came into the open, Mrs. Durr-ancc Durr-ancc says, ranging from a need to improve teachers' colleges, including more careful screening of teacher candidates, to more emphasis on teacher reading and writing skills. That was coupled with a desire teachers receive more in-class student teaching experience. ex-perience. "WE WANT TO stress that these workshops will be ongoing," Mrs. Durrance says. "We hope there will be parental and public input." Supt. Lawrence Welling outlined district goals as they relate to state board of education-related actions ac-tions to the board of education last week. "The whole nation trying to improve education will take the best efforts of us all-parents, teachers, administrators, adminis-trators, board members and students to make any significant inroads," he said as introduction. "IT'S OF paramount importance to also know what the leadership of the state and nation are looking look-ing at. We may not know that until the national election," he said. Outlining "some potential educational alternatives" alterna-tives" for elementary, junior high and high schools, he quoted from material prepared by the state office of curriculum and instruction, "Promising Prospects for Strengthening Public Education." FOR ELEMENTARY students, it stresses the need for students of mastering functional competencies competen-cies such as reading, writing, speaking and listening, gaining an introduction in mathematics, science and problem-solving, as well. An introduction to citizenship citizen-ship principles and practices would also be offered along with mastery of those introductory skills of computer literacy, art, music, movement and fitness, fit-ness, health education, social studies and second language. Equal access would also be provided for the mild and moderately handicapped and high risk students, with special programs for severely handicapped. hand-icapped. On the junior high level, focusing on a "higher order intellectual skills" in language arts, pre-algebra pre-algebra and algebra, writing, earth, life and physical science; mastery of functional competencies, including includ-ing democratic governance, consumer information, goods and services. Expansion of skills such as music, art, fitness and computer skills, exploration of vocational education and continued programs for severely handicapped. HIGH SCHOOL would involve a comprehensive curriculum with a core "which enhances the quality of life" that would mean studying English, math, science and "specialization in pre or post-high school pursuits," the superintendent explained. Post high school pursuits could mean everything from apprenticeships to work entry and on-the-job training to attending college or military service to sheltered and specially supervised employment for the handicapped. POSSIBLE implications could mean "minimum basic competencies required in the elementary grades," Supt. Welling told the board, using the example of mandating a 4th grader is progressing satisfactorily rather than waiting until 8th grade competency com-petency testing to see if he can graduate from high school. It means "going grade by grade," Dr. Welling said, "to see if they're really learning. It (state report) re-port) does not answer what to do about the kid who doesn't or won't learn." HIGH SCHOOL admittance wouldn't be automatic, automa-tic, he said further, with "admittance based on performance per-formance standards" with "principals and teachers accountable for their (students) performance." Looking back on the average school day over the last 30-plus years, he spoke of increasing emphasis placed on extra-curricular activities, as they've grown in number and become more integrated into the regular school day, moving from perhaps a dozen activities ranging from athletics and sports with their cheerleaders and pep clubs to musical performing and the year book in the 1940's and '50's to vocational vocation-al education teams, flag twirlers, literary magazine and scholarship preparation today. THIRTY YEARS ago, such activities were held outside of the regular school day and now are often scheduled as specific classes held during the regular school day, he noted. "Is it time to re-look, re-think and re-evaluate how much time should be spent in the instructional day involved in other (non academic) activities," he asked. USING THE example of fitness or weight training for athletes, he said in a six-period day that could mean up to one-third of the day spent there, currently. current-ly. "There may be little wonder some of the basics (are suffering for some): This may be contributing-some contributing-some graduates have not had the opportunity" to pursue many such classes, he said further. A myriad of changes to meet educational needs are being considered, he reiterated, such as allowing not only professional physical education teachers but also recreation aids who could "supervise many of those fitness and conditioning programs" and save thousands of dollars. "MAYBE YOU don't need a professional teacher to count how many times someone does a pushup," Dr. Welling mused. "If there can be some savings in money, expanding the program would be better." '' ' And while some of the changes may not suit teachers' fancies, entirely, he went on, "it may be a better program." "SOMETIMES the instructional program doesn't match the objectives," he said, adding ways should be found to find proper ways to teach each student and at the same time hold both the student and teacher accountable and "then we may get closer to what we hear people want." |
