A Study of the Phoenix Union High School for the Citizens' Advisory Committee. INSTITUTION General Learning Corp., Tempe, Ariz
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 044 475 UD 011 051 AUTHOR Stanley, Harry M. TITLE A Study of the Phoenix Union High School for the Citizens' Advisory Committee. INSTITUTION General Learning Corp., Tempe, Ariz. PUB DATE 27 May 70 NOTE 398p. EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF-$1.50 HC-$20.00 DESCRIPTORS *City Problems, Communicati(11 Problems, Dropouts, *Educational Problems, High School Organization, *High School Students, Mexican Americans, Negroes, Relevance (Education), School Attitudes, *School Community Relationship, Student Opinion, Student School Relationship IDENTIFIERS *Arizona, Phoenix Union High School ABSTRACT This study identifies the educational problems found at the Phoenix Union High School, in Phoenix, Arizona, during the months of March, April, and May of 1970. A Determination was made of the opinions of the residents of the community living within the attendance area of the high school, of the students attending the high school, of some of the students who have dropped out of the high school, and o* the staff members working in the school. These problems are discussed briefly, possible solutions are suggested, and some of the lajor obstacles wnich would prevent an easy solution are suggested. Because of the ethnic compnsition of the community, the minority view prevails in the report. The raw data for the study are included for reference. (Maps on pages 377 and 378 mai not print clearly in hard copy (3C) reproduction.] (Author/Jr) LrN tft OCD LLJ A STUDY OF THE PHOLNIX UNION HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMITTEE Harry H. Stanley V DEIPAIIIMet of NI AttN. tOutArdto wIttAlit WKS OVEDVCAtrON 'PAS DOCUMENT KA% 'FIN Ai PAO0vC10 RACRA AS Antrvt0 !MOM Oil PERSON OR OIDAA2AII104 011,A3MATINO rt POINTS OF VIEW OR OfiroOht StAtib DO NOt hitt% SAIAtv pittotuki cc mot orvoct co mu cAtio% posfficm OR ALVDT Prepared by THE GENERAL LEAR4ING CORPORATION Hay 27, 1970 ti This study is the identification of the educational problems found at the Phoenix Union High School in Pheonix, Arizona, during the months of March, April, and May of 1970. There was no search of O the literature, since the study was to be based on the current population of the attendance area, including the students and the teaching staff. Questionnaires and personal interviews were used to discover individual views. The major problems are discussed, possible solutions are suggested, and possible obstacles to the solutions are identified. Because of the ethnic composition of the community, the minority view is the prevailing view. The raw data for the study is included for reference. - v - /Ilci:0#;//-1(1foof'if A number of people within the community have been asked to contribute advice, counsel, or work leading to the completion of this study. The major zontributors, with their contributions, are as foliowst Reverend Le Roy Albo Survey team captain and advisor on General Learning Corp. Mexican-American affairs. Mr. Melvin White Survey team captain and student General Learning Corp. advisor on student affairs. Mr. B. J. Woods Resource person on racism. Operator, Zanzibar Supper Club Mr. Jose Burruel Resource person on Mexican-American Office of Student Affairs, drop-outs, and community questionnaire ASU consultant. Mr. Bernie Jackson Resource person on racism and the Office of Student Affairs, identification of problems for the ASU minorities in educatic . Mrs. Angetita Torten Advisor on civil rights and on Mexican- Arizona Civil Rights American affairs. Commission Reverend Robert Nesby Advisor on the preparation of the Final First Institutional Baptist Church Report. Mr. J. D. Reed Consultant ca counseling problems. General Learning Corp. Mr. Gilbert Puente Consultant on individualized learning, General Learning Corp. and advisor on study parameters and Pittsburgh, Pa. Mexican-American affairs. Hrs. Ingrid Montano Services of the PUHS Sociology class PUHS Teacher on the student questionnaire. Hrs. Mary Hiller Recommendations on student behavior Urban League Education patterns and their change at PUNS. Specialist Mr. Ed Smith Resource person on the problems of Urban League racism and poverty. Hr. Obadiah Jackson Resource person on racism. Community Action Agency Chandler, Atitona - vi - Mr. O. V. Woods, Student, Resource person on racism Arizona State University Mr. 'Abel Amaya, Resource person on cultural orientation Residential Manpower Center, for Mexican-Americans Packard-Bell Corporation f Mr. Don Wilkerson, Resource person on cultural orientation Residential Manpower Center, for American Indians Packard-Bell Corporation Dr. Walter Mulholland, Resource person on personal relations Consulting Psychologist, between students and teachers Dryden, New York Mr. Robert Reed, Student, Resource person high school drop-outs POIC, Phoenix, Arizona Mrs. Noreen Thornhill, teacher Resource person on tutoring aid high Tempe, Arizona school problems Hiss Lisa Jorquez, Teacher, Resource person on racism PUHS Mr. Joseph Allen, Resident, Resource person on racism, and South Phoenix general advisor All of the forenamed individuals, as well as many who cannot be named because there were so many, have given of their time without complaint. They have had busy schedules themselves, and the short time available to start and complete this study put severe burdens on many of them. Despite their rising frustra- tion with the continual studies made of urban problems, their assistance was thoughtfLI and considerate; and the assistance and advice they gave was aimed at providing insight into possible solutions which could be accomplished or which should be accom- plished rather than being aimed at inflaming passions and prejudices. The principal investigator has tried to listen very Irefislly to everyone who would talk to him. There was nu hostility experienced during the survey in the community, or among the students, and not an unusual amount among the staff. In fact, the courtesy and friendliness of the community were noteworthy because the, inner city has an opposite reputation in many middle-class thoughts. Hr. Dye arJ his secretary, Hrs. Harrison, were extremely helpful, as was the PUHS Social Studies staff. Regardless of what was told him, the principal investigator bears all the blame for the mistakes, typographical and other- wise, which may have crept in unknowingly. With just eight weeks to do the entire study, there wasn't time to do everything to perfection. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. Title page Abstract iii Acknowledgments iv Table of contents ix Purpose of the study 1 Proposal for the study 3 Contract work statement' additional terms and 16 conditions Study approach 20 Study work plan 28 Summary of the findings 30 Problem tabulation 37 Community tabulation 40 Student tabulation 42 Professional staff tabulation - Citizens' 45 Advisory Committee Teaching staff tabulation 46 Froblem discussions and recommendations 48 Staff ability/desire to do the teaching 51 job required Administrative imperiousness 54 Staff morale 60 Teacher insecurity 61 Teacher prejudice 68 Community antagonism 70 Isck of leadership from the Department 73 of Public Instruction Student prejudice 78 Student boredom 80 Student incompetence on entering high 82 school Lack of student motivation and goals 84 Staff support of each other 88 Establishment of priorities 91 Research capability 94 - x - Lack of dedication 102 Hiring policies 104 Communications 107 Slanted newspaper coverage 109 Suspicion, distrust, and paranoia 116 Language barriers 121 Censorship of ideas, speakers, and 123 reading materials Secrecy of financial budgeting and 125 reporting Educational barriers 130 Community apathy 131 Unwillingness to listen 133 Inadequate representation 136 Rumor control 138 Fear 139 Job Development 141 Student incompetence on leaving high school 149 Vocational education versus academic education 152 Relevance of education to real life 156 Counseling 160 Transportation 165 Cultural orientation 167 Discipline and self-restraint 171 The building problems remodel, rebuild, 176 or move Format for the proposals PUNS staff 178 Proposal number one 186 Proposal number two 196 Proposal number three 200 Proposal number four 208 The community school concept 218 Racial imbalance in the school 222 Tutoring teams and facilities 224 Appendices Tabulation of thn, community questionnaire 229 Tabulation of the staff questionnaire 283 Tabulation of the student questionnaire 311 Questions suggested by students at PUS 363 Maps of the survey area 376 An educational system for the Phoenix inner 379 aty Drop-out analysis* *To be supplied as an addendum to the study report PURPOSE OF THE STUDY - 2 - The purpcse of the study was to make a determination of the opinions of the residents of the community living within the attendance area of the high school, of the students attending the h4h school, of some of the students who have dropped out of the high school, and of the staff members working in the school. A major premise was to identify the major problems of the educational system at Phoenix Union High School from opinion survey. These problems were to be discussed briefly, possible solutions were to be suggested, and some of the major obstacles which would prevent an easy solution were to be suggested. This technique was to develop a way of thinking or look- ing at the problems as much as to suggest a workable solution. A fundamental tenet of the study had to be its credibility to the community being studied. This tenet meant that ordinary contacts with what the minorities call the "power structure" had to be for- sworn unless they happened to live in the barrio or the ghetto, lest the suspicion arise more than it normally would that there had been a "sell-out" by the principal investigator. This tenet also, because of de facto segregation living patterns, meant that the report would document the educational dilemma through minority eyes. PROPOSAL FOR THE STUDY - 4- Agenda February 25, 1970 Citizens' Advisory Committee Phoenix Union High School 1. Presentation of the Urban League proposal e A questions (Mr. Bowman) 7:00-7:20 2. Ar. Dallas 7:20-8:00 2.1. Report to organizations represented 3. Presentation of Booz, Allen and Hamilton proposal 8:00-8:20 and questions (Mr.