District Administration - February 2009 - (Page 10)

Briefings Newsupdate N.Y. District Pioneers a Different Kind of Advanced Placement Since our April 2007 Article, “certifying Ap courses,” in which Scarsdale (n.Y.) public Schools Superintendent Michael McGill offered his thoughts—and concerns—regarding the merits of phasing out college Boardsponsored Advanced placement classes, the school system has pared down its Ap course offerings. From 18 classes to a mere five, it has 13 new “Advanced topics” courses now taking center stage. Although the district’s academic performance was never in question, Scarsdale High officials felt they could accomplish more without having to “race through” a curriculum in preparation for a standardized exam. Because of the change, which has led to original courses like “inventing Gotham: Scarsdale High School students rehearse scenes from Hamlet for the Advanced Topics English class and (inset) sketch architectural designs for AT studio art. new York city and the American Dream,” most students and teachers are praising the curriculum for replacing memorization with more sophisticated and creative learning avenues. Many exclusive private schools have done away with Ap courses in recent years, but McGill says Scarsdale High has “set a precedent” for high-achieving public schools with its At approach. “teachers felt it would be valuable to teach the courses with a depth and richness” that gave more time for critical analysis and for examining connections, says McGill. Art students, for instance, are able to draw large-scale works rather than being confined to the college Board’s 18-by-24inch parameters. physics students are able to study string theory, and the advanced government class takes a three-day field trip to conduct research at Harvard’s Kennedy School. The Legacy of Educator Jim Tice JAMeS “JiM” Knox tice oF Strafford, Mo., passed away on December 8, 2008, at the age of 74 years. Those close to him and education Jim Tice experts say his passing may hit hardest for the children of Missouri, where tice—a former superintendent of both the Sullivan and Strafford school districts and a distance education pioneer— was one of their biggest advocates. tice consistently devoted his professional life to the question “What can we do to help the children?” He was a beloved member of the educational community in Missouri and a regular fixture at national education conferences. He served in many different roles since the 1950s: coach, teacher, administrator and educational consultant in the Springbluff, Sullivan, Strafford and Springfield areas. His most recent role was research associate for the Missouri Virtual School at Missouri State university. “Jim was one of our great educators, because no matter how important his title or position became, he never forgot his number one constituency—the students,” says DA publisher Dan Kinnaman. District Administration President Obama, Education Secretary Arne Duncan (right), and Vice President Biden visit students at the Dodge Renaissance Academy in Chicago. Arne Duncan in the Spotlight Here’S tHe Scoop on tHe neWlY AppointeD u.S. education secretary: • In Chicago’s public schools, where 85 percent of the 400,000-plus students live below the poverty line, test scores, attendance and teacher retention rose significantly during his seven-year tenure; the dropout rate sharply declined. • He is credited with closing struggling schools, advocating merit pay for teachers, and adopting a program that uses private money to reward children for better grades. • Duncan supported a boom in charter schools with diverse models, from military academies to single-sex schools. • His vision of reform centers on boosting teacher quality and supporting students with added services such as after-school programs. • He worked for six years with the Ariel Education Initiative, which works to create educational opportunities for inner-city students on Chicago’s South Side. • The administrator played professional basketball in Australia from 1987 to 1991 and has been known to play pickup games with Barack Obama. 10 February 2009

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District Administration - February 2009 Contents Advertiser Index Editor's Letter News Update Security Curriculum Crisis Response Supervisor's Opinion The Rise of the Virtual Teacher Speaking Their Language Alternate Transportation Routes Opinion The Aftermath of the New 403(b) Regulations How Well Does This Web Site Work? Problem Solution New Products Product Focus Professional Opinion

District Administration - February 2009

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