THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 15, 1996 TAG: 9608130162
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NANCY LEWIS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 66 lines
Book learnin' just ain't enough, says a community forum on education, adding two more ``r''s to the traditional ``readin', 'ritin' and 'rithmetic.''
Responsibility and respect were among the values a brainstorming group of about 40 people listed as lacking in the learning portfolios of some Norfolk public school students.
Members of civic leagues and parents from around the city exchanged ideas with school officials and teachers on what's wrong and what's right with Norfolk schools at a Thursday session of the Neighborhood Network, a group that hopes to foster community dialogue on issues affecting the community as a whole.
They were a mix of young and more mature adults, both black and white.
The meeting was the second in the network's series of planned quarterly forums and took place at the Multi-Purpose Center on Sewells Point Road.
As far as education in the formal sense goes, forum participants didn't have to think long to come up with a list of what schools should do for students - equip them to compete nationally, see that they all acquire meaningful diplomas and have the foundation to become functional members of a democratic society.
Yet, as the list of school responsibilities lengthened, it became apparent that these expectations were dependent upon students' having at least a rudimentary sense of orderliness and hope and being in possession of the seeds of traditional values such as honesty, dependability, punctuality, kindness and caring - a sense of community, in other words.
While forum participants came up with an alphabet soup of things kids should be taught, the more difficult question seemed to be who is ultimately responsible for the teaching.
There was disagreement over whether schools should be held accountable for imparting these qualities of character and making up for any lack in a learning environment at home. Some forum participants said that schools have their hands full already, while others argued that if families fail, schools should take up the slack.
In defense of the modern family, several of those present said that some parents simply don't know how to give children the basics. And even in those families that realize the importance of positive role modeling, many times the parent or parents are not able to be at home, said some.
Forum moderator Baxter Vendrick seemed to sum up the impasse that had been reached when he said, ``When we start pointing the finger of blame, there are three pointing right back at us.''
If and when families can't do the job, they should be taught how, and other community support systems - churches, civic leagues, neighborhoods - should make up for the shortfall of parents who are unable to imbue their children with basic values and an environment that fosters learning, said some, to the murmured assent of others. A similar vocal consensus was reached on the issue of mixing church and school. That is not an ``r'' this forum wants in the school system.
``It takes a whole village to raise a kid,'' commented one man.
Some other suggestions to bolster well-rounded learning were:
Instead of worrying about technology and trying experimental programs in the schools, focus on the basics, including character development.
Make sure that the lifestyle of those who interact with children is above reproach.
Get involved with PTA, attend school board meetings and learn what's going on in the schools.
Open schools to community life when school is not in session.
Deal with behavioral problems in mainstream schools instead of in alternative programs.
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK SCHOOLS COMMUNITY CONVERSATION EDUCATION by CNB