Summit ^Herald

Now incorporating New Providence-Berkeley Heights Dispatch Summit ^Herald ... Summit9* only real newspaper VOLUME 100 NO. 4 August 24,1985 Price: 25' What do kids need to learn? By PAIGE TUNSTALL However, Rosen believes, ad- Rosen added, "Nobody wants SUMMIT--"What is it that vantages will accrue to both sixth to turn the clock back...but we all children should know?" and ninth grades in terms of cur- should ask if it's (the computer) a That's what Curriculum Direc- riculum planning and educational new tool that's so different you'll tor Bethene LeMahieu is asking resources. have to re-write your entire as the public school system faces "The ninth grader who will go education system?" the challenge of reviewing every to high school can better in- Ford liked the pilot, but said, course for every grade. tegrate in the planning of high "I'm anxious to see the results at "The exciting thing right now school courses," Rosen com- the end of the year." is that we're doing a comprehen- mented. Also, "The sixth grade sive and systematic review. The curriculum will change, of Foreign languages whole thing is being looked at course, because it will have the According to Cerny, the board from kindergarten through resources of a much bigger is "strengthening" foreign twelfth grade," said LeMahieu. school." language courses. Board member Sally Cerny For instance, Rosen said, "The kids test quite well in said, "I'm looking for increased foreign languages might be of- everything but they don't test as coordination in curriculum and fered more easily for the sixth well in foreign languages," said from the guidance department grade after the change. Cerny. throughout the whole school Rosen added that the new "Some of the elementary system." system also will mean more schools-Lincoln is one-offer Board member Edwin Dotten teachers at the high school, and after school introductions to said recent tests proved the said, "It's important for the ad- foreign languages," said Cerny. schools "intensifying of ministration and board to be sen- Also, she added, some elemen- academic programming" across sitive to that shift." tary schools offer introductory the board was working. Board member Lenore Ford courses in foreign languages dur- According to Cerny, "We're said she would like to see more ing lunch hour. switching more toward having emphasis on reading and writing. Both Board President Clarke coordinators to cover grades "Reading and writing are on Abbott and board member D. seven through twelve, or even an upswing now," after being on Anne Atherton were out of town; from kindergarten through a downswing, Ford commented. neither could be reached for com- twelfth grade with building coor- Ford sees the English as an an- ment. KINDERKLUBBERS frolic outside of a greenhouse during a field trip. The greenhouse field trip has become a tradition under dinators," at each school. chor for the whole educational the leadership of Kinderklub director Edna Caporaso. Advent of the middle school What will become system, because, "Education is of Wilson School? Some curriculum changes are learning to communicate." being considered to accomodate In addition to studying cur- a new middle school system, Do word processors riculum, the board is thinking A time for healing f old wounds which is expected to begin in 1987 improve writing skills? about what to do with Wilson o when renovation of the junior School and the new space that By PAIGE TUNSTALL the junior high, had filed a com- records seizure and consequent high will be complete. A pilot program using word processors for students who score will open up when the middle SUMMIT-Healing rifts plaint naming Donald Geddis, controversy, Rosen beleives. "As the date gets closer, we school is established. generated by a lawsuit that pitted principal of the high school, Citing demographic data com- pick up speed," said board low in English has been approved by a 6-1 board vote. Board offices are currently the high school principal against among defendants. DeBanico's piled by former board member member William Rosen. housed at Wilson; the building the junior high principal is a high suit stemmed from police seizure Frank Kendall, Rosen said, The middle school system will According to Caming, "We're trying to see if word-processing, has three other tenants, including priority, according to members of student files in February, "They have pulled their kids out- mean a new constellation of the Summit Child Care Center. of the Board of Education. 1984. Geddis and the other defen- -the numbers show that." grades. • coupled with other approaches, will improve their skills." "What we have been planning Donald DeBanico, principal at dants had filed a counterclaim. Sixth grade will shift from the is moving the central office into However, both sides have "Something like eighty-two eljrrjentary schools to the middle ' The board approved purchase 10 computers for the pilot. the Morris Avenue wing,''«s Rosen dropped their complaints. No children who, by our experience, school, and nrtrith grade will shift said, "but before we'd do * ifcj party to the suit will comment on would have enrolled in public from the junior high to the high Board member William Cam- we'd have to put a dollar valu"^" Board of Ed. ( the settlement. school opted for private school. ing said, "Computers are no on the move and decide how Board member William Cam- schools," Rosen said. The switch for sixth graders substitute for good teachers, but much of the Morris Ave. wing the and the city ing said, "The major issue will be will be more dramatic than the we believe they may prove an ef- board would need. to put behind us the disruptive in- But Rosen is confident about switch for ninth graders, Rosen fective teaching tool." fluences generated by the lawsuit, the public schools' future: "We said. neogitiate Rosen, who voted against the "There's no projected need for the fallout from the events of the think they'll come back," he "Some sixth graders, not all, Wilson School in the next ten last two years, and redirect our said. However, he added, but some, may not be ready for purchase, said, "I haven't seen results that demonstrate years, but what about in the next with insurance energies to providing a good "Damage is easily done but dif- the larger school environment," twerity years?" asked Rosen. education for each student." ficult to correct. You can break a Rosen said. specifically better writing," from students using word-processors. "All of a sudden it would be "We look forward to the Swiss clock in a minute but it To ease the transition for sixth fashionable to have five kids company school year of course now that would take much longer to put it graders, Rosen continued, "They "It's true that they turn out more-they like the game of again, and zingo, you'd need to the diviseness is behind us--that's back together and get it to work will have a special wing," set By PAIGE TUNSTALL the most encouraging thing," again." aside for them at the Middle word-processing--but I'm not find another school. And you convinced people necessarily can't find another good place fc-r SUMMIT-The Board of said Edwin Dotten of the board. School. Education and the city as a cor- Board member Sally Cerny Lenore Ford, board member, The wing will be on the second learn to write better, more clear- a school-Wilson's the place, ' ly," said Rosen. he said. porate body are in negotiations agreed, saying, "Absolutely, said, "I feel all that is behind us- floor along Elm Street. with Travelers Insurance Com- healing the rifts is our first and the lawsuit is history and we're pany discussing payment of at- foremost priority-and 1 don't going forward." torneys fees incurred in the mean just between the in the DeBanico v. The City of Summit lawsuit, I mean between the peo- lawsuit. ple in the community and their Speak your mind The lawsuit involved both city perceptions of division." and school officials. According to board member Both the city and the board are William Rosen, "It's important insured by Travelers Insurance that we heal the rifts throughout Compnay, and both get their in- the city, in and out of the school surance through the same local system." Write a letter! carrier, The Maben Agency. Some parents decided not to Travelers had informed the city enroll their children in the public to the editor. that it would not be held accoun- school system because of the table for debts incurred in the suit. However, at this point, the city and the company are "engag- ed in amicable discussions" of payment, according to Chandler Coddington of Maben. According to Coddington, the city did not file any formal com- plaint asking for payment after Travelers said it would not pay. Coddington said a conference meeting was conducted Monday night. "All I can tell you really is that we're asking the attorneys to give CIAO! Italian students from the Interstudy exhange group now in Summit discuss world issues and practice their English in us detailed billings," said Cod- their meeting room at Central Presbyterian Church. The group of 15 students enjoyed a farewell party last night. The dington. students spent three weeks in Summit. Asked how many attorneys were involved, Coddington said, FABLE OF CONTENTS "A fleet—there must be six or seven." Herald camp fund affords The lawsuit was filed by Check out Donald DeBanico, prinicpal of children happier summer the junior high.

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