As parents, children, community members, and school staff arrived,
they were asked to find the circle of chairs that matched a symbol
given to them. Yvonne Mayfield, principal of Bellevue Elementary
gave the opening remarks. She set the stage with the following
challenge to the "Vision Circles": "We are now
in the year 2010. Wonderful changes have happened in our community
and our schools. Teams of parents and school people have been
flying all over the world telling the story of what we have done.
You are here to be on the Oprah show where you will tell the story.
Our job tonight is to prepare for that show by describing what
has happened in our communities and schools."
Following this introduction facilitators assisted groups of approximately 15 parents and children clustered in circles all over the room. The response was enthusiastic. For almost an hour groups energetically wrote down their images looking back of a better community and better schools. At the end people were given a few minutes to view what other groups had written. Recorders then came to the front to share one item from their group.
On the following pages we have taken these statements and organized them in two major sections: (1) how the community is better in 2010 and (2) how the schools are better in 2010. In each section, we have grouped similar and/or items.
|
Care and support in society Housing Crime and safety Employment Environment |
Home life Recreation Supports for living in the community Community resources Community cooperation and improvement Communication and interaction with other communities Health Transportation Technology Government and politics
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HOW OUR SCHOOLS ARE BETTER Whole Schooling in 2010.
Learning and instruction
Reluctant learners get the help needed.
Tutoring
1-800-homework helper hotline.
Homework hotlines.
More individualization.
Better teaching of children.
Better teaching methods
More electives as subjects for students.
Hooked on Phonics.
Cooperative groups.
Children assume responsibility for their learning.
Morals emphasized.
Self esteem classes.
Self esteem boosting
Drug training classes.
Multiculutural / bilingual.
Career training from kindergarten through 12th grade.
More vocational education.
Organize study clubs
Art and music classes
Arts and crafts.
More recreation in school.
Music, sports, computers classes, school supplies
Wood shop,
Science fair
Banquets for graduates.Teachers
Recruit the best teachers and give great salary.
Staff will be well qualified and trained.
Have a hardworking determined staff.
More school teachers certified.
More men role models as teachers in community.
More male minority teachers.
Male role models (more male teachers).
Parents become teachers in schools.Schools with good resources
Smaller students/teacher ratios (class size).
Larger classrooms, smaller class size.
Lower class size.
Class size a max. of 15 students per class.students have more time with their leaders.
Adequate school supplies for each student.
Lottery monies going toward education.
Basic readers (text books) for students.
Updated books.
More teachers, more jobs, better funding for schools.
More assistance in classroom.
Fully funded school/district.
Each school owns a private jet for field trips for international education experiences.School facilities
Schools being renovated, new schools.
Remodel, new schools.
Engineer-redesigned the school resulting in interest, attendance, appearance, attitudes, school pride.
Better facilities i.e. gyms, air-conditioning.
More custodial help.
Lottery monies for education.
Better facilities,
Flowers around each school.Safe schools
The kids are safe from strangers on the playground and drugs around
the school area.
No more drugs within the school area.
Drug free communities.
No weapons or violence.
Id's for all students.
Better security.Technology and computers
Computers in all classes.
Computers at all students desks.
Computers.
Computers in every class.
More computers in every class.
Lap top computers/omit books
Updated computers
Telephones in all classes.
Intercom systems.
Home and schools connected on the internet.
Use e-mail.
Students using the internet with one another.
Telephone in all classrooms.
Fax machines for parents and teachers.
Parents have computers/teachers-school have computers.
Parents having use of computers.
Worldwide knowledge of computers available for the people. Research libraries are available for all the people.
We are modern and up to date with technology.
Help students with new technology.
Teachers-ongoing training for today's technology.Training and education for parents
Parent career/education training.
Parent workshops.
Parental skills taught.
Parents would have computer knowledge and computer in every home.
Parents take classes.
Parents would go to workshops and seminars across America and visit other countries.School year
Year around school.School dress
Dress code for all students.
Uniforms.
Uniforms for all schools elementary - high school.
School uniforms.
Dress code, dressing neat in school.
Dress code for teachers
No gym shoes, no blue jeans, no sweat shirts.Lunches for children
Nutritious lunches.
Better lunch program (variety).
All children must have lunch regardless of behavior.
Prepare nutritious meals.
Nutritious lunches.Outcomes for students
Children still in college: becoming a teacher, astronaut, police officer, fire fighter, real estate.
Kids through CollegeLibrary access and resources
Library (children have library cards).Religion and the schools
Bring prayer back.
Prayer back in school.
Prayer in schools (Quiet Time)
More school/small classroom/prayer
Freedom religion in Public SchoolAfter school activities
After school activities.
After school activities.
After school activities.Mentoring and community support of children
Mentoring programs.
College students come back as tutors.Parent involvement and partnership with the school
School staff, students, and parents agree on best education for our students.
Partnerships with family and schools.
Parents being actively involved in all aspects of student education.
A parent in every classroom each day.
Parent involvement mandatory.
Mandatory that parent participate in child classroom.
Report cards for parents.
Parents involvement increased because of pride in themselves and their children.
Parents are encouraged to achieve their dreams and children therefore will achieve their dreams.
Parents participate in students learning and school planning.
Parents learning with children. More parents working with their children.
Parents have to do a lot more with children.
Parents are more concerned and active.
Parents-more involved at home and school with each other.
More parents participating
Invite parents to participate.
Home and school has to be a team .
Communication- parents, children, teachers.
Parent conference room.
Knock walls down to establish parent center.
Communities between parents.
Parents more involved with children at school.
Communication line open with teacher.Community involvement with the schools
Total community involvement.
More community involvement.
Church and schools working together with family.
Successful! because the attitude of giving back to the community.
Working hard to see the children achieve.
Parents become directors or CEO of company. Company then gives 10% to schools and every children gets a lap top computer.
Doctors come back to his school and donate time, knowledge and supplies to communities.
Accountant-volunteered time & services resulting in money saved for others uses (costly field trips, additional technology, equipment, etc.)
Doctor- volunteered time and services resulting in free immunizations in school-helped students develop interest in science and math.
Community - more involved resulting in spiritual influence, morals, values, mentoring. Church serves as a meeting place.
