Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 January 2004 — Page 6
PAGE A6
THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER
FRIDAY. JANUARY 2, 2004
Big money, big names, big changes put new face on Indy education in 2003
EDUCATOR OF THE WEEK
By JOSHUA COHEN StaH Writer Indianapolis made great strides in improving its education system. The city attracted big names and big money in 2003. Indianapolis braved the elements to come see Dr. Cornel West, a professor at Princeton University who previously taught at Harvard and Yale, speak at Butler University’s Clowes Hall. West spoke on “Race in the New Millenium" and discussed topics like society being “market driven." Tavis Smiley also appeared at Clowes and discussed the state of education in the country today. The Hoosier native attracted large crowds in freezing weather to hear him speak. Indiana University named Dr. Adam W. Herbert the first African-American president of the prestigious university. Morris Brown University in Atlanta lost a president when Charles E. Taylor resigned after failing to get the school accredited. Luckily for students attending, radio jock Tom Joyner donated $1 million to help students who previously received financial aid finish their education.
Dr. Cornel West
Joyner wasn’t the only one to donate money. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated $11.3 million to the University of Indianapolis, including $5 million allocated to IPS, to facilitate the building of smaller-populated ^ high schools. Studies have shown that small high schools have a much higher graduation rate than large ones. Indianapolis reached a milestone in the AfricanAmerican population attend-
ing the schools. The number of children in Indy schools rose 2.5 percent to 50,272, the first time the number has been over the 50,000 mark. The dropout rate for these students lowered as well. A study showed the gap between Black and white high school students who drop out early got much smaller in 2003. Head Start employees almost increased their dropout rate to 100 percent when they went on strike, demanding better wages and more privileges. They settled their contracts in a compromise with the organization. An Indianapolis family who never finished high school decided to reverse their decision and a mother inspired her children to go back to scheol and work on their GED to increase their marketability and earning power, and gain lost knowledge. I-STEP experimented with its format by putting a test online for an evaluation period. A select amount of students were able to take the exam at a computer, instead of the customary No. 2 pencil. IPS School 27 became the first IPS Blue Ribbon school since 1985 for its vast improvement on student’s I-STEP scores.
Name: Rovel Rucker Hometown: Gary, Ind. College attended: Indiana University Year of graduation: 2001 Began teaching in: August, 2002 Current school: Eastbrook Elementary School How long: 2 years Subject: General studies Grade level: 3 rd grade Why do you have the desire to teach? • I have an interest in our youth. While I know I can’t help everybody, I feel like even if I reach one or two students, I’m still making a difference. I have a genuine interest in the success of students, especially African Americans. What has been the most rewarding thing you have done as a teacher? My objective as a teacher is to create lifelong learners. It is very rewarding when students have the desire to facilitate their own learning.
Purdue increasing housing fees by 5 percent
What has been the most challenging aspect of teaching? I want every day to be productive. Some days, I leave the classroom feeling like I didn’t get my point across to my students like I wanted. It is a challenge to come up with new methods of teaching to keep
learning engaging for them. In the future, what changes would you like to see in schools? I w'ould like to see educational equality across the board. Every child should have the same resources available for their education.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Purdue University students will face an average 5 percent increase in housing fees next school year under a plan approved by the university trustees. The standard rate for housing and 15 meals a week will be $6,324, an increase of about $300 over the current rate, said John Sautter, Purdue’s vice president for housing and food service. The new fees were approved during a recent Board of Trustees meeting. Purdue’s room-and-board fees rank sixth among Big Ten
universities, behind Northwestern, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio State and Minnesota, Sautter said. Of the overall 5 percent increase. the university said 1.5 percent was a surcharge for the renovation of Cary Quadrangle that began in 2000, and 0.5 percent supported the plan for the installation of sprinkler systems in all residence halls by 2010. This school year, 11,384 graduate and undergraduate students live in campus housing even though Purdue does not require any student to live in university facilities. Nearly 39.000 students enrolled at
the West Lafayette campus this fall? Purdue is in the midst of a 20-year, $200 million campus housing program that calls for reducing capacity by about 15 percent by 2014, from 12,651 student spaces to 10,709. “Currently West Lafayette remains significantly overbuilt,” Sautter said. “The plan will upgrade our housing facilities to meet the expectations of today’s students. The plan will expand the range of rate and different types of accommodations. We will continue to guarantee on-campus housing for beginning students.”
Vincent Ash going to Washington
Special to The Recorder Vincent Ash Jr., a seventh-grade student at Calvary Christian School, has been accepted into the People to People World Leadership Forum. Ash , will join a select group of other outstanding sixth, seventh and eight-grade students in Washington, D.C., on March 15-21. As a delegate, Ash will take part in daily smallgroup discussions, activities to build knowledge, self-confidence, communi-
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cation skills and leadership abilities. He will enter America’s centers of justice, legislation and history to witness how successful leaders develop strategies and foster change. Ash will also earn high school credit while studying leadership and exploring some of the nation’s most prominent monuments and institutions. “This is a great experience for me,” said Ash. The People to People World Leadership Forum helps to prepare promising young people for opportunities and responsibilities in dealing with the nation. Debbie Goddard of Calvary Christian School nomi-
nated Ash for his outstanding scholastic merit, civic involvement and leadership potential. His participation will rank him among the elite in academic and career pursuits. Ash is a member of Agape Apostolic Faith Assembly where he sings in the choir and serves on the usher board. Financial contributions to help support Vincent’s trip for housing, meals, materials, supervisory personnel, activity transportation and other expenses can be mailed to 2301 Riverside Drive, Indianapolis, Ind., 46208. You can also call (317) 635-4061.
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