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Jones (continued Iron paga 9| Prospect School, since we do not have a specific Gifted and Talented Program on campus. QUESTION: Since the Robeson County School Beard Is consolidating the 10.11. and 12 grides ot Maxton High. Pembroke High, and Prospect Union School Into West Robeson High School lor the 1963-1964 school year, what preparations are being made to lay the foundation lor a smooth transition? Plaase explain. ANSWER: As early as two years ago, the Central Office staff, in conjunction with the consolidating schools, began working as a unit to prepare for the opening of West Robeson. First, the curriculum offerings and design were explored and then formulated, as well as projected room and floor plans and inventories of equipment for the various departments. Next, committees were formed consisting of faculty, students, and parents for overall planning. Since the ball has been rolling, momentum has picked up along with the spirit of anticipation. Even the Robeson County Board of Elections has assisted in the process by monitoring the selection of a mascot and school colors. With its electronic equipment, the Elections Board enabled all schools to vote the same day, results were tabu luted and announced that afternoon. The Parent-Teacher Organization has been quite instru mental in promoting the adaptation through parent awareness campaigns and vacilitating guest speakers. Of particular interest was the planning workshop held early this spring which produced the course descriptions necessary for the preregistration process. For preregistration, the guidance departments of each school worked as a unit, enrolling each student and providing information that did promote a smooth preregistration. As of this time, all apsects of school programs have meshed and worked together to afford as smooth a transition as possible. Even the supervisor of transportation has worked closely with the participants to devise routes that are both effective and efficient. QUESTION: Since the high school dropout rate among Indian schools is excessively high all across the United States, what factors have caused Prospect Union School to buck this trend and have a low dropout rale? Please explain. ANSWER: Factors lowering the dropout rate at Prospect School include the bettering of economic conditions in Robeson County due to the influx of new industry, intensive counseling by the entire staff, and a desire to succeed instilled by the strong families in the Prospect School zone. I personally give much credit to the parents of our students. Their hard work, sacrifice, guidance and support have kept many students in school, while at the same time encouraging them on to a higher level of education. QUESTION. Senator Jesse Helms, with the backing o! President Reagan, has vowed to introduce a voluntary prayer amendment during the current session of the United States Congress. Since Robeson County Is located in the "Bible Belt" area of the South, will you please tell us how you think the volun tary prayer Issue is perceived by parents of Robeson Union School students and. then, tell us your personal feelings about the issue? Please explain. ANSWER: Prospect School is located in the midst of many strong church congregations, Methodist and Baptist churches are prevalent Parents would definitely support the voluntary - prayer amendment. Presently, we have monthly Bible story presentations, and the parents strongly support this program. Most parents have some kind of regular Bible study in their homes. Personally, I feel that our nation was founded on Bible principles and that children benefit greatly from exposure to the values and morals taught therein. When youngsters are old enough to make their own decisions, they will be better informed and more able to decide for themselves. k. QUESTION: Even though Prospeel Union School will no longer hive the 10.11. and 12 grades alter the 1982-1983 school year, what special advantages have your high school students had over the past decade in securing a quality education? Please explain. \ ANSWER: Since students are on the same campus with the teachers they had in their early years, they have kept good relationships with their teachers through the years. This fact has directly affected discipline and helped avoid many poten tial problems. Even though Prospect School is a relatively small school, it has provided better opportunities for students i, to enroll in the particular courses they wanted. Intense coun seling on the part of all professionals has aided students in - choosing the college-bound or technical courses relative to their projected career interests. I am of the opinion that knowing a student and his family background gives an educator a better perspective on how to deal with him. You might say it "puts us a step ahead." My guidance counselor, Aggie Deese.'along with my assistant principal, William C. Chavis, are continuously counseling ; students both individually and collectively on charting out the beAt possible plan for their futures. One-on-one contact is a very strong element in Prospect School's guidance and counseling of students. QUESTION: Whit partlculir advantages will the new Wast Robeson High School offr to local high school students that Prospect Union School could not otter? Please explain. ANSWER: The most important advantage will be an expanded curriculum. Even though we pride ourselves at Prospect for keeping abreast of current trends in education and offering courses that will assist in as many career fields as possible, we simply cannot offer the volume a bigger school can offer to students. 1 consider the controlled exposure to people, places, and experiences, worthwhile to students, to be of major importance throughout their educational career. A major function of the educational system is to "open the wihd^w to the world" and broaden the experiential base of individuals. This helps expand thinking skills and challenges students. , Finally, a consolidated high school can offer a wider range of extracurricular activities that the best efforts of a small school cannot. In brief, it can offer something for everyone. The scope of West Robeson High School's extra-curricular activities includes such diverse interests as drama, poetry, / graphics, different levels of journalism, and a range of musical interests as well as a totally diversified athletic program. All in all, I feel that West Robeson can pick up where Prospect School left off and provide services that can interest every student miravinu ni > ?j il. ??n ? ii_i yucomuh: since mors nun uxiy percent ui ine yriiuueiee ui rrospeci union School attend tome type oi pott tocondary educational Institution, what lactort have contributed to thit tuccott rate over the patt decade? Pleate explain. ANSWER: Again, I give the credit for success to intensive coun seling, the "personal touch" that Prospect has offered each of its students. Each child is an individual, unique in his person ality, intelligence, learning modality, and experiential back ground. Because we value the self-worth of the individual and do not allow a student to get "lost in pie shuffle" of things, I honestly believe Prospect School has "fought a good fight" and succeeded with its students. Prospect School has produced many firsts in Indian education. The first Indian doctor came from the Prospect Community. Among its graduates, Prospect School is very proud to count numerous members of the health care profession such as medical doctors, dentists, anesthesiol ogists, nurses, emergency medical technicians, and many para-professionals. An outstanding percentage of our graduates have become professional educators and serve not only in the classroom, but in administrative positions both within and outside the Robeson County School System. Kindergarten through twelfth grade continuity has been most advantageous because students don't lose their associa tion or sense of identity by changing from one school to the other so frequently. Bonds of friendship and loyalty run very deep here. Another major factor has been the ease of access of so many institutions of higher learning. Graduates of Prospect can easily commute to such four year schools as Pembroke State University, Saint Andrews College, Fayetteville State Univer sity, Methodist College and Campbell College. Junior colleges and technical institutes such as the Sandhills Community College, Robeson Technical College, Richmond Technical Institute and Southeastern Community, as well as others I may have unintentionally omitted, stand ready to provide a post-secondary education at a minimum cost within a few hours drive. I would also like to mention that a great number of our students go into the armed services. When recruiters are on campus,_ the Guidance Office of Prospect Union School is generally packed full of potential recruits. Also, I must give credit to the Lumbee Regional Development Association for doing such a superb job of counseling students to both stay in school and further their education through the efforts of its Talent Search Division. The H-CAP (Health Careers Aware ness Program) through our county board of education acquaints and prepares students for health careers. QUESTION. Local community and parent involvement is important to mariy school principals. What importance (to you place on community and parent involvement at Prospect Union School, and will you share some id your succ8sslul techniques for gaining community and parent involvement with your fellow principals? Please explain. ANSWER: I place vital importance on the involvement of parents and the community in general to support public education. The success a school enjoys depends as greatly on the image it projects, as well as the service it provides. Parents and the community can provide funds and foster attitudes that lead to the up-building of the educational program. Just a few of the groups in our community which have helped the school are the Prospect Jaycees and Jaycettes, the Prospect Volunteer Fire Department and its Auxiliary, and a variety of classes, clubs and groups from the various churches in the community. Of vital importance has been the Prospect Parent-Teacher Organization. Through its solid support, many worthwhile projects for the benefit of the students have been accom plished. Two in particular have been the purchase of chairs and tables for the school grounds and the purchase of draperies for the gymnatorium, which were installed just before the graduation of the 1981 class. Several of the techniques I employ for gaining parental and community involvement include: (a) Letters to the parents informing them of upcoming events; (b) Posters placed in stores and business ?stablishments to tell about programs; (c) Speaking to groups; (d) Encouraging parents to visit their children's classrooms and have lunch with their child; (e) (Maintaining an open door policy to my office. I want parents to come out and feel free to discuss any inquiries with me personally; (f) I support the periodical publishing of a school newsletter to inform the community of all the accomplishments made by our students; (g) Parents and community members are encouraged to attend the games and social functions held on campus; (h) Parents are invited to the annual Athletic Banquet to show our respect for them and their support of the athletic program; (i) Publishing newsworthy items in local newspapers; and (j) Broadcasting items through public service announce ment at local radio stations. QUESTION: Sinn fm mm tarn. rnrtaL tauulsd and taw reared ywr family In Prwptct School Zona in wMch yau cam wily laid a prindpal ship. dn yau M that Ms cloaanass la fta community hat baan an aaaat or a liability la yaur prefasaional carear In sehaol administration? Plaasa uplain. ANSWER: When a principal takes the responsibility of leader snip of a school, this automatically puts him in a grave posi tion because, in a sense, he has become one of the chief leaders of that community. In order for one to be a great or effective leader of a community, he must have a knowledge of its constituents. I have not had to devote a great deal of time to learning Prospect Community, having been bom and raised in it and having attended Prospect School. The knowledge I have of this locality is definitely an asset to me as principal. I have not had to learn the local people in order to better serve their educational needs. Since this is my community, there is a greater closeness and love for the community, which nourishes in me a great zeal to serve. Since 1 went to school with some of the students' grand parents and taught some of their parents, these factors make for a better understanding and a greater closeness to them. The love I have for Prospect School has been, and will con tinue to be, the greatest asset I have in serving as principal. The knowledge and satisfaction of a life devoted to the better ment of one's community through helping educate its youth is the greatest reward 1 could ever hope to receive. QUESTION: School principals have different ideas and philosophies about classroom management What about yours? Please explain. * ANSWER: Teachers should and must maintain control of their classrooms at all times. I state this most emphatically! Children will take advantage of a situation when the control is weak or inconsistent. 1 support my teachers on this point 100 percent, and J feel that many problems in public education today could be avoided if there was strong, consistent control in the classroom. I favor self-contained one-grade level class rooms for the early years of education. The student needs con sistency of a single teacher and group. Our best teachers certainly need to be in the early childhood (K-3) grades where so much of the foundation of lifetime learning is laid. The self contained classroom has worked well for us at Prospect. It's structured environment of organization and discipline in learning has worked exceedingly well for us as our test scores prove. Organization and discipline handled by the teachers, under the guidance of a strongly supportive principal, is essential. QUESTION: There are many critics who say that North Carolina teacher certification standards are not high enough. Do you perceive this to be a problem, and. H so. what advice would you give to college and university education departments to help assure the graduation of quality teachers? Please explain. ANSWER: The degree of professionalism among the teachers that have worked under my administration has been quite positive. I do not agree with critics who say teacher certifica tion standards are not high enough. In the first place, I feel that the universities are doing a fair job "weeding out" poor applicants for their teacher training programs. This fact has been more emphasized in the last few yer.rs. The results are teachers who are better qualified and more ready to be placed in the classrooms. At any rate, the National Teacher Exami nation score required by the state would eliminate many weak candidates. My najor concern in the fact that many universities drop entrance requijguents in order to lure lower level students to their campuses. Then, these people have a really tough time trying to get into a teacher training program and in passing the NTE. In short, entrance requirements are dropped, but there is no dropping whatsoever of exit require ments. There should be a tightening-up process here because it misleads many individuals, promising them skills they simply cannot handle. Advice: (a) Stricter entrance requirements for colleges; (b) Insistence on personal interview and careful screening and guidance in the selection process; (c) Teacher training programs begin the first year of college with actual classroom visitation and observation; (d) Some education courses should include teacher visitation as resource people to actually give students first hand knowledge of what is going on in the schools; and (e) In short, I recommend a process program of interaction between the universities training teachers and actual in-the-field educators. QUESTION: Looking into the future ten years, what do you think public educa tion will be like in 1993 in Robeson County schools in the area of teaching methods, materials, personnel, equipment and facilities? Please explaia ANSWER: Of course, any answer I give you here is pure, unadul terated speculation. However, I do have some views into the future. By necessity, as well as choice, computers will become part of the educational process. My desire is for them to be used as a tool, not as a substitute for the teacher. Education is essentially a people business. Using computers properly can be of great assistance, especially in enlightening-up the paper load burden upon educators. They will also help teachers to motivate students. In addition, computer technology in the job marketplace precludes the delay of using them as tools in the high school curriculum. To educate students to handle careers, we as educators must be responsive to the needs of employees. The growing number of high-tech employers expected to be attracted to the Sun Belt region forces educators to shift gears and put increased emphasis on mathematics and science. These employers will demand a higher degree of quality and efficiency than ever demanded before. As we have already seen, funds for materials, facilities, equipment and personnel will probably be even more tightly restricted in the future. QUESTION: During your many years as a school principal, you have no doubt sean many major changes take place in the schools of Robeson County. What are a few of the major changes, and will you briefly comment on them? Please explain. ANSWER: A few of the changes here in the Robeeon County / School System during my tenure have been: (a) Consolidation and integration of schools creating a tri racial school system; (b) Federal funding; (c) To a certain degree, elimination of local boards of educa tion and an authority shift from local school boards to a \ centralized county school board; (d) )Evolution from frame-structured facilities to modem brick and architecturally-designed buildings; (e) Instituting tenure; (f) Stretching of the school year calendar from 9-months to 10-months; (g) Hospitalization, vacation pay and better benefits for school employees; and (h) Extension of the school year to a full twelve months for !? administrators and guidance personnel. 1 QUESTION: So that school idministritors reading this interview will know what influenced you to become an educator, will you please list some of the - reasons you entered into this profession? Please explain. ANSWER: After returning home from the U. S. Army, having . been stationed in Europe, having seen combat during World War II, and being associated with people from all walks of life, it made me aware of the limitations of living in a srqall rural community. I saw a need to help my people (the Indians of Robeson County). After assessing the situation, the best way to meet this need, as I saw it, was through education. There fore, I returned home and entered Pembroke State University and graduated with a B.S. Degree and a North Carolina teach ing certificate. After many years in the classroom, I saw the need to further ? my education and I entered East Carolina University, where I . . pursued a M.Ed, in Administration. As I look back on my past employment, no job could have been more rewarding than working with and guiding the ... minds of young people. In addition to the above, my step-mother highly influenced my decision to become an educator because she had been an ? educator also. AlirATIAU U _ LI _L 1 > ? " ? ? ? * vutoiiun: ii i nign scram senior useo your aavice aooui majoring in education at college in order to become an educator, what advice would you : give this senior based on your personal knowledge and experience in the field? Please explain. \, ANSWER: There is no other profession where you can do so much for humanity as teaching. If you want to be extraordinary, be an educator! The particular rewards of being an educator include the satisfaction gained in working with students and having an influence on the lives of young people. I would like to make the student aware of the changing nature of the changing educational system that is dictated by politics. Flexibility is a major consideration when dealing with education. If the student is not flexible and willing to make adjustments, or goes into education seeking monetary gains, his path is bound to be sorely disappointing, not only to himself, but to the people around him. Before making the decision to be an educator, a person should visit various shcool systems and talk to and observe a variety of teachers and administrators. The field of education is definitely not for everybody. I would also like to comment that the North Carolina i Association of Educators can be a tool for positive change; ?i and, that now more than ever, it must jump in and produce *. action like never before. In this era of budget-cutting, educators must be sharp to guard, protect, defend and seek to ? - conquer areas targeted for controversy such as tenure, class size, merit pay and intrusion by unions. The art of communi cation is most important and must be emphasized even more . . in the future. yutaiiun: n you couia oecome a czar or ainaior ana nave me power to ? ?; reorganize the system of public education in North Carolina, what major changes would you make to improve instructional services to children? Please explain. ANSWER: Some of the major changes I would institute if I were a czar or dictator would include: (a) Reduce the class size in all grades to less than 23; (b) Make grades 7 and 8 departmentalized; (c) Allow grade 9 to remain in the high school curriculum; . (d) Reduce the paperwork burden that detracts from actual instructional time with students; (e) All teachers stay in the area of their certification; (f) Keep Chapter I and Title IV; (g) Implement a Gifted and Talented Program; (h) Increase salaries for teachers; (i) Provide more benefits for educators to attract better professionals and to keep them; (j) Upgrade physical facilities; (k) Provide more instructional supplies; (1) To avoid burnout, educators should be allowed one day of leave time after three months of employment. There after, one day per month should be allowed; (m) Secretaries should be employed on the basis of one per every five teachers or for each department 7-12 with a telephone; (n) More access to typewriters even at elementary levels; (o) Computer assisted instruction and management for every classroom; and (p) Encouragement of education across-the-board among the public for the benefit of our community, state, nation and world. i .. ? -i Scientists say the planet Mercury is shrinking. I Judge overturns county tuition planet By FRANK ELLIOTT Dally News Staff RALEIGH ? Declaring that the Onslow County school board's tuition plan subjects servicemen to double taxation and discriminates against federal employees, federal Judge Franklin T. Dupree filed an injunction Tuesday barring the school board from implementing its plan. In stating that the Board of Education's (245 tuition fee is un constitutional, Dupree also apparently overturned the state statute authoriz ing the tuition fee, stating, "The (tuitioa) ordinance and its underlying statute" are unconstitutional. County schools Superintendent Everett Waters said today the school I. board must discuss the decision at Its June meeting before deciding If it yrlll ? appeal the ruling. in iMttng his decision. Dupree 4 agreed with the U.S. Justice Depart ment's position that the tuition fee violates the Soldier's and Sailor's Civil Relief Act of 1941. , That act protects servicemen, sta tioned outside their home state, from having to pay taxes both in their home state and that in which they are soring. "In this case," Dupree wrote, "tuition can only be understood as an enforced contribution to provide for the support of government ? the standard definition of tax." The school board argued that the tuitioo fee was not a tax, but a fee for a specific service, and thus did not violate the exemption from double taxation. Dupree disagreed "Not only is it tax oo property that is exempt rattier, it is the annually recurring general tax used to support the general revenue" that is exempt he reasoned. Through the tuition fee, Dupree said, "Onslow County seeks to in crease its general revenue because it is forbidden from taxing military personnel directly, thus, they are trying to get (funds) indirectly." Nor did Dupree agree with the school board's citation of a Maryland decision allowing state colleges to charge more to non-resident students, which the board said was a precedent justifying its tuition plan. "The importance of primary educa tion mum* be of Its essential quality," Dupree said. "Any impairment, especially at the local level, would be much more injurious than would be cutbacks .. ? it the college level." Dupree also agreed with the Justice Department's claim that the tuition plan discriminates against servicemen and other government employees who are not state residents. "The preamble to the board's (tuition) ordinance clearly shows the discriminatory purpose com tempiated" by the plan, Dupree stated. "Because the board's objective is to recoup lost federal funds, from federally connected students, it is therefore a discriminatory attack against government employees and cannot stand," be said. School board attorney Marshall Dotsoo and state attorney Elizabeth Bunting argued that the tuition plan did not discriminate because the tuition fee applied to all non-resident school children, not Just those of servicemen. Because Dupree's Judgment rules "the~ (tuition) ordinance and its underlying statute" unconstitutional. Dupree seems to be overturning state general statute which allows school boards to charge tuition. In an effort to clarify this state ment, the Daily News tried to speak with Dupree, but his law clerk, John Berkelheimer, was not willing to interpret Dupree's memorandum and repeatedly refused to let a reporter speak with Dupree. Because the state law apparently has been overturned, the school board may have an ally If It decides to appeal the case. However, Mrs. Bunting could not be reached Although declaring the tuition plan ' unconstitutional, Dupree did not agree with the Justice Department's claim that the fee also violated contracts the school board signed with the federal government. Those contracts assured the federal government that, in return tor accep ting federal funds for school construc tion, the school board would make the . I schools available to federally con nected children. Dupree agreed with Dotson's de fense that the contracts were valid only as long as the government provided Impact Aid funds to defray the coat of operating those schools. The school board passed its tuition plan July 6 to recoup lost federal funding due to cutbacks in the Impact Aid program. Impact Aid reimburses school boards for the cost of educating miltary dependents whose parents do not contribute to the taxes supporting local schools. Tuition bills were mailed Sept. is with the understanding that all who bad not paid tuition by Oct l would be dismissed- However, the school board agreed to delay collecting the tuition until the Issue was decided In court, J K