THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 1995 TAG: 9509080208
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
Friday's celebration of achievement and productivity in the public schools was an important event - especially for the students.
Giving the youngsters a day off from school and staging a parade with a program of notables, including Virginia's two U.S. senators, was a good idea. But it can only be effective if teachers and parents follow up with some enlightenment about the receipt of the Senate Productivity and Quality Award Medallion.
Certainly, there is some disagreement over the value of the award, perhaps because there is great division across the land on the value of the continuous improvement movement that has taken hold of American industry.
But regardless of the naysayers, the fact is that the Portsmouth Public Schools were able to prove they improved in test scores, drop-out rates, attendance, community involvement, planning and a host of other areas. In a city where the schools get a bad rap they don't always deserve, that's important.
Students and their parents need to know the schools are trying and are making progress that is measurable. The celebration Friday was a good beginning.
Just because we won the medallion for 1994, the schools can't let up. They must keep pushing toward a high level of excellence. That is possible only with the involvement of the total community - especially the students and their families. by CNB