CAPE UPDATE: STUDY REVEALS HIGH HOPES/LONG ODDS

"High Hopes/Long Odds" is the name of a study commissioned by the Lilly Endowment to research the future of high school students. The basic purpose of the study is to spark an in-depth discussion in communities on how to ensure that children are able to meet their goals for success.

While the early findings of this study show students confident and optimistic regarding their future, it is not surprising that it also revealed a significant gap between aspirations and preparation. The lack of information is just one source of the problem. When some will wish to blame the school, the student and to a lesser extent the parents, are primarily decision makers regarding programs of study. When students are not fully prepared, schools again continue to be the target of criticism in this area of school bashing which is a popular pastime for some. Unfortunately, many of the objective interpretations which reflect positively on education are often overlooked or ignored by the media and even suppressed by the federal government, such as the case of the Sandia report.

In 1990, the United States Secretary of Energy enlisted three senior researchers from Sandia National Laboratories; their task, to report the status of elementary and secondary public education. Using data from the federal government and other national and regional agencies, the three researchers, Charles Carson, Robert Huelskamp and Thomas Woodall, studied drop-out rates, test scores, post secondary education, school funding, etc. Summarizing their findings, they noted, "To our surprise, on nearly every measure, we found steady or slightly improving trends." Although this report contained good news about education in the United States, the report was not released to the public until 1993 and was poorly publicized.

So many critics began by stating, "When I was in school...," but schools have changed. The social demands on schools have increased dramatically. There was a time when schools were primarily expected to teach the basic skills, but today schools struggle to meet the basic needs of children.

Based on a study of at-risk students, Jack Frymier stated, "...problems that most children face lie outside the school rather than inside, on the street rather than on the playground, and in the living room rather than in the classroom."

Regardless of one's position on the debate of the modern role of education as a social service delivery system, a producer of workers, a provider of core knowledge, one thing is certain; for schools to meet the increased challenges they will need broad-base support from communities throughout our nation. Community-wide involvement in the success of students is essential. Each community may find a different configuration or method to provide those resources by which they can "beat the odds" and realize their highest hopes.

Neyland G. Clark is superintendent of Cape Girardeau public schools.