JEAN MCGUIRE for Boston School I Committee / JEAN MCGUIRE-''We can have no better advocate for good education." -John O'Bryant, Boston School Committee JEAN MCGUIRE-''If we care enough to give our children the very best." -Zita Cousens,· Boston teacher EAN MCGUIRE O·N THE ISSUES Security Bilingual Education "Safety in our schools must be a "All children should be able to given ... safety must be an um­ read and write in the language in brella under which the rest of which they think, the language of education goes on. We just create nurture.!" an atmosphere of security by mak­ Jean McGuire belives that the ing it clear to everyone that this quality of bilingual education in will be a good system, that the Boston's school needs to be right to a good education will be upgraded. English-speaking protected.'' children should also be able to Jean McGuire believes that we learn another language as early cannot wait for crises before set­ as possible. ting standards for safety. Every "Native language skills are student, parent and school staff crucial to the learning process. member needs to know what will Good English skills are crucial to and will not be tolerated, what functioning successfully in this will happen if they break the society, especially in the world of rules, and what steps to take if a work.'' - situation begins to get 9ut -of hand. Vo~ational Education "A secure educational environ­ ment is a prerequisite for any "For too long, vocational educa­ learning to take place." tion has been a stepchild in the Bo~ton school system. Vocational education must not be a dumping JEAN MCGUIRE has the experience ·and has ground or a ·dead end. A full.:.time school, faculty and full course demonstrated the concern for quality public load must be available to Boston education: students interested in technical skills." • Born and raised in Boston • METCO parent, 1968 to 1973 The Occupa tiona! Resource • Attended Boston schools • Director, METCO, 1973 to Center, after 15 years of plan- · • Mast~rs degree in Guidance, present ning, is still incomplete. Jean Tufts University • Board member: Black Educators McGuire believes it must be made • Mother of three children Alliance of Massachusetts, The fully functional immediately. The \ • School teacher and Pupil The Children's Museum, curriculum and program at the Adjustment Counselor, Boston Massachusetts Conference of new Center must be up-to-date Public Schools,[ 1961 to 1973 the United Church of Christ, and directly related to job oppor­ • Founding member of James Jackson Putnam tunities in Boston. METCO, Metropolitan Council Children's Center. for Educational Opportunity i "There are excellent models for vocational schools in many sqbur­ ban towns .. Why not in Boston?" Minimum Curriculum Competency Testing The Role of Parents ~~we need to look at the cur­ ''There is merit in the idea of "Parents are a key to quality riculum. It is sexist beyond belief. minimum compet~ncy testing, but schools. We need parents in part­ It is racist in the most incredible it is not a magic solution to im­ nership with teachers, principals, ways. It insults almost every proving our schools." and the students themselves." · group there is. It ignores half the Jean McGuire believes that Jean McGuire totally suppports groups around. You wouldn't establishing minimum competency parent involvement, but she .Know the Italians or the Chinese standards is a good idea. Such believes th~ t parents must realize even lived in the United States if standards must be viewed as that their involvement requires a you read the textbooks.'' another form of testing, a consistent commitment of time Jean McGuire believes that cur­ diagnostic tool to indicate a stu­ and energy. The Racial-Ethnic ... riculum must be a combination of dent's grasp of the subject. But it Parents Councils mandated by the skills development and StJbject is still.the teacher who must Court has -provided a firm basis matter related to the academic clarify material and who must for continued parent input that disciplines. Reading, writing, motivate the child.to learn. There will assist the improvement of the speaking and computational skills is no "easy way to improve the . schools. But parents must work to must be developed along with the teaching, process. As in any other maintain their level of 'involve­ subject rna tter, or a child does not . approaeh to learning, such as ment; and Jean McGuire will learn to think. The curriculum "Back to Basics," the responsibili­ welcome their assistance. must prepare all Boston students ty still lies with the teacher. "I will move to have. school com­ for the complex world by develop­ mittee meetings held in the even­ ing the appropriate human and Tenure ing so that parents and others in­ technological skills. terested in the Boston school "I ~~women should hove equal ac­ support tenure wholeheartedly. system will be able to come and cess to all courses, all sports. If But tenure should not be used to be welcomed.'' that means changing guidance protect a teacher who cannot around when you don't see any function effectively.'' girls in technical courses, that's Tenure can be a support fpr what you do." teachers who do innovative and quality work. But there should be a teacher evaluation process, with the full support and involve­ ment of teachers, which will help assess whether tenure is deserved so that it does not become a' pro­ tection for inadequate teaching. People Who Endorse Jean McGuire for Boston School Committee Dr. William E. Albert, Minister of Manuel Monteiro, Cape Verdean the Community Church Educators' Collaborative Allston-Brighton Community News Elaine Noble, Former State Gus Anglin, Boston Public School Representative Principal John D. O'Bryant, Boston School Ruth Batson, Roxbury Committee Black Political Task Force Paul Parks, Mattapan Pat Bonner-Lyons, Roxbury Elizabeth Ravenell, Boston Public Boston Globe School Principal CPPAX (Citizens for Participation Laura Ross, Allston-Brighton in Political Action) Rev. Horace Seldon, United Michael Contompasis, Boston Church, of Christ Public School Principal William Taylor, B & J Auto Eugene Ellis, Boston Public School School, Dorchester Phot!~ by Tyrone Hall Principal Equal Times Nina Fish-Murray Gay Political Caucus Agatha Howard, Boston Public . School Principal Barbara Jackson, Boston Public School Principal Rep. Mel King Massachusetts Association of Afro-American Police · Masssachusetts Women's Political Caucus Elizabeth Texeira, ~_.uth End Third World Coalition ''The School Committee has Third World Women's Committee long been a potential step­ Chuck Turner, Fannie Lou Hamer ping-off place for those with Foundation United Auto Workers Unio~ higher political aspirations. · Ward IV Democrati;c·Committee For Jean McGuire it's the . Ward V Democratic Committee place to use her educational . Beatrice Wyatt, Boston Public strengths. u · School Principal -Equal Times Elma Lewis, Roxbury September 9, 1979 VULCAN - Mass. Assn. Afro American Firemen Tom Atkins, Roxbury Rev. Michael Haynes Carmello· Iglesias, South End Sen. Bill Owens N.A.I. -Negro_ Airmen Rep. Doris Bunte International Rep. Barney Frank Rev. Jonathan Robinson Carmen r oia, Mission Hill Dr. Pamela A .. Almeida, Rev. Leroy Attles · S~a tewide Advisory Council Rev. Madison Bryson for the Basic Skills Daniel E. Janey, Roxbury Improvement Policy Rev. Charles Stith .