ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 6, 1997 TAG: 9704070026
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-11 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RURAL RETREAT
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER THE ROANOKE TIMES
As long as state school accreditation standards are being revised, a Pulaski County High School official suggests that they address the increasingly popular block classes.
Assistant Principal Michael Hickman was among 24 speakers addressing state
Board of Education member Brandon Bell and state Superintendent of Public
Instruction Richard LaPointe here last week at the third of seven regional
"So we have to get a waiver to do business," Hickman said. "This is the
perfect opportunity, as you rewrite the standards of accreditation," he said,
to address that situation. "All it takes is a little thought and talk with
those schools on block scheduling."
More than 80 Virginia high schools have moved to block scheduling and the
number probably will top 100 next year. It has worked well in Pulaski County,
he said, and indications of interest in the longer classes are shown by the
fact that representatives of more than 230 schools have come to Pulaski County
to learn more about them.
The language in the standards of accreditation would not reflect this trend
as now proposed, he said.
Steve Ragsdale, who has taught math at Giles High School for about 28
years, questioned the proposed requirement that all students take Algebra I to
graduate.
"In and of itself, I see very little value in taking Algebra I," he said.
"We've got a lot of students who cannot master Algebra I. Anybody who thinks
differently is living in a dream world."
Ragsdale is not opposed to an additional math requirement, but said Algebra
I is good only as a stepping stone for higher math. He suggested a math class
instead with elements of algebra and other higher math, but including the kind
of math graduates will find useful in day-to-day experience.
Wythe County Superintendent James Vaught said levels in the new standards
need to be defined and quantified so students, teachers and parents will have
a clear idea of what is expected of them.
The standards also will have a fiscal impact on school systems, he said,
and should be calculated to see that all systems have an equal opportunity to
meet them.
Three Virginia Tech students majoring in health and physical education
urged the state officials not to reduce physical education requirements.
"I'm not up here because I have a job to save. I'm up here because I'm
concerned about the future," said Jan Kelley.
"If we don't take care of our bodies, we might not even be around to excel
at academics," agreed Kathleen Speakman. By de-emphasizing the teaching of
lifetime health habits, she said, "we are almost asking that the lifetime of
man be reduced in the future."
Candace Kanode said the new breed of physical educators recognizes
different needs and ability levels among (text stopped here in print)
students, and avoids the old situation of top athletes playing while others
watch.
LaPointe said the proposed new standards do not address physical education,
and the state board has no plans to reduce current requirements. He said Gov.
George Allen had stated his support to LaPointe of maintaining those
requirements.
Jane Musser, who spent 20 years in Wythe County as a secretary in the
school administrative office and chief GED examiner for the system before she
retired, suggested that state officials ask students to gauge how well schools
are doing.
She recounted a conversation she had with a fourth-grade pupil, whose
complaints included "bad words" scrawled on bathroom walls and an incident
involving the passing out of drugs.
She said she asked the child what she would say if she could be the
school's principal for a day.
"School's out," the little girl quickly replied.
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