Education News Briefs

Academy Committee Explores Concerns

Last month, delegates from several of the Academies met at the P.E.A. offices to discuss the unique issues facing the staff and students at the district academies.

Top among delegate concerns were issues surrounding scheduling. Those present voiced concerns about the strains of block scheduling with limited faculty and the strain off site gym facilities placed on scheduling.

Additionally, many present were concerned about the student selection process and a general fear that the current Administration is attempting to undermine the founding purpose of the academies.

All present were encouraged to bring any concerns to the Committee Chair or other PEA officials, where appropriate, whether the concern was potentially grievable or another instance of "children first".

P.E.A. Honored For Student Support

The Paterson Education Association was recognized at the Silk City Football Awards dinner on January 26th. Mr. Kenneth Eatman (teacher at School 10) presented a plaque to President Peter Tirri and the P.E.A. for their support throughout the season. The P.E.A. along with NJEA through its PRIDE campaign has helped sponsor the team in many ways.

Mr. Eatman also expressed the team's appreciation to Ms. Ethel Pipkin, retired teacher from School 10, who supported the Silk City football team this year. She was also presented with a plaque for her continuing dedication to Paterson's students.

CAPA Committee Reviews Reports

P.E.A. has added a CAPA team committee to the Executive Board for the 2007-08 school year. CAPA is "The Collaborative Assessment and Planning for Achievement" initiative by the NJ Dept. of Ed. and school districts. It is a five day process that targets Abbott and Title I schools that are in need of "corrective action" as per the provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind law.

Teams of seven to ten members from the district, community and Dept. of Education visit schools and conduct a review using CAPA Core Indicators. After the visit, a draft report is presented and discussed with the district and school leadership; they collaborate on the final report.

The CAPA co-chairs have read and evaluated all submitted reports from the 2004-05 school years, and are awaiting those from 2006-07. The mission of the CAPA committee is to determine whether any comments, suggestions or criticisms affect the contract and our members, especially in terms of how we deliver services to our students.

If you work in a school that has been visited this year or has had a visit announced, have any questions, or would like to join the Committee, please contact the CAPA committee co-chairs, Carol Stryker and Harry Stryker at JFK High School or the P.E.A. in care of Joe Savastano, P.E.A. Recording Secretary.

Poll shows voters support arts education.

Education Week (1/30, Trotter) reports, "A majority of U.S. voters agree that building students' imaginations to equip young people with the ability to innovate is as important as teaching them the academic basics, according to a poll commissioned by an advocacy coalition for education in the arts." The Arts Education Partnership, "a coalition of about 140 organizations," commissioned the survey. In the poll of 1,000 likely voters, nearly nine out of ten "said an education in and through the arts is essential for cultivating the imagination." Despite many policymakers' emphasis on science and math education as the key to economic competitiveness, nearly 90 percent of respondents said that "using the imagination is important to innovation and for success in the knowledge-based global economy of the 21st century." A majority of poll respondents "said they are likely not to favor a candidate who has voted to cut funding for building capacities of the imagination in schools" when voting in upcoming elections. Fifty-six percent of respondents agreed that "standardized testing discourages students' imaginations and creative skills." Funding for the poll was provided by the National Education Association.