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Image provided by: Freeport Memorial Library
) rra-tr; Just Write by Joan Delaney DISAGREEMENT... Ai the most recent Baldwin Board of Education .m eeting there w as unexpected disagreement on the selection of a new textbook for ah English elective ooursc. Generally, the textbook adoption procedure by the Board of Education is pretty much routine. That is because the process which proceeds it is rather thorough. A committee of teachers and supervisors researches, exam ines, analyzes and finally selects a textbook and then that selection is presented to the Ixiard for formal adoption. In this particular case,- there seemed to be a diiTcrcncc o f .opinion regarding selection, which I suspect might ironically turn out to be a problem* of scmanUcs when further investigation * t^ c s plxc. I use the word “ironically” since the dirrcrcnce of 0 (Mnion revolves around a course which studies word origins and the changing and evolving use of language. In any case, aside from some fundamental questions which might be the topic of another editorial - Should lay people second guess professionals regarding topics like methodology and curriculum goals? - it might be interesting as the school year begins to discuss why there seems to be so many controversies within the.whole field of education. During “Back to School” nights which parents w ill attend or have attended throughput Baldwin, we probably could have as many ideas about what education should be doing as we have participants. In fact, among jjarents, we probably have as many different ideas about the goals of cdiic^on as we have chiidrea When children begin their education, some parents would be happy if their children would simply learn to leave home without crying. Al thc same lime, other parents whose children are in the same class are asking why their children aren't yet reading. As one attends gram m ar school parents* . meetings, we hear parents complain that there is not enough homework and. Tcihfoicemcnl, while another set of parents is reminding teachers that “family lime” should not be burdened w ith undo assignments. As children reach the secondary level. and their particular interests and abilities become more obvious* we see even greater differences of opinion on what-education should be. We have sat at board meetings where parents want a greater em p hasis on vocational education and have also sat at meetings where parents urge schools not to track students in such a way that their college options arc limited. We have seen parents lobby for special schools for the talented and . g ifted, and have seen other parents decry anything which sm acks of elitism.* We have seen parents urge specific Curriculum r ig h t down to names of books which should be a part of every child's experience and- we have seen other parents urge that the ■ “p rocc^” rather than any specific book or fact be emphasized. We have seen parents urge a greater emphasis on life skills and survival .skills while others' say that such information should be taught in the hom e. We have seen educators pressured to return to the teaching of values and ethics while others are warned that education.^ould be neutral ■ and free o f any personal bias. And so. if we wonder why it is so hard to judge the success or failure o f American ^ucatipn, we might look to the real reason. T h w is in America a great difficulty in forming a consensus as to what education should be doing. If we were to only teach facts and prepare for SAT classes, our objectives would . be narrow and probably relatively easy to achieve. It is, however, because our goals are far reaching that we have difficulty in quanu'fying whether or not we are successful. B a ldw in's little problem about whether a new textbook is appropriate only highlights the bigger question: what is any course supposed to achieve in addition to the specific facts and skills contained in a syllabus? it will be interesting to see how the question is resolved. Avoid student homesickness! Order a subscription to your hometown newspaper for your son or daughter who >viU be away at college! Call The Leader at 378-3133. ro w . f5 -4 XA D BALDWIN BOMBERS KlCK-CfT NEW SEASON: Elected officials attend opening day ceremonies with the Baldw'in Bombers at Coes Neck Park in Baldwin. From left are Mai McGarry; Assemblyman Gregory Becker; Hempstead Town Councilm an David Levy: S e n a tor Dean S k e los; Jam e s Poulson, Park Supervisor; Congressman Raymond McGrath; Danny Ryan; George Ruggerio and Daniel Ruggerio. ' , ^ BFD runs poster contest u> be held ini the town parking lot where the Baldwin Historical Museum is located. Ribbons will be presented to tl^ first* second and third place winners in each grade in each school. The best poster from each grade from the entire District will also be awarded a smoke detector.. The theme for the Poster Contest is “Make Your Place Fircsafc: Hunt for Home Hazards.” The school who has the most student participation will receive a plaque. For more information, contact the Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, Gary Eckels. ■ 51% OF NEW HOMEOWNERS NEED THE SERVICES OF A LAWYER ... Thaft twy told us in a raoant strvey. WaYa Getting To Know You, the exptfts in welcoming new households in communi^s across the nation. If you would iika riew homeowners In your area to have your name ' imd address in their personal address book, become a GeBing To Know You sponsor. We're In our third decade ol helprig prolessionatoj and merch«)tt wakome new tamies efecBvefy. exclusively and witfi d g r^. G e I t *ryg t q K N o W -you WELCOMING KEWCOMERS NATIONWIDE For sponsorship detana, can (800) 645’6lT76 . lnNMYorkStalina00)632-«4O0 The Baldwin Fire Dcparim cnl is conducting its annual Fire Prevention Poster ConiesL AU Baldwin cJcmeniary students are participating. Posters w ill be p icked up on the morning o f October 3. and the judging will take place at Fire Headquarters on Friday evening, October 5, ai 7:30 pun. Repres.entatives o f all civic organizaiidns, PTA officers and school principals have been invited to be judges. . . Best poster selected from each grade from entries from all the schools will be announced on Sunday, October 7. at 1 p.m. at the Fire Prevention Program A piano for Baldwin Library! Barbara Hopkins, Director of ific, Baldwin Public Library has announced that the library, through the efforts p f Senator Dean Skelos, has received a legislative grant in the am ount of S5,000 for the purchase of a piano for the Community Room. The library has also been accumulating, donations from library users, patrons, and other benefactors since 1987. ' “We feel that we now have enough LIFEGUARDS/LIFEGUARb TRAINEES 16 Years Or Older Applicants Must Have Nassau County Dept. Of Health Ufeguard Certificate And CPR Certificate ; Apply In P erson Village Clerk's Office 46 No. Ocean Avenue . 9d)dam -3:45pm ' S LIEBERMAN REALTY YOUR NEiGHBORS FOR 40 YEARS L ;Pay a Visit to Sid Your Neighborhood ^ . ; Broker We’re Here To Serve You ThaV s What We’ve Been Doing for 40 Years 31 W. Merrick Road Freeport ■ MJLTVU MLS 378-2525 2 m 73 ro \£> VO -o ’tn r m > o s money to purchase a good quality concert, ihsiniment (new: or used) for use during.our Sunday afternoon musicales,” said Ms. Hopkins. A piano committee is currently being formed to asri'st library staff in choosing a s u i ^ l e pano. Members of the community and other interested persons who would like to participate are invited to call Barbara Hopkins daily at the libraiy, 9 ajn.-5 p.m., 223- 6228. * i t. f ; i' 1 T? • •
