Sending a message to the future: high schools launch students into adult life.Dear Colleague: In recent years, our high schools have become the focus of wide-ranging wide-rang·ing adj. Covering a wide area; including much: a pianist's wide-ranging repertoire; a wide-ranging interview. reform efforts, all with the goal of providing each student with a rigorous, relevant education that fosters meaningful relationships with the adults around them. Why such a sense of urgency surrounding sur·round tr.v. sur·round·ed, sur·round·ing, sur·rounds 1. To extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle. 2. To enclose or confine on all sides so as to bar escape or outside communication. n. high school reform? For one thing, in our knowledge-based economy, the advantage goes to the educated. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the U.S. Department of Education, of the 50 best-paying occupations in the nation, 48 require a college degree. A 2005 report from the state Legislative Analyst's Office, "Improving High School," reminded us that only one-quarter of high school students are on the "university" track--that is, prepared to graduate and qualify for a four-year college. The largest group,--45 percent--will graduate but won't won't Contraction of will not. won't will not won't will qualify to attend a four-year college. And 30 percent of the entering ninth grade class will drop out of high school. This unfortunate fact was highlighted in a cover story titled "Dropout (1) On magnetic media, a bit that has lost its strength due to a surface defect or recording malfunction. If the bit is in an audio or video file, it might be detected by the error correction circuitry and either corrected or not, but if not, it is often not noticed by the human Nation" in a recent issue of Time magazine "Dropping out of high school is for many students the last step in a long process through which students become disengaged dis·en·gage v. dis·en·gaged, dis·en·gag·ing, dis·en·gag·es v.tr. 1. To release from something that holds fast, connects, or entangles. See Synonyms at extricate. 2. from school," said a 2004 report from the National Research Council. High school represents the end of formal education for many of our students; the platform from which they are launched into adult life. How well does your school serve each student? Understanding this important role our high schools play, the opening chapter of NASSP's Breaking Ranks II asks principals this question: How well does your school serve each student? ACSA's Secondary Education Council is working to help you answer that question in a positive way. Council President Paul A. Priesz, in his article on page 8 of this issue, synthesizes the latest research on what must be done to improve our high schools, and presents a statement of beliefs from the council. Among those beliefs is the notion that school leaders must drive high school reform: "As leaders, we need to begin and continue discussions with parents, community leaders, business leaders and staff. The needs of our students are too important to just let change happen." Social critic and author Neil Postman POSTMAN, Eng. law. A barrister in the court of exchequer, who has precedence in: motions. Once said, "Children are the message we send to a time we will never see." What message are the students at your schools sending to the future? Sincerely, Henry Bietz ACSA ACSA Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture ACSA Association of California School Administrators ACSA Airports Company South Africa ACSA Apple Certified System Administrator ACSA Australian Curriculum Studies Association President |
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