Local Students
Write President
Students in Mrs. Diana Little's
social studies and language arts
sixth grade classes at Kings
Mountain Middle School recently
wrote letters of support to
President Bush. Excerpts from
some of the letters follow:
"I hope the war is over soon.
Every time I look at the news I feel
sorry for the people over there. I
give my support to you and the sol-
diers. We hope they come back
safely." --Debbie Dalton.
“I really don't think that each
and every person over there could
get through without your smarts. I
just want to say I love all of the
men and women over there and I
love you for your caring and sup-
port." --Andy Ross.
"I might not have any relatives
fighting in the war. But I still
watch the war so I'll know what's
happening. I still hope we win." --
Tabitha Parker.
"I think war is a great idea because
if we wouldn't have gone to war
Iraq would take a lot more coun-
tries in the Middle East. Keep on
making those great decisions." --
Jason Putnam.
“I wanted you to know that you
have my support and love. All the
people in Saudi Arabia also have
my support and love. I think what
you are doing'is right on." --
Melanie Hope Beam.
"I don't know much about mis-
siles or bombs but I hope none of
Saddam Hussein's men don't get
killed, or none of our men get
killed. I hope our men get to come
back soon. I wish this had never
started.” --Tamra Barrett.
"I know that a lot of our men
will be injured, but I think if we try
hard we just might get it through
Saddam's head that we do not want
war or we do not want our broth-
ers, sisters or parents tq go. Tell the
men I wish them good luck and I
hope they come home soon." --
Tim Weaver
"As a citizen of the United
States, I will pray and pray every
day for God to help you make the
right decision.” --Tabatha
Carman
“I am showing my support to
you and the troops over seas. I
went camping the other day and I
put a flag on my tent. My friends
like it. I think it is a good idea to
go to war. Saddam is a strange
man.” --Jimmy Boheler.
"I would really like for you to
pass on to the soldiers that all of
America is praying for them. So
keep your trust in God and He'll
make a way." --Mychuwan
Logan.
"The war really has me worried. 1
feel for the people over there, and their
families. I think Saddam Hussein has
really gone crazy. I also am afraid
they'll start a draft and, if they do, my
older brother Larry will have to go." --
Lyndi Stone.
"I think you are doing the right
thing, because Iraq thinks they can take
over the world. But we are going to
prove them wrong." --Clay White.
“I am concerned about the war. I
wish they were not out there. We are
wishing you good luck to win the war."
--Bryan Odums
"I love the troops over there. I'm so
glad that you're going to try to get them
back home carefully." --Calvin
Carroll.
MATH FAIR WINNERS AT KMMS-Pictured are winners of the recent Math Fair at Kings Mountain
Middle School. The students are pictured in front of a prize-winning computer project by Ross Thomas.
Back row, from left, Pam Ruppe, Burgen Hall, Ross Thomas, Misty Smith, Felicia Davis, Susan Smith
and Laura Smith. Front row, from left, Becky Taylor, Jacob Moschler, Nathan Mayse, Crissie
Johnsonbaugh, Autumn Edsall and Nicole Setzer. Not pictured are Allison Hardin and Carrie Hardin.
Looking At Effective Schools
As we have begun to study what research tells us
about effective schools in general, it has caused us to
also begin to take a closer look at our own school sys-
tem. Effective school research promotes the concept
that all children can learn, regardless of socio-econom-
ic class, race, or gender. If you subscribe to that theory,
as I do, then it is only a short step to understand that
you must analyze your own system carefully in order
to discover which groups need the most attention. In
educational circles these days we call that dissaggre-
gating the data. As we have begun to do this in the
Kings Mountain District Schools we have discovered
some enlightening information which I will share with
you today.
The following data currently applies to our school
system:
-White children consistently score higher than Black
children on all measures of achievement. This does not
‘mean that our Black children are not as smart or do not
work as hard. It does mean that we need to pay more
attention to their special needs as we try to teach them.
-Girls, on the average, score higher than boys on the
California Achievement Tests in Grades 1-8
-Students who were absent from school one week or
less during the year score higher on achievement tests
than those who were absent more than one week.
-The general rule is that the higher the parent's level
of education, the higher the student's achievement test
score. This does not mean that every parent needs to :
have a graduate degree.
It does mean that the emphasis on education evi-
denced by the parent's completion of at least a high
school education directly predicts how supportive of
the child's education that parent will be. 24% of our
students come from homes where the parent(s) do not:
have a high school education.
-Our students score below the state average on high
school end-of-course tests for courses which they are
required to talk.
-Our students score above the state average on high
school end-of-course tests for courses which are elec-
tives.
-Our Asian students score below the other students
on tests for subjects which require developed reading
BOB McRAE
Superintendent
Kings Mountain Schools
skills; however, they score higher than other students
on tests for subjects where reading is not an essential.
-80.2% of our drop-outs are White; 18.1% are
Black; and 1.7% are Asian. A disproportionate per-
centage of drop-outs are White. 54% of our drop-outs
are males 46% are females.
-Our overall per pupil expenditure is $46.54 below
the state average.
Individual schools are beginning to explore what the
data indicates in their particular situations. Further dis-
aggregation needs to occur. For example, it is not
enough to know that our Black children typically score
lower than our White children. We also need to know
if Black males typically score lower than Black fe-
males. When we assemble all the pertinent data, we
can be in a better position to plan an instructional pro-
gram which is truly geared to the belief that all chil-
dren can learn. j ve
I think we often get in the habit of looking at our
students as just one group. There are usually distinct
differences between the sub-groups of our students,
differences which need to be realized and addressed.
We certainly do want to see all of our students as one
in terms of our efforts for them and our offerings to
them. But we also want to see each of them as an indi-
vidual in terms of how we plan to best enable them to
be successful in school.
I hope the data above helps you understand our sys-
tem more completely. We plan to put it to use to im-
prove the achievement of our children and, thereby,
improve their chances at begin successful when they
finish school.
Chamber Wants Names Of Service People
Kings Mountain Chamber of
Commerce Executive Director
Loretta Cozart wants to compile a
list of service people serving in the
War in the Gulf and names of their
local kin so that the Chamber and
city can plan a huge pep rally
showing support for the military.
Citizens with friends and family
serving in the Gulf are asked to call
the Chamber office, 739-4755,
anytime and give the information
on the answering machine.
The pep rally will be held in the
next three weeks.
TOWN BOARD MEETING-
Grover Town Board will meet
Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in Town
Hall for the regular monthly meet-
ing.
2
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