Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 4 January 2002 — Page 5

FRIDAY, JANUARY 4,2002

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE AS

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education

Learn to swim The Ransburg Branch YMCA will offer swimming lessons beginning Jan. 7. Two sessions are available Jan. 7-Feb. 23 and Feb. 25rApril 13. The lessons will emphasize stroke development, wa-

ter safety and personal growth. Register at the Ransburg YMCA or call 357-8441. Cost is $70 for non members and $34 for YMCA members. Financial assistance is

available.

Inroads scholarship receives large donation Adam’s Mark Hotels and Resorts donated $30,000 for scholarships to Inroads, a non-profit group that develops and places talented minority youth in business and industry and prepares them for corporate and community leadership.

Minority students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher to qualify for the scholarship. IQ testing scheduled Central Indiana Mensa will offer proctored IQ tests on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 2 p.m. at the Haughville Library 3805 W. Michigan St. The cost is $30 and the time required is approximately two hours. A test result in the 98th percentile makes one eligible to join American Mensa Ltd. For further information contact R. Washbume (317) 253-1665 or [email protected].

There have been too many excuses for lost test scores

The trickle down effects of Sept. 11 continue to be felt here on the home front. With the recent release of the results of the dismal I-STEP scores, many district superintendents are blaming the poor perfor- , mance on the “emotional fallout” from the terrorist attacks. Approximately 45 percent of Indiana’s students in Grades 3,6,8 and 10 failed to meet the mandatory standards on the states largest assessment exalt!. The scores released focus on how well these students comprehend math and English. About 140, 000 of them do not adequately comprehend these two subject areas. With the recent start of another new year, test scores and charter schools seem to be on top of the “hot topic” list. It really becomes annoying to hear all of the opposition to the charter school movement. We haven’t given the movement a chance, before many in the community have already began to dismantle the very idea of having an “alternative” to the Indianapolis Public School system. The sad part about the opposition is that they know there are many problems facing the state’s largest public school system. * Instead of actually going into the trenches and attempting to correct them, they want to point the __ finger and pass-the-buck on to some imaginary “injustice system” without identifying the specific “per:J ^ son, place or thing” that really is ~ causing the harm. J When you visit some of these ; ^schools and talk to the teachers and administrators, they will tell you “off the record” about the many « -shortcomings of their particular school. They will tell you the reasons why their students are not performing well and they can tell you who is at fault. They are able to identify the parents, politicians, teachers, administrators, and com- . munity leaders who really care and those who do not. \ However, none of those on the inside ever go public to voice their concerns and document all the injustices they see on a daily basis. Instead, they sit idle and allow our students to slip further and further

behind, and consistently produce the dismal test scores that we see today. Moreover, each year they are released, there is always some appointed “front man” there to rationalize why the scores are so low. Or he is there to pinpoint some fraction of improvement on the math section of the test, by a single third grade class, at one of its many elementary schools, that has only 15 students. How bad have things gotten in the third grade? Of the bottom 10 lowest performing schools in the surrounding metropolitan area, 7 are from IPS. In the sixth grade, of the bottom 10 lowest performing schools in math and English, ALL lOare from IPS. In the eighth grade, again ALL 10 of the lowest performing schools are from IPS. And again, on the high school level, the 10 lowest performing schools on the lOth-grade I-STEP exam are ALL from IPS. The Indianapolis Public School system in Marion County, is the poorest performing school district in the metropolitan area, and in the state of Indiana. Does this mean we should give up on IPS? Not so soon, there is more! Of the worse performing school districts in the state of Indiana, with IPS being dead last at 292, East Chicago, Gary, Hammond, Anderson, Michigan City, Lake Station, and South Bend all follow close behind and are listed in the bottom 10. What is the common denominator of each of these low performing school districts? Poverty, with a large concentration of African Americans, is the single most common denominator. The Indianapolis Public School district is not alone. In the state of Indiana and across the country, the public school system has not fig-

ured out a lesson plan that adequately educates Blacks, Hispanics, and poor whites. It makes one wonder if the current system is designed to teach only the segment of our community that has an income that stretches well above the poverty line. . Why focus on the continued low performance of our public schools and not some of the positive aspects that exist in other areas outside of test scores? Because it is the test scores that drive the boat and set the criteria on how our kids are judged. Unfortunately, they are not judged because they can shoot a basketball, dance and turn flips, put in a perm, or repair a car. They will be judged on how well they perform on the state’s standardized tests. Their academic standing will always be brought into focus when they attempt to become involved in any other extracurricular activity that their school has to offer. Either this current system needs a total overhaul or we all should welcomfc alternatives such as vouchers or charters in an effort to try something else. Will they be the answer to all that ills the public schools? Most likely not, but we cannot continue to sit idle and allow almost half of our students to fail to meet the standards in math and English. Next school year, Indiana students will be tested on new, tougher standards in math and English. Science and social studies.testing is to begin in Grade 5 during the 2002-03 school year. We have been working on improving math and English standards for many, many years — still producing dismal results. What do you think the first year science and social studies scores will look like? Also, do not forget about last week’s Top 10 New Year’s resolutions for 2002. For speaking engagements or education workshops, contact me at: [email protected], or write me at: 9701 E. 63rd St., Indianapolis, IN. 46236. Contact number: 317-502-0272.

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Gregory M. French M.D. Internal Medicine Specializing. Hypertension High Cholesterol Diabetes Preventive Medicine 3737 N. Meridian St, Suite 410 • (317) 925-8283

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& The Indianapolis Recorder invite you to attend an advance screening of SNOW DOGS

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PRIZE:

ADDRESS

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* 80 entries chosen at random, will receive a ticket (admit two) for an advance screening on January 15,2002 at Greenwood Park General Cinema at 7:30 p.m.

RULES:

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OPENS IN THEATRES EVERYWHERE JANUARY 18TH

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JANUARY GAMES

As big as any assist. As crucial as any rebound, the frenzy of 18,000 Pacers faithful cheering gets the team going, shakes up opponents and can provide the lift the guys need to get that W. ks enough to make us keep dedbeHeveis as a stat So get your tickets and be a pert of the homecourt advantage al January long. Doors open 90 minutes before game time. Arrwe earty • al persons and carried items ere subject to inspection. No passouts available.

Wad., Mi vs. Fit. lift vs. 'Dm.. 15th vs. Fit, 18lh vs. Fit, 29th vs. Sat, 29lh vs. Wed., 30th vs.

LA. Lakers Vbte /our favorite Pacers to the NBA MtStm game.

FM» line car*, to* ywr fear* P*un to the NBA M-Star gam.

Fast 5,000 get an M Hamngton Bobble Head dot courtesy oT Peps. Wriron carts.

c*2aMiiio'tMa-«M-ra *» by the Conseco Fteldhouse Box Office or any rcfcelmasto outlet or tog on. Crf H7~2BII for groups of 20 or more. '

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SaeBla SuperSewtea Mars* Extra Value Game Gat gnat satact tickets concessions and ttm yow Fresh Idea CmS Kodak (SstnbutaN.

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