Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 25, 1995 TAG: 9507250087
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
EDUCATION
"Communities of inquiry"
Curriculum at all levels would be reorganized to turn schools into "communities of inquiry." Each school would have a semi-annual forum for students, teachers and administrators "to share and discuss the results, reflections, ideas and conclusions of their inquiries."
Worldwide standards
Each school system would create at least one model program based on worldwide standards, which will then validate "what works" in the actual classroom.
Education summit
Every two years, there'd be a region-wide "education summit" of "recognized national and international leaders" to advance ideas that "prepare our young people for success in the global economy."
Conflict resolution and peer mediation
To reduce violence in schools, each school would hold conflict resolution programs and institute peer mediation. "These programs would be designed to involve all students rather than select groups or representatives."
School constitutions
With teachers' supervision, students in each school would create a constitution for their school, specifying rules, responsibilities and rights.
Internet in every classroom
Each classroom would have a full connection to the Internet, the global computer network, with at least one computer in every classroom.
Raise expectations
The council says that teachers and parents "often expect less of particular students based on deeply ingrained cultural beliefs about geographic location, gender, race, religion, etc." To raise those expectations, each community would hold a series of meetings and workshops with teachers, administrators, parents, students and community groups "to examine attitudes and expectations of various 'groups,' (i.e., 'rednecks,' African-Americans, non-English speakers, boys and girls, teen-agers)."
Year-round schools
The assumption that learning must take place in classrooms, that school runs from September to June, and that all students would attend together in age-based groups would be abandoned. Instead, schools would operate year-round, but students would still attend for only 180 days, entering school on their birthday. This would "enable teachers to get to know students as individuals as they join the class" and reduce overcrowding. The students would schedule which days they'd attend to provide "greater flexibility for families."
Apprenticeships
Students would be paired with "interested artists, musicians, researchers, cabinetmakers, technicians, scientists, doctors, dentists, salesmen, builders, designers, architects, accountants, attorneys, craftpersons" or any others who "possess a skill worth teaching, have a good reputation in their field and are willing to teach their craft to a high school student."
Public relations campaign
Students in each school would develop public service announcements for television, radio and newspapers to advertise "the value of education" and their school's strategy for achieving educational results.
Academic letters and gold school buses
Schools would award "academic gold letters" similar to athletic letters. To draw attention to the program, new school buses would be painted "Olympic gold," not yellow. There'd also be an Olympic-style torch run, by students and educational leaders, from community to community, where "thousands" of residents would sign a Declaration of Educational Leadership.
Bus parents to PTA meetings
To encourage attendance at PTA meetings, at least twice a year school buses would pick up parents for evening meetings.
Democracy in the classroom
"Democratic decision-making" would be practiced in classrooms and schools as a way to emphasize "students' responsibility for creating and sustaining a comfortable, productive educational environment."
Personal goals for students
Each student would have specific goals for personal achievement. Teachers would review this "personal educational profile" with students and parents at least twice a year.
Homework hotline
Each school would have a "homework hotline" that parents would call to check up on what homework has been assigned.
Day care in the high schools
In-school day-care facilities would serve both teachers and students, "in order to stress the responsibilities of parenting while enabling teen parents to stay in school."
Parenting classes
Schools would hold classes and workshops for parents on how to be a better parent. Classes would be scheduled at various times "to accommodate the schedules of working parents."
Retirees as tutors
Retirees would be invited to tutor students on a volunteer basis.
Promote teaching as a career
High schools would hold "Introduction to Teaching" programs, in which "students with outstanding academic records" are introduced to the profession as a potential career.
Clerical help for teachers
This would give teachers more time for "professional development." Teachers would also be offered sabbaticals and fellowships to engage in research, curriculum development and other "professional development activities."
A real open-door policy
The doors to principals' offices would be removed from their hinges.
Visionary school boards
Each school board would be expected to distribute a one-page summary of its "vision, commitments and plans for action and accountability" to all teachers, parents and the news media. Teachers would discuss this summary with their classes, "encouraging students to consider their personal visions and commitments" to education.
Visiting time for teachers
Teachers would be granted release time to visit classrooms in other schools to learn new methods.
A regional council
Each locality would appoint one governmental representative, and each Chamber of Commerce in the region would appoint a business representative. There'd also be six at-large seats, mostly from businesses and other large institutions, such as Virginia Tech. In all, there'd be 34 members on the council which would meet regularly to identify problems that could be solved on a regional basis.
A single planning district
The region currently is divided among three planning districts. The New Century Council would like to see the boundaries redrawn so there's one planning district for the whole region, with regional offices.
Regional purchasing cooperative
Local governments would pool their purchasing, so they could save money by buying in volume. This would mean developing regional standards for such things as bidding, automobiles, trucks and other supplies.
Tax breaks for cooperation
The state would be encouraged to offer tax breaks and other incentives whenever three or more governments participate in a regional project.
A single MSA
That's Metropolitan Statistical Area. The federal government defines them, and businesses often use these boundaries in evaluating where they'll go. Now, the Roanoke MSA includes Roanoke, Roanoke County, Salem and Botetourt County. Could it be expanded to include everything from Alleghany County to Giles County? If so, this would "position the region as a major player in the 21st century."
by CNB