THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 15, 1996 TAG: 9608130143
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 56 lines
School Board Chairman Ulysses Turner sympathizes with parents who feel left out of the loop when their children select the high school courses they'll study. Four days before the 1994-95 school year ended, Turner said he was shocked to learn that a guidance counselor had already helped his son, now a junior at Maury High, map out his next year's courses.
Turner said he was never informed by the school or the guidance counselor about what courses his son chose.
That method of operation must change, Turner said.
``I think the parents should be the first point of contact,'' he said. ``Many parents want to be involved but are never given the opportunity to.''
Turner raised the issue at the School Board's recent retreat, and administration officials said they will devise a uniform method for schools to follow.
``It's irresponsible on our part to allow the students alone to select their course work,'' Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. said.
At a minimum, Turner said, the schools should send parents a list of the courses their child plans to take and offer parents a chance to comment and sign off on the course of study.
``We cannot leave the quality of the schools' educational system in the hands of students,'' Turner said.
Other board members agreed. Member Joe Waldo recalled being surprised that his college-bound daughter had been signed up for a study hall rather than a more important academic course.
Board member Anita Poston said a system is needed to keep parents informed beginning in eighth grade, when students begin taking electives and choosing a particular path of study: college preparatory, vocational or Tech Prep, a hybrid that meshes academics with vocational training.
Margaret Saunders, assistant superintendent for instruction, said Booker T. Washington High School sent letters to parents in June outlining students' course selections. Parents were asked to alert the guidance counselor's office if they had concerns.
Board member Anna Dodson, who is pushing for better use and coordination of volunteers, said volunteers could help by manning phones in guidance offices to field calls.
Turner said his concerns stem in part from worries that many students are being ``tracked'' by guidance counselors into less challenging courses and thus are not being encouraged to develop their potential.
In some cases, he said, students may be discouraged from taking higher-level courses based on past grades. But those students, he said, may be capable of achieving more, and might if their parents were brought into the process.
``Parents know their children better than the guidance counselors do,'' Turner said. ``How can our educational system grow if we don't get parents involved to encourage students to take more advanced courses? Some students may not take courses that require higher order thinking even if they are qualified to do so.''
KEYWORDS: EDUCATION NORFOLK SCHOOLS by CNB