                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, July 27, 1995                TAG: 9507270191
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN              PAGE: 06   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   85 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - SUFFOLK

School in focus

Nansemond River High School, with the help of Penn Engineering & Manufacturing, has been hard at work implementing focus groups into the school's environment.

Penn plant manager Dan Carley spoke to the NRHS faculty and administration about the advantages of focus groups in solving problems in the work place as well as the classroom. The purpose of focus groups is to ensure the highest quality work atmosphere through communication, training and developing problem-solving techniques within a group.

Penn Engineering, an NRHS business partner, has been working vigorously with Nansemond River's teachers and administration to enhance the quality of teaching and learning. This new approach will help NRHS work through existing problems as well as new ones that may arise when block scheduling begins next year.

NRHS teachers hope to incorporate focus groups into the classroom curriculum. By doing so, students can have hands-on training in solving problems that will benefit them in their future occupations.

Focus groups also improve human relation skills. These groups allow each member to get a voice in educational matters. Respect is one of the key elements in focus groups and is highly emphasized.

Carley named several techniques that NRHS can use to solve problems. Employees can use a ``fish bone'' diagram to physically show various causes and effects of certain problems as well as their solutions. Agendas are greatly encouraged to organize meetings. Teachers and administrators are also recommended to brainstorm and categorize their ideas to ensure full participation from everyone in the group.

The benefits that come from focus groups are numerous. Focus groups promote employee involvement and personal development, improve communication and inspire effective team work. These groups also increase morale, create a problem-solving mindset, as well as minimize defects.

The response from NRHS teachers has been very positive, according to Assistant Principal Mary Hayes. Several teachers have praised Carley's presentation and expressed their enthusiasm over the focus groups.

Penn Engineering received the Chamber of Commerce Business Partners Award for its in-depth work with Nansemond River High School. Carley hopes that the focus groups will allow NRHS to reach its goals of continuous improvement, increased employee satisfaction and a pleasant, productive educational environment.

Alaina Aston

Gardner Road

Suffolk Praise for teacher

We have a teacher at Lakeland High School who is creative, energetic and a great educator.

She is always taking courses and going to seminars to learn new ways to make her lessons fun and easier for her students.

She gives us cooperative learning activities that teach us how to work with others. These are skills that we can use when working on jobs or on group activities outside of school.

She has introduced us to seminars where we discuss different types of poems. The seminars help us to become more articulate and more comfortable speaking in front of a group.

When we were studying mythology, she dressed in a toga, beard and a paper crown and acted out mythology stories. This was one of her many creative methods of teaching.

When we studied ballads, she arranged for a balladeer, Bob Zentz, to come and sing and talk to us about different instruments used when ballads are sung. She is constantly looking for ways to make her class enjoyable.

She is an energetic educator who enjoys teaching. She wants her students to enjoy learning. Mrs. Jane Butler is a teacher who has inspired many students, and I think she should be recognized.

Charlene Chamblee

Pitchkettle Road

Suffolk MEMO: Letters to the Editor should be mailed to John Pruitt, editorial page