The Mail-Journal, Volume 17, Number 46, Milford, Kosciusko County, 3 December 1980 — Page 12
THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., December 3,1980
12
School news
Teaching, a many trade job
By KIM HIEBER A good teacher educates students in many other ways than in front of the classroom leading group discussions, explaining with blackboard drawings and reading aloud. Instructors fulfill the role of counselor, friend, disciplinarian and more. Often these ‘‘other’’ jobs go unnoticed. What many parents and students see are the errors any instructor makes without looking for the good things. 'it can be easy to forget that teachers are human and are not perfect. Most instructors try to set positive examples by not swearing, having favorite children and losing their temper. These public figures attempt the impossible of answering children’s questions. Betty Hite, a petite red-haired woman, is a fifth grade teacher at Syracuse Elementary. She has worked in the Lakeland School System, with her husband James Hite. He is a North Webster Junior High science teacher. Betty noticed a change in the students. “I think kids have changed because society’s changed since we were little. I can’t remember students talking when they shouldn’t,, making noise in the hall, challenging or questioning a teacher when I was younger. Now it’s all a matter of routine.” She continues, ‘‘l find a general lack of respect. I think society has changed in the way everything is treated. The kids see,a different interaction with adults in television and the movies.” However, both the teachers in the past and present have similar problems. No two students have the same personality. Although this is a challenge that can make teaching more interesting, it also means a variety of interests, concentration levels and attitudes. “School and home just can’t be separated completely. It’s natural for children to bring their problems to school,” tells Betty. If teachers notice a problem with a student, they first go to the child. They watch the youth to see if he or she is acting normal for that child. If it is a short term problem it is ignored. If the problem is long term, parents are contacted. Parents can then provide suggestions or the teacher can provide ideas to help the child. “Most parents in the Lakeland system are trying to do the best job they can. Sometimes we have to an outside source like a psychometrist for psychological testing, but there is such a backlog of students," she explains with a groan. At current time, unless an emergency arises, a student would not get into testing until the middle of January at the earliest. According to Betty, most parents and teachers can work together on a problem. “Sometimes problems come opt in a normal situation or conversation and then we proceed to the next topic. It just depends on the student,” Betty explains. One problem Betty noticed with girls is their need for acceptance at the fifth grade. “They will say so-and-so did this and they have a large need to be accepted in an circle of friends. Boys just don’t seem to need this, or if they do, they don’t verbalize it.” Also at grade five, students are becoming independent workers and are learning responsible behavior and developing good or poor study habits. “We are preparing them for junior high and by the time they leave the elementary school at fifth grade they are at a different maturity level,” Betty gleams. “They walk in little kids and go out almost in adolescence. It’s nice to watch the change and progress.” In the Lakeland School System there is a demerit program. If homework is not completed or behavior is poor it is accumijlated in points and if enough demerits add up, the child is paddled with the parents’ permission. “Most times you just have to talk to them,” Betty confides. “There are a few discipline problems but We don’t have too many of those generally .” Aside from counseling and disciplining students, teachers also grade papers, create imaginative bulletin board displays, supervise children in the halls and cafeteria, hold conferences with parents and fill out forms. “I’m always trying to find new procedures, ideas and approaches to stimulate the students. You always need new ideas to keep or get them excited so things don’t get monotonous for them. It would be boring to just go by the textbooks all of the time,” Betty smiles. She finds classroom instruction flexible according to the pupils’ interests. There are definite
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times prearranged for physical education and art. There are also ability grouped classes in reading and math, but areas such as science and social studies can be adjusted accordingly. “We have current event films from Fort Wayne each week. the children and go over big news items of the week. The fifth graders' pick up alot on it,” Betty explains excitedly. "Parents have said these films make their children more interested in news. There are no right or wrong answers to most of the questions. I think they’re terrific.” For Betty, teaching is what she expected it to be. She finds her biggest responsibility helping the children to become mature enough for their own actions. “I really enjoy it when they don’t see something and after you explain and explain they finally understand. You can tell by their eyes when it finally sinks in. That's so rewarding,” she tells. One area she does not enjoy are the unanswerable questions. Sue feels inept when they ask her
V. Lakeland School Lunch | k M ““ J
Decembers —12 MONDAY — Chili dogs, creamed potatoes, mixed fruit, cake and milk TUESDAY — Chop suey, rice, chow mein noodles, buttered carrots, hot rolls and butter, fruit and milk WEDNESDAY - Steakettes, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, apple slices, bread and butter and milk THURSDAY - Chili, crackers, lettuce salad, pears, peanutbutter sandwich and milk FRIDAY — Macaroni and cheese, ham salad sandwich, buttered peas, orange wedges, bread and butter and milk West Noble carol banquet this week end This year will be the second West Noble Carol Banquet. The program includes choral music from grades six to 12. They will perform on Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6, at 6:30 p.m. at West Noble High School, Ligonier. The event includes lot of choir music* some groups will perform with choreography, several select special programs like solos and small group performances. For people wishing to also enjoy a meal, the kitchen staff will prepare hot spiced punch, cheese balls and crackers, turkey and trimmings, vegetables, rolls, cherry cheesecake and other This is the only West Noble choral department fund raising project during the year. Last year profits purchased material for the middle school choir capes. This year, money will be given to the music boosters to help obtain asound system.
BETTY HITE
questions she is not equipped to answer. Betty finds herself unable to approach her students with answers she doesn’t know or where the answer is inadequate. “We begin our day at 7:45 a.m. and work until 3:30 p.m. at school. I take home about eight to 10 hours of work each week, outside from the school. Some teachers spend more time. During this time I plan, gather my supplies, make sure my experiments work before bringing them to class and grade papers,” Betty tells. “In the lower grades they have more papers to grade but it goes faster because there is only one answer, rather than subjective tests in the upper grades.” Another area of change Betty has noticed is the amount of working mothers. There are fewer room mothers available and kids can no longer call home when they forget something. “I find the kids more responsible when both parents work. The kids know if they forget something it’s too bad and they’ll have to wait until they go home,” Betty explains. She thinks that it is not harmful for both parents to be working. As she explains, both she and her husband teach. Betty never had problems with her children over this. “Our daughter is a North Webster seventh grader and our son is going to school at North Webster. I think they’ve been fortunate because with both of us teaching they have seen and enjoyed teachers as people rather than just observing them as teachers,” Betty confides as she prepares to jog home and prepare tomorrow’s lesson for 26 elementary students. Something for the trivia fans Here’s a bit of trivia you probably didn’t know: There is an organization in Lincoln, Neb., called the U.S. Trivia Association, that publishes a regular monthly magazine for its members. The magazine, called Trivia Unlimited, is packed with quizzes and questions. The first question in the novice division, for example, asks the name of Pugsley’s pet octopus in “The Addams Family” TV series. The association has even established a National Trivia Hall of Fame. The first person named to that hall was Robert Ripley of “Ripley’s Believe It or Not.” Oh, the name of Pugsley’s pet octopus, in case you wondered, was Aristotle.
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SCHOOL CALENDAR Week Os December 3 To December 10 WEDNESDAY THURSDAY IUSB classes Kiwanis Travelogue 6:30p.m. at Wawasee 7:30 p.m. in Wawasee auditorium MONDAY WEDNESDAY Milford Christmas music IUSB classes program 6:30 p.m. at. Wawasee 6:30p.m. • North Webster Christmas music program mMewM 7:30 p.m.
Milford library notes
By JODI BROWN Nostalgic songs and original compositions are featured in a 33*3 RPM stereo record. “The Times of Your Life” now available on loan at the library The record was prepared through and sponsored by Eastman Kodak Company in commemoration of its 100th anniversary. The “Up With People” group has performed internationally arid is looked upon as typical of the world youth community. A number of songs such as “We Are Many, We Are One,” and an original composition “Part of the Picture,” are included. The flip side features songs by Paul Anka (“Times of Your Life”) and other standards such as “Green. Green Grass of Home” and “Sunrise, Sunset” from “Fiddler on the Roof.” The record, a gift from Kodak, has been sent to nearly 7,000 libraries in the U. S. The library has more than just books on loan — we also have periodicals which can be checked out for a two week period. In case you aren’t familiar with the titles, they include: Better Homes and Gardens, Christian herald, Decorating Craft Ideas, Family Health, Hot Rod, Indiana, Good Housekeeping, Ladies Home Journal, McCalls, Moody, National Wildlife, National Geographic, Newsweek, Parents. Redbook, Reader’s Digest. Saturday Evening Post. Seventeen, Smithsonian, Time. U. S. News and World Report. U. S. Catholic and Woman’s Day. There’s a lot of up to date, informative reading in your library. Stop by and check us out. We will be trimming oui Chrismtas tree with the help of those children who attend Story Hour on December 6 from 2-2:45 p.m. Make it a point to bring your children to story hour this week. Have you got an interesting hobby, craft talent, etc. . . that you wouldn’t mind sharing with others. We would love to display Syracuse citrus fruit to arrive The citrus fruit sold by Syracuse Junior High School students is scheduled to arrive at the school today, December 3. The students sold almost 1,800 boxes of grapefruit and oranges during November. j - When the citrus fruit arrives, those who purchased boxes may pick them up at the school. Students who guaranteed delivery of fruit will be distributing it Wednesday and Thursday after school. Extra fruit was ordered and ma purchased by anyone missed during the sale. It is hoped the fruit will be delivered by this Friday, Dec. 5.
Are Old Newspapers A Problem For You? If So, Maybe We Can Help You Solve The Problem At No Charge To You Each Saturday morning we are providing a paper baling service to area people who want to dispose of old papers. No magazines, please. Hours: 8:30 A.M. Until 11:30 A.M. For Further Information Call: 658-4111 THE PAPERS INCORPORATED South Main Street — Milford
your work or collection here at the library. Please contact us if you are interested. Much happiness is overlooked because it doesn’t cost anything. Oscar W’ilde
°Youth Center Events of ""irr ro
Bv JILL STANLEY
The Lakeland Youth Center is pleased to announce registration of students in grades two, three, four and five for the winter basketball program. Registration takes place Saturday morning, Dec. 6th, at 9 am. to 10a.m. Registration for Syracuse students in the Syracuse Junior High gym. North Webster students should repo’-t to North Webster School gym and Milford students are to gather at the Milford Junior High School gym. All students must bring or have completed a permission slip signed by parents with correct information and fees. The fee includes the costs of shirts, printing, ribbons and miscellaneous expenses. ' Actual instruction and playing begins Saturday, Jan. 3, and lasts through and including February 14. A skills tournament will be held at the session s end. All parents are invited to watch the lessons, playing and the tournaments. Recession seen likely to ease What impact will a new Cold War have on you? Experts predict the recession will ease, inflation will grow worse, interest rates will climb even higher. will become more sound, taxes will stabilize and new jobs will open up. ! Economists, executives and government officials forecast more defense spending and a crackdown on Soviet trade will mean a bigger deficit in the U.S. budget, an expansion in the aerospace and shipbuilding industries, a pinch on farm exports and the stock market becoming bullish.
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DISCUSSING COLLEGE LIFE — Ten 1980 Wawasee High School graduates returned to their alma mater W ednesday, Nov. 26. to tell high school students what to expect w hen they enter college. Pictured above are Beth Burke, Purdue University: Laurie Brouwer, Ball State University; Debbie Smith, Purdue University: Carla Darr, Purdue University: Peggy Waterson, Indiana University: Sandy Koenigshof, Anderson College: Brent Randall. Purdue University: and Steve Peach. Vincennes Junior College. Wawasee graduates not pictured are Raymond Hively, Valparaiso University and Brent Bowen. Manchester College. (Photo by Terri Chilcote > \
WHS grads discuss college life
Ten 1980 Wawasee High School graduates returned to their alma mater Wednesday, Nov. 26. to inform high school students what to expect when they enter college. The discussion took the form of a panel with graduates taking turns telling their experiences at college. Questions from the floor were also answered. The panel was held in Philip Fawley’s English classes during first, third, fourth and sixth periods. Participating in the panel were Brent Bowen, Manchester College; Raymond Hively, Valparaiso University; Steve Peach, Vincennes Junior College; Brent Randall, Purdue University; Sandy Koenigshof, Anderson College; Peggy Waterson, Indiana University; Carla Darr. Purdue University; Debbie Smith, Purdue University; Laurie Brouwer, Ball State University; and Beth Burke, Purdue University. All returning graduates advised high school students to k rn how to write well, take notes and read. They stressed learning the basics now would benefit them later in college. Other topics of discussion included dormitory life, getting along with roommates, college social life, faternities and sororities and choosing housing wisely. Brent Randall said he decided to participate in the panel "to help people realize what to expect. I had to find out some things I didn’t expect.” Sandy Koenigshof participated because she felt she should help if she could. Sbe also wanted to talk
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Why Go To Church? | The late Branch Rickey, President of the St. Louis National Baseball Club said, I "Why Not Go To Church? I hear people "knock” the Church, yet it never tears down; it is | always a building up. The Church is not a destructive critic; it is a constructive critic. I How ungrateful to "knock"! I The Church needs men. Yes, but men need the Church, and every man can share j equally in what it has to give. It is here because its Founder believed everybody worth | while. ■ ' I The Church has no substitutes. r WHY NOT GO TO CHURCH?" j We invite you to come and worship with us at the Milford Christian Church! F • Sunday School — 9:30 A.M. I .f’Orw ■ • Morning Worship Services — .rfsw10:30 A M. (Services For All t I B JIH Ages. Nursery Through Adult) j I n* 3 • Sunday Evening Services At [ 7 P.M. pl ■ I • Family Night Bible Study — j I 7 P.M. Wednesday * I I i Fred Walls | | Carl Shearer *•.*>••* I ► Associate Minister I M Minister I Milford Christian Church | Fourth And Henry Streets 658-9151 Milford
with fellow college students and find out how they were doing in college Peggy Waterson wanted to be
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on the panel “to tell people about I.U. I don’t think I was really prepared for what I was hit with.”