THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 23, 1996 TAG: 9609210005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: 63 lines
Norfolk State University has undertaken a tough task. A historically-black college, NSU is committed to educating many students who don't fit the traditional college student profile, including underachieving minority students who otherwise would have no opportunity to pursue a higher education.
Norfolk public schools have a difficult job, too. The city's population is diverse and many of the system's students are the offspring of less educated parents and come from poor homes. Last year 60 to 70 percent of Norfolk school children qualified for free or reduced-price lunches.
Together Norfolk State and the Norfolk public schools provide tremendous educational opportunities to underprivileged students. They educate young people who often need extra help to overcome barriers to their success.
In many ways they are fighting the same fight, that's why it is so unfortunate that finger-pointing has come into play.
Norfolk State has been criticized by state officials who unfairly compare NSU with other state schools. Last week NSU board member Edythe Harrison bluntly accused Norfolk public schools of graduating students who are not prepared to enter college: ``For us to be penalized for lousy local schools is just ridiculous,'' she said.
It's understandable that NSU board members are defensive when their school is compared to others, like the University of Virginia, William and Mary and Old Dominion University. But to shift the blame to local public schools and complain that they turn out inferior products is a mistake.
There are many reasons NSU has the lowest graduation rate of any state-supported four-year school. This is not a student body made up of students sent off to college by parents who toss in a car for good measure. NSU students are usually working while they go to school. Many are struggling to support families. It's hardly surprising that many take longer than four years to complete a degree.
To their credit, NSU administrators have been trying to fix the graduation-rate problem with a retention program that offers freshmen smaller classes, extra tutoring and more time with advisers. The plan is getting results: the percent of freshmen who returned for a sophomore year rose from 58 percent in 1994 to 67 percent this fall.
That's a good start.
The public schools, too, are trying to better prepare students for college. All of Hampton Roads' school systems have seen increases in the percentage of high school juniors and seniors who took at least one college-level or advanced placement course.
In Norfolk, the public schools have beefed up counseling services. And, as staff writer Phil Walzer reported this week, school officials boasted to City Council recently that the number of Norfolk high school graduates who received advanced studies diplomas rose 28 percent in the last two years.
Norfolk State University is to be commended for its energy, innovative approach to education and commitment to making a college education available to students who otherwise would never find themselves in a college classroom, not penalized for it.
Norfolk State University is truly a unique institute of higher learning and should not be compared with traditional four year colleges which can be more selective in admissions.
On the other hand, NSU partisans should refrain from blaming the public schools for the quality of their students and instead work with local high schools and school boards to help raise the educational standards for all of our region's young people. NSU and the public schools need to be allies not antagonists. by CNB