Entry #17: Darrell finds some good ideas
in Orlando's overcrowded schools.
Orlando, Florida -- I can't believe how big Florida is.
Seems that it goes on forever.
With the arrival of our 13-year-old neighbor from back home, we decided
to take a weekend trip down state to the Everglades and Keys. (Now we have
12-, 13-, and 14-year-old boys with us!!)
After hours of driving, we arrived and spent a day in the "river of
grass," as the Indians called it. We were surprised to find out that
the Everglades is one-fifth the size that it was 40 years ago, due to Florida's
rapid growth, overpopulation, and the residual effects.
Even though this is a large area, the number-one problem they face is growth
management. The same can be said about many of the schools here. In fact,
just after writing my last diary entry, the Orlando Sentinel ran a front
page story entitled "Big Schools, Big Problems." While the story
focused on local high schools with over 4,000 students, I have since found
out that the 26 middle schools in Orange County AVERAGE over 1,100 students.
Kids are getting lost in the masses, and community is very difficult to
achieve. Even so, I have found some unique characteristics in the Orlando
area that are positive. Some are intentional, others are not.
I was surprised to find that the middle schools down here begin classes
around 9:15 a.m. Then I remembered my vice principal Bruce DuBois sharing
some research that found the best time to teach adolescents is later in
the morning. Developmentally, this makes much more sense than the early
morning start times I have found at schools in Kentucky, Massachusetts,
Minnesota and Washington. In most cases, this time was chosen due to bus
limitations and the needs of working parents.
There's also a side benefit to the later starting times. Schools open early
for clubs, intramurals, tutoring and such. Almost every day at Jackson Heights
and Southwest Middle Schools, you can find students meeting for such things
as Tech Squad, Chess, Volleyball and FFEA (Florida Future Educators of America).
So kids that can come early find meaningful extracurricular involvement.
[Here's some research
on the academic benefits of extracurricular activities.]
Most of us also know how important it is for kids to have something to do
after school as well. That has been the passion of Rick Frederick, District
SAFE coordinator and concerned community member. In 1996, his church (St.
John Vianney) did a community assessment and followed up with meetings that
drew large crowds -- and pledges from the county and city to find money
for p.m. activities for middle schoolers.
Thousands of dollars became millions, and now every middle school in the
county has $129,000 or more to use for the 3:30- 6:00 hours. The Boy's and
Girl's Clubs and YMCA's manage the money and set up the programming. All
the schools have to do is provide the space and cooperation. Some communities
are taking more advantage of these outside partnerships than others, but
the hope is to increase involvement each year.
Speaking of involvement, Florida (as in several other states we've visited)
mandates that parents and community members participate in the advisory
committees at each school. (Here they are called S.A.C.'s- School Advisory
Councils.) While sitting in on Southwest's SAC, I found out that last year
non-school participants outnumbered staff by a 3 to 2 ratio. The opportunity
and interest in overseeing school governance seems to be there.
My favorite finding came one morning at Jackson Heights Middle School. I
followed a trail of balloon-carrying girls to the Student Store and found
kids buying these birthday surprises. The store is completely run by parents
(looks like about 30 are involved at least once a month). It opens before
school and during lunch everyday. Besides the popular mylar balloons, they
sell all kinds of school supplies (one teacher even came in for index cards
while I was there), jewelry and the all important student planners. They
do anywhere from $80- $400 a day in business. Wow!! All profits go back
to PTA to be dispensed for students unable to purchase materials.
Parents Donna and Tracy emphasized how much they enjoyed working in the
store and seeing their own daughters as well as many other kids that drop
by. This is one great way to get parents on campus in a meaningful way.
Yes, much of Florida is a crowded, busy place. As they face the population
dilemma, I'd like to offer a suggestion that has come out of our staying
in the large RV parks in the area. With all of these "snow birds"
down here most of the winter months, why not tap into this growing resource
for student mentoring? Can't you visualize a school bus coming to an RV
park, loading up with active retirees and transporting them to nearby schools
for tutoring and lunch? If this were done on a weekly basis, relationships
could form that might last for years, and both age groups would benefit.
Anyone out there doing this yet??? If so, let
me know.
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