 |
|
|
||
|
Local educators concerned about expectations, fulfilling needs By Jona Ison PIKETON - Southern Ohio educators discussed current public education, its challenges and what may happen if there was no public education system at a Thursday roundtable. The discussion was initiated by KnowledgeWorks Foundation, an educational philanthropic non-profit organization, as a precursor for a statewide "town" meeting to be conducted in the fall. Lisa Duty, KnowledgeWorks policy and communications officer, felt it was important to conduct a meeting in Piketon and throughout other parts of Ohio to get more perspective on rural Ohio education. Since its inception in 1998 with a $200,000 million endowment, the foundation has focused primarily on inner city and urban schools, she said. "Part of the rationale for these meetings is to give people the time to come together and have these discussions ... In Ohio, we feel we've not reached into more rural areas, and we've neglected people who need more dollars and discussion," she said. The foundation is backing two campaigns that have joined together to be a stronger voice for public education. The campaigns are "Ed in '08," backed by a nonpartisan awareness group - Strong American Schools - to make education a top priority in the 2008 presidential election, and "Give Kids Good Schools," a national campaign to guarantee quality public education for every child. Charles Shreve, superintendent of Eastern Local Schools in Pike County, attended the forum because of the importance public education has played in America's history and the need to continue that, he said. "It's not so much what I got out of it, but what I contributed," Shreve said. Some point Shreve made included the impact of education on democracy - people who can't read or write can't vote or be well-informed - and the sustainability of economy by providing educated, skilled workers. Many concerns raised at the meeting are commonly voiced in the education community - lack of parental involvement, attendance issues, teaching to the test, having to focus more and more on being a "surrogate family" than on curriculum, keeping children engaged all the way through to graduation and ensuring they have the skills needed for life. Another key issue raised was the daily struggle of trying to teach a large class with students at varying skill levels. Russ Brewer, coordinator of enterprise center at Southern State Community College, was particularly concerned about providing skills for life. Aside from working at the college, Brewer has his own consulting business. "In our rural areas, the backbone of our economy is small business. It's important that we promote those skills (to students) to build their own businesses," he said. We need to teach kids to make jobs not just take jobs." Sharon McComas, Ross County Head Start teacher, said the biggest concern is in providing assistance to families and sharing with them the importance of education. Since relocating Chillicothe's Head Start classes in the Ross County OU-C Child Development and Family Services Center, McComas said her and other teachers have been able to collaborate with other agencies a lot better to service their families. According to Duty, collaboration with agencies is definitely one way education has been heading. Although there are concerns and challenges, group participants agreed public education at least provides a more level playing field than if education was privatized. In October, KnowledgeWorks will conduct a statewide town meeting along with legislators and policy makers to pass along concerns about education. Duty is hopeful early meeting attendees will further the grassroots efforts by replicating meeting materials and facilitating their own discussions with staff or community members. |
||||
|
|
||||