Spilyay Tymoo
Warm Springs, Oregon
August 24, 1990 PAGE 3
How are
How to group students for in
struction is an issue that concerns
many educators. The National
Education Association hasjust re
leased a new report on academic
tracking that severely criticizes the
practice of segregating students by
ability groups and calls for better
ways to group students.
The NEA study, conducted by
Johns Hopkins University, found
that virtually all students are
tracked, with minority and low
income students disproportionate
ly placed in low-achievement
groups. While the goal of tracking
is to tailor learning to students'
needs, the NEAJohns Hopkins
study concluded that as practiced
in most schools today, tracking
docs more harm than good.
"The system was set up with
good intentions," says NEA Vice
President Bob Chase, "but it has
become so rigid that too many stu
dents essentially get stuck in low
tracks for their entire school
careers. We must give students an
education that will open up not
close off - their options for the
future."
Tracking can benefit students,
accordingtotheNEAJohns Hop
kins report, if:
1 ) students are grouped only for
specific skills (such as reading)
rather than by general ability or
behavior.
2) group assignments are fre
quently reassessed, and
3) teachers adapt their instruc
tion to meet students needs.
The way tracking operates in
most schools - with ability-grouped
class assignments, special pro
grams for the gifted, and special
education for students with learn
ing problems - is at odds with
these findings. Students are segre
gated all or most of the day based
on general achievement or behav
ior rather than on skill in a particu
lar subject. In addition, the group
ings are very rigid and are likely to
create racially identifiable classes.
While the NEAJohns Hopkins
study found tracking creates enor
mous problems, it recognized that
merely ending the practice with
out first addressing the issues of
class size, student diversity, and
funding - could create more prob
lems than solutions.
"What we need are more exam
ples of successful alternatives to
tracking," says NEA's Chase.
"We've got to reshape our thinking
and offer all teachers better ways to
deal with student diversity."
The NEAJohns Hopkins stu
dent sought out examples of how
NEA members are dealing with the
issue of academic tracking.
English teachers who belong to
the Parkway (Missouri) Education
Association, for example, decided
to eliminate the low track, avoid
Household size, income determine eligibility for lunch
Jefferson County School Dis
trict 509-J today announced it's
policy for free and reduced-price
meals for children unable to pay
the full price of meals served under
the National School Lunch Pro
gram. Each school and the office of
Jefferson County School District
509-J has a copy of the policy,
which may be reviewed by an inter
ested party.
The following household size
and income criteria will be used for
determining eligibility. Children
from households whose income is
at or below the levels shown are
eligible for free or reduced-price
meals.
Families may fill out applica
tions prior to the start of school so
that lunch benefits are not delayed.
Applications are available at the
District office at any time, 1355
Buff Street, Madras, Oregon,
97741 (Phone: 475-6192) or at the
individuals schools beginning on
August 23, 1990. The information
provided on the application will be
used for the purpose of determin
ing eligibility and may be verified
at any time during the school year
by school or other program offi
cials. Important - benefits will not
begin until the application has
been approved.
For school officials to determine
Smoke Detectors Do Save Lives
The National Fire Information Council has released data showing
the effectiveness of smoke detectors.
without detectors is more than twice
most favorable where detectors are
originated.
Residence Type Detectors Present Deaths1000 fires
1-2 Family Yes 4.6
Dwellings No 9.9
Apartments Yes 7.7
No 8.4
Fatalities where a detector is present arc usually due to one or more of
the following reasons:
improper detector maintenance or location;
detector battery missing or dead; power disconnected;
victim was unable to escape due to disability, age, or impairment
by alcohol or medication;
victim did not know or follow proper escape procedures; or
victim was intimately involved in fire's start (clothing or bedding
on fire, for example).
students
all-black classes and uddrcss the
student failure rate. The low track
has been replaced with an addi
tional period of English called
"tutorial" for designated small
groups of students having diffi
culty with reading and writing
skills. Teachers report the program
is working, that classes are more
heterogeneous, and that the failure
rale is dropping.
In Dalton, Georgia, the faculty
of the Westwood Primary School
studied the research on homo
geneous and heterogeneous group
ingand decided to restructure their
second-grade classes in order to
maximize student diversity.
NEA Vice President Chase em
phasizes the importance of teacher
involvement in this issue.
"Each school staff must devise
its own alternatives to tracking."
he says. "Change must come from
the bottom up. Teachers - work
ing with students, parents, and
administrators -- must develop
new ways to group students, new
ways to structure schools, and new
ways to teach our increasingly
diverse student population."
I he report concluded:
Minority students are signifi
cantly underrepresented in what
are called "gatekeeper classes"
courses such as eighth-grade alge
School supplies listed
Kindergarten
1 box of 8 large crayons
5 primary size pencils
2 4 oz. bottles of white glue
1 pair of scissors
1 box Kleenex
First and Second Grade
1 box of 16 small crayons
2 pencils size 2
1 eraser
2 4 oz. bottles of white glue
1 box of Kleenex
Third Grade
1 box of 16 or 24 small crayons
2 pencils size 2
Pink Pearl erasers
1 sharp point scissor
1 4 oz. bottle of white glue
1 large box of Kleenex
1 12 in. ruler (in.centimeters)
Pee Chee Folders
Fourth and Fifth Grade
1 box of 16 or 24 small crayons
pencils size 2
Pink Pearl erasers
1 sharp point scissor
1 4 oz. bottle of white glue
1 12 in. ruler (in.centimeters)
eligibility, households receiving
food stamps or "Aid for Depend
ent Children (ADC)" must list the
child's name, their food stamp or
ADC case number and the signa
ture and nameofanadult(2l years
or older) household member. Since
you have already given informa
tion to the welfare office, the
school can confirm your eligibility.
Households not receiving food
stamps or ADC must list: names of
all household members; social sec
urity number of the primary wage
earner responsible for the child
applying for benefits; total month
ly income and the amount of in
come ( before deductions for taxes,
social security etc.) each received
last month and source of the in
come received by each household
member certifying that the infor
mation provided is correct. If you
have a household member for
whom last months income was
higher or lower than usual, list that
person's expected average monthly
income.
You may apply for benefits any
time during the school year. If you
are not eligible now, but have a
decrease in household income, an
increase in household size, or be
come unemployed, fill out an ap
plication at that time.
Under the provision of the free
The death rate per 1,000 fires
the rate with detectors. Survival is
located in the room where the fire
grouped?
bra or ninth-grade geometry,
which arc prerequisites to higher
level courses.
Often these gatekeeper classes
are not even offered in low socio
economic status schools. Without
these critical foundation courses,
too many students arc prevented
from pursuing careers in certain
fields such as science or engineer
ing. Class size and diversity arc
related. From a teacher's perspec
tive, when incompatible learning
styles are added to a classroom, the
number of students in a classroom
must be decreased or the ability to
maximize academic performance
for all students will be sacrificed.
Tracking docs not begin after
children arrive at school. Children
come to school with a readiness for
learning based on parental care,
nutrition, health, and other fac
tors. Effective intervention - in the
form of prenatal care, day care,
latch-key programs, programs for
children who are disabled or at
risk -- must take place early.
NOTE: The NEA Center for
Innovation will serve as a clearing
house on alternatives to tracking.
For more information, contact
NEA Communications (202) 822
7200. Notebook paper
1 box Kleenex
Sixth Grade
1 box of 16 or 24 small crayons
Pencils size 2
Pink Pearl erasers
1 sharp point scissor
1 4 oz. Elmer's glue
1 12 in. ruler (in.centimeters)
Notebook paper
1 box Kleenex
Ballpoint pens, blue or black
(not erasable)
No spiral or thick notebooks
Seventh and Eighth Grade
College Ruled Notebook paper
One 2-inch, 3-ring (metal ring)
binders with dividers
NO Pee Chee Folders
Some classes may require addi
tional materials. If so, students will
be notified during the first week of
school by their classroom teacher.
School supplies will need to be
replenished throughout the school
year.
and reduced-price policy, school
officials will review applications
and determine eligibility. Parents
or guardians dissatisfied with the
ruling of the official may wish to
discuss the decision with the de
termining official on an informal
basis. Parents wishing to make a
formal appeal may make a request
Household Size Yearly Monthly Weekly Yearly Monthly Weekly
One 11,618 969 225 8J64 681 157
Two 15,577 1,299 300 10,946 913 211
Three 19,536 1,628 376 13,728 1,144 264
Four 23,495 1,958 452 16,510 1,376 318
Five 27,454 2,288 528 19,292 1,608 371
Six 31,413 2,618 605 22,074 1,840 425
Seven 35,372 2,948 681 24,856 2,072 478
Eight 39,331 3,278 757 27,638 2,304 532
For each
additional family
member add 3,959 330 77 2,782 232 54
New director
The physical, emotional and
mental health care of Warm
Springs youth lies in the hands of
many. When families are found to
be dysfunctional, tribal authorities
intervene and children are re
moved from their harmful envir
onment. Hired in April as director
of Childrens Protective Service,
Jon Grant helps ensure that the
existing system works. Childrens
Protective Services (CPS) is but
one part of the circle of care.
Grant attained a Bachelor's de
gree in psychology from Southwest
Missouri State University. He at
tended the University of Nebraska
for two years while working on a
Master's degree.
During I9H4 and 19X5. Grant
worked for Nebraska State De
partment of Social Services. From
1985 through the end of 1989.
Grant was an employee oflhe Mis
souri Division of Family Services,
working two-and one-half years
each in Kansas City and Butler.
While working in Missouri,
Propriety
One of Jerry Kcndrick's duties
as tribal prosecutor is to help "en
sure that everything is done prop
erly" in the legal process, from the
original arrest to the final sentenc
ing. To assist in that goal, Kcndrick
not only participates in trials, but
trains police officers and tribal
legal ad vocates as well. Propriety is
the buzz word in the world of law
enforcement and legal representa
tion, In Warm Springs since May of
this year, Kcndrick works closely
with the Warm Springs Police
department and supervisor Jeff
Sanders. "He (Sanders) gives mc a
lot of latitude."says Kcndrick. "He
points me in the right direction and
turns me loose."
Kcndrick. a native of Texas,
"loves Warm Springs"and became
a criminal defense attorney in I978.
"Now I'm on the other side," he
says. Not only is being on the other
side new to him, but the tribal Law
and Order Code is a challenge as
well. "It's a new law for me to
learn."
Warm Springs law takes into
account traditions and customs and
is not as "technical as state or fed
eral law. It offers more range in
which to operate." Nor is Warm
Springs law so highly specialized.
It's "more down to earth and not
highly intellectualized. It's more
for the common man," he adds.
Another plus, says Kendrick, is
that a person, if he chooses, can
represent himself or have a "non
law"person represent him in court.
"The justice system here is more
fair to the average person" because
of this policy, says Kendrick.
Prosecution of cases has changed
a bit in recent months, says Ken
drick. In the past, Kendrick ex
plains, a person could be convicted
numerous times for driving under
the influence before he was sent
enced to jail or received a fine.
Now, a second conviction brings
Attitude important in
Students don't drop out of
school in high school or middle
school - they drop out mentally
and attitudinally in elementary
school. That observation is the
foundation upon which the Na
tional Education Association's
new proposed initiative. Operation
Jump Start, is built.
Operation Jump Start is an in
tensive readiness session for ele
mentary students who need extra
attention.
NEA President Keith Geiger
unveiled the ambitious project at
NEA's annual meeting earlier this
summer. He characterized the pro
gram as an "all-out, full-alert effort
to give every elementary child who
needs it an education booster
shot."
"Operation Jump Start," Geiger
explained, "will provide a high-
either orally or in writing to the
hearing official identified for a
hearing on the decision: Stanley G.
Dmytryk, 1355 Buff Street. Mad
ras, Oregon, 97741 (Phone: 475
6192). If you list income information
and your child is approved for
meal benefits, you must tell the
INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES
Effective July 1, 1990, to June 30, 1991
REDUCED-PRICE
hired for Childrens Protective Service
Jon Grant
is prosecutor's aim
1 i
7
r l
Tribal prosecutor Jerry Kendrick works closely with the Harm Springs
Police department and local court personnel. He has been on the Job
since May.
not only a minimum 30-day jail
sentence, but the person is put on
one year probation, receives a $500
fine and must undergo counseling
andor treatment. "Punishment is
not the answer," says Kendrick.
"Treatment is."
Another change, says Kendrick,
is the prosecution of assault and
battery cases. Photos and state
ments are taken at the time of the
energy jolt for the millions of child
ren for whom more personal rela
tionships with teachers, greater
confidence in the school environ
ment, and a closer relationship be
tween school staff and families
could make the difference between
future success and failure."
As envisioned by Geiger. local
educators would identify those
students who could profit the most
from the intensive two-week pro
gram, proposed to be conducted
immediately before the start of the
1991-92 school year. These might
be students who need special atten
tion in school work, in self-esteem,
or in other areas.
The program itself, while local
ly designed, would probably in
clude morning sessions with no
more than 15 students. The classes
program
school when your household in
come increases by $50 or more per
month ($600 per year) or when
your household size decreases.
In certain cases, foster children
are also eligible for school meal
benefits. If you wish to apply for
meal benefits for a foster child,
contact the school for help with the
application.
FREE
Grant was involved with children
in foster care and group home care.
He placed children in foster homes
or group homes and worked with
families. The ultimate goal was to
return children to their families.
Grant works to "empower peo
ple to accept their responsibilities"
as parents and to help them be
come "functional." He helps fami
lies "meet certain minimum stand
ardsol living.. ..Indian people have
excellent traditional child rearing
skills."
The CPS deals with children
w ho are victimsol sexual and phys
ical abuse and neglect or are be
yond parental control. W hile pre
viously a facility for longer-term
care, the facility now provides
"temporary serxices for children."
A child is usually brought to CPS
by the police. Within 24 hours a
preliminary hearing is conducted
by the tribal court. Testimony is
presented b parents. CPS workers
and the juvenile coordinator. I he
report. I he court will not drop the
charges against the perpetrator if
the victim backs out. "We will
prosecute with or without the vic
tim's" assistance, says Kcndrick.
"I want to make sure that things
are done legally and that no one's
rights are violated," asserts Ken
drick. "I'm fair, but strict. I know
what the Tribe wants and they're
going to get it."
success
would be held in the schools the
children would normally attend,
with the teachers being familiar
faces who will follow up with the
students during the school year.
The afternoons would allow time
for teacher planning, parental con
tacts, and home visitations.
Operation Jump Start would
reach about one-third of all ele
mentary students. The projected
cost is $2.2 billion; NEA is asking
the federal government to cover
half of that amount with states and
localities to pick up their propor
tional amounts.
Geiger challenged Congress and
the President to live up to the
commitments they made in estab
lishing the national goals for edu
cation. "I'd like them to tell me," he
said, "how they justify ignoring
needy children struggling to hold
body and soul together, while
money gushes from our treasury to
bail out the failing savings and loan
institutions."
Gym open
to public
Jefferson County School Dis
trict 509-J will begin scheduling
evening gymnasium use by the
public on Monday. August 20.
Groups desiring to receive a
specific night or building may ob
tain the necessary forms at the
district office, located at 1 355 Buff
Street. Madras, between 8 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m.
No group will be granted more
than one regular night per week for
36 weeks during the first week of
reservations. Based on current
school board policy, rental fees arc
due at the time of application.
Interested groups or individuals
should contact Stan Dmytryk or
Carolyn Thorpe at 475-6I92 for
further information.
judge then determines if the child is
to be returned to his parents or is to
remain in temporary custody. As
sessments arc done on the child
and family with 14 days. At that
time. CPS makes recommenda
tions to the court as to what should
be done. Within 30 days of the orig
inal contact an ajudication hearing
is held. The child is then cither to
be left in foster care, left with rela
tives or returned to the family.
CPS employs three counselors
while the home has 10 workers.
Two workers are on staff at all
times.
Teenagers remain at the home
for longer periods of time because
of a shortage of foster homes.
"There is a desperate need for fos
ter homes for children, especially
teenagers." says Grant.
The goal for CPS is to "raise
children so they are not harmed."
says Grant. A safe environment
means a healthv future.