THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 3, 1995 TAG: 9512020158
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: WHO WILL LEAD OUR SCHOOLS?
SOURCE: PROFILES BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
The Navy was good to Harry Murphy.
After 12 years, it offered him a promotion to executive officer of a ship, a fast track to a position as commanding officer. It was tough to say no, but Murphy felt he had to.
``I just got tired of going to sea,'' he said. ``It was just too much time away from my family.''
He wanted to spend more time with his girls.
Now, he's got the best of both worlds. He's a commander in the Naval Reserves, where he can get the feeling of being in the military without the lifestyle commitment. And he owns his own business, a fence-building company that allows him to be outdoors, meet people and work with his hands.
He also has time to be with his children and to get involved in the community. His list of service activities blossomed after he left active Navy duty in 1991.
He's decided to take the challenge of running for the School Board, he said, because, ``I'm not pleased with a lot of the things I'm seeing in the school system.''
A major nit-pick he has is that primary school kids in Chesapeake don't receive grades for their schoolwork. The idea is that children will learn more in an environment that is not so focused on grades as the only measure of success.
``I'm not saying that every class, every test, has to be graded,'' he said. ``But certain things, like a spelling test, either you spell a word right or you don't.
``I think that children need to be rewarded for their work,'' he said. His philosophy is that children develop more self-esteem by achievement than from affirmation by others.
``Every parent I've talked to doesn't like'' the no-grade system, he said. ``They (children) don't deserve a pat on the back just for showing up to school.''
Murphy's feelings about the grading system connect to his fear that the school system is losing its focus on its real purpose - to educate kids.
``The school system has become the center for all our social programs,'' he said.
His vision is that schools would be places where children would feel safe, would have fun, would get rewarded for their accomplishments and would learn basic skills. Parents would be welcome into their children's classrooms and would feel part of educational decision-making. Schools would be the centerpieces of the community.
``We have a good school system, but it really could be great with just a few changes,'' he said.
Harry A. Murphy
Age: 38
Occupation: Owner, A. Murphy Fence Co.
Born: Cape May, N.J.
Years in Chesapeake: 10
Residence: Great Bridge
Family: Wife, Karen; children, Laura, 9, Jennifer, 6, Tyler, 7 months
Education: Bachelor's degree, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., 1979; master's degree, educational administration, Old Dominion University, 1985; education and training subspecialty, U.S. Navy
Community Service: Member, Messiah Methodist Church; member, Great Bridge Primary and Intermediate PTAs; soccer head coach, Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department; parent of the year, Las Gaviotas Swim Team, 1995; steering committee member and business sponsor, Fun Forest; playground sponsor, CANDII House; member, committee for playhouse fund drive, Big Brothers/Big Sisters; playground sponsor, Make-A-Wish Foundation, 1993; member, Tidewater Builders Association
Official endorsements: Chesapeake Young Republicans
How to reach: work and campaign headquarters, 547-7411
Major campaign issues: Focus on children in classrooms; get back to teaching basic skills and striving for excellence; reverse the school system's policy not to give grades to children at the primary levels; let teachers teach, and let administrators support teachers; promote respect and communication between students, parents and teachers; plan better to avoid school crowding and the use of portables; promote transportation safety and training for school bus drivers ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
He wants schools to be safe, fun and rewarding.
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION CANDIDATES CHESAPEAKE SCHOOLS
PROFILE by CNB