THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 9, 1997 TAG: 9701090334
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MAPLE LENGTH: 84 lines
The chairman of the Currituck County Board of Commissioners hadn't been in the physical education class five minutes when he learned his first lesson of the day: Running a county board is easier than running with 8-year-olds.
``My understanding is you're supposed to do what the children do,'' said phys ed teacher Pat Hutson minutes before, sizing up Commissioner Paul O'Neal's suit and dress shoes as they entered the gymnasium. ``And it looks like you did not come prepared.''
O'Neal, 34, had no idea what to expect during Central Elementary School's first ``Elected Officials Go To School'' on Wednesday.
Neither, apparently, did his third-grade classmates.
``He's gonna do it with us?'' one girl inquired of the teacher.
``He's gonna do the running with us?'' questioned another disbeliever.
``He's even gonna do jumping jacks?'' a third student asked incredulously.
And O'Neal did, prompting periodic grins and giggles from the other students during an aerobic warm-up and exercises with a colorful parachute.
O'Neal earned praise from the instructor - ``He did super. A willing participant. Good attitude'' - and respect from the students, all of whom lapped the local leader during the run.
The Central Elementary program - a first for the county - also received rave reviews from other teachers, parents, pupils and participants.
``This is one of the most well-behaved groups I've ever seen,'' said state Rep. W.C. ``Bill'' Owens during lunch duty. ``They listen to what you have to say, are attentive and ask good questions.''
Owens said he found the experience especially helpful because he is one of eight House members serving on a legislative education oversight committee, which looks at the needs of the state's public schools.
``This allows you to experience firsthand the good points and the bad points,'' Owens said.
Such comments were music to the ears of Willo Winterling, the parent volunteer who created and coordinated ``Elected Officials Go To School.''
Winterling, a mother of two, spent months preparing for this week, which was first suggested by the statewide Parent-Teacher Association.
The goal of the program is to allow officials to see schools from the perspectives of staff members and parents, enhancing awareness of public schools.
``I just felt that it was really important because each year the school hosts tours for our elected officials, but they don't get to always see what goes on inside classrooms,'' Winterling said.
She also thought having local leaders in the classroom might improve their image in the community.
``Sometimes commissioners are viewed as not being very supportive of our schools, and this shows that they do care enough to be a part of them,'' said Winterling, who moved to Currituck with her family 1 1/2 years ago from Virginia Beach.
During the day, Owens impressed a fifth-grade class with his ability to multiply three-digit numbers in his head, among other feats.
While Owens was extolling the merits of mathematics, Currituck County Commissioner Owen Etheridge was in another wing, sitting on the floor and playing bingo with kindergartners.
``First time I'd ever seen a bingo game based on colors and shapes,'' he said an hour later while helping monitor the school cafeteria.
Etheridge earlier had given a lecture on civics to sixth-graders. ``It was nice to bring to them an awareness of the government that is closest to them,'' he said.
Commissioner Eldon Miller Jr., who had not been to school for a long, long time, seemed to enjoy the experience.
The program continues with Currituck County School Board members today.
``With this turning out as well as it has, it would be nice to have this every year,'' said Amanda Corbell, a volunteer and substitute teacher who helped Winterling this week.
Corbell, like others at the school, repeatedly praises Winterling for her daily dedication to the Currituck school system. Her son Matthew is a second-grader at Central, and son Brandon is in the seventh-grade at Knapp Junior High School.
``She's always looking to find things that will open avenues for the kids,'' she said. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
DROPPING IN ON THE STUDENTS
DREW C. WILSON
The Virginian-Pilot
Above, Paul O'Neal, chairman of the Currituck County Board of
Commissioners, joins in parachute play with third-graders at Central
Elementary School on Wednesday. Below, state Rep. W.C. ``Bill''
Owens takes lunch with Central students.