European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 30, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Continued from Page 13 to state even from school to school. Visits to dozens of Rural and Urban schools across the South revealed some dazzling Progress. But Many other Southern schools still have far to go just to become average. In the 1984-85 school year not a single Southern state paid the National average teacher s wage of $23,546. The highest was Virginia where teachers earned $21,536 and where students recently scored above the . Average in Reading the lowest was Mississippi last in the nation at $15,971. Per Pupil spending was below the National average of $3,413 in All but one Southern state in 1984-85. Florida spent $3,427. Only two Southern states exceed the National average High school graduation rate of 70.9 percent. Arkansas graduates 75.2 percent Virginia 74.7 percent. Louisiana has the nation s worst record graduating just 56.7 percent. Said Charlie Williams South Carolina s superintendent of education i have tried to be forthright and say we re not going to be no. 1. You Don t take a population of 3 million people with the lowest educational level in the nation and in my lifetime end up with a population of people with the highest educational level in the  problems persist even in the midst of academic Success stories. Sandalwood Junior senior High school in Jacksonville fla., recently honoured by the Reagan administration As a Model school is seriously overcrowded. Caywood elementary a first rate school in Rural Lexington tenn., saves Money by not running buses and not replacing an assistant librarian who retired. David Cordts a 32-year-old Bachelor savors his laurels As teacher of the year in Raleigh n.c., but says it is hard to get by on a salary barely Over $20,000. Still even if pay remains Low by National standards states and individual school districts have raised teacher salaries dramatically across the South. Many teachers say morale is improving. In the teachers lounge at Little River elementary school outside Durham n.c., there s less griping these Days and More talk about lesson plans and improving instruction said Barbara Rogers a Veteran sixth Grade teacher. I feel much More professional she said. Test scores Are rising from the toughest inner City schools in new Orleans Jacksonville fla., Charleston ., Jackson miss., Atlanta and Houston to Rural schools in Tunica miss., where 97 percent of students Are poor enough to qualify for free lunches to booming Smyrna tenn., Home of a new Nissan truck Plant. In 1960, More than 70 percent of South Carolina youngsters failed to finish High school. Now nearly two thirds graduate. In Elloree ., a town in Cotton and soybean country where median family income is a scant $8,000, Reform has meant things As Basic As ridding the High school of incompetent teachers and adding air conditioning to the elementary school so youngsters no longer pass out from the heat. Reform also shows up in Diana Larocque s fourth Grade math class in Jennie Moore elementary a Magnet school in Charleston  Because of new state mandates Larocque has 150 math objectives to cover with her students who must pass More than 100 state ordered tests each year to be promoted. I think it s wonderful said Larocque who hails the push for student accountability. Pupil Katie Bartusek held another opinion of her weekly tests Yacc he for fourth Grade teacher Diane Mackey at David Youree elementary school in Smyrna tenn., struggling to support herself and a teen age son on $21,000, school Reform has brought an Opportunity for More Money but added pressure As Well. Tennessee last year began the first statewide career ladder program offering teachers pay increases of up to $7,000 a year. But they must submit to Surprise evaluations and work july and August to get the full amount. It s a lot of work and it s a lot of pressure the pressure of knowing. There Are two Days when someone will walk into my classroom and i Don t know when they re coming she said. English teacher Dianne Machado at Coral Gables High school in Florida said her pupils were producing crisper clearer writing thanks to state legislation limiting the number of students in English classes. Coral Gables entire staff recently got bonuses ranging from $297 for custodians to $2,416 for teachers for outperforming other Dade county schools in a new $20 million state incentive program. Jenny Krugman head of the English department says the Money is  but it s not the real reason morale is soaring. On paper nobody would project us to be the kind of school we Are. We take a Multi ethnic population with a lot of ghetto kids in our midst and we turn them into people who think they re in a wonderful place. It s a kick to be Here she said. Less satisfying to Burke High school principal Lee Gaillard in Charleston ., has been the Load of paperwork that has administrators and teachers howling across the South attendance reports teacher evaluation reports Basic skills test reports. I dread the mail coming in Gaillard said. It s just a new Mountain of reports. But i guess that with every Gold mine there has to be a  virtually every Southern state has joined the Reform bandwagon. But some have clearly led the charge spurred on by crusading governors. Tennessee gov. Lamar Alexander fought successfully for a teacher pay and career ladder plan that combined better salaries with accountability. Arkansas gov. Bill Clinton angered teacher unions by starting the nation s first competency test for practising teachers. In March Texas tested its 205,000 teachers and Georgia plans to follow suit. South Carolina gov. Dick Riley rallied a poor state behind a 77-part education improvement act financed by a Penny sales tax increase that generates $227 million a year in new Aid including $60 million for youngsters needing extra help with Basic skills. Such help has eased some fears that tighter standards would leave minority students behind. Sixteen Hundred of South Carolina s 15,762 Black 10th-graders scored in the top Quarter on Basic skills tests in 1985, compared with 900 out of 16,520 in 1983. Among the state s 18,000 Black third graders less than a Quarter now score below Standard in Reading skills tests compared with 36.5 percent in 1983. In North Carolina where former gov. Jim Hunt was an Early Champion of Reform the legislature passed a Basic education program that could boost school Aid by nearly $3 billion Over eight years. Much of that Money is aimed at helping poor districts reduce class size add Counselor and open free summer schools. Texas gov. Mark White s $2.8 billion education Reform package made headlines with its no pass no play policy that requires students to pass their courses or sit out team sports and school clubs or music groups. Florida with Strong support from gov. Bob Graham has been a Laboratory for student competency tests Reform is starting to erase historic inequities Between predominantly Black schools and White schools. A photo longer school Days and other reforms. But Reform has travelled a rockier Road in other states. Mississippi passed a trailblazing $219 million education Reform package in 1982. But teachers had to stage Wildcat strikes to secure raises last Spring and children can still legally quit school at age 10. A teacher salary struggle looms in Alabama where gov. George Wallace faced with a budget crunch and citing 30 percent teacher pay raises already granted in the last two legislative sessions wants to hold the line this year. Teachers Are seeking 5 percent raises. Reform in Louisiana has been hobbled by budget problems and a leadership crisis. State education chief Tom Clausen is under indictment for obstruction of Justice and payroll fraud. Gov. Edwin Edwards faces a second Federal racketeering trial later this month. The first ended in december with a Hung jury. Some wonder whether reforms have eased or worsened historic race and class inequities in the South. Help for poor minority students has undeniably been a hallmark of Reform in Many Southern districts. In Houston where superintendent Billy Reagan has gained a National reputation for innovation Blacks and hispanics Are registering stronger test gains than Whites. An innovative tutoring program gets part of the credit. But the National drive for competency testing of teachers which started in the South has brought cries of racism from critics who fear standardized tests Are weeding out Black teachers and discouraging minority students from entering the profession. Clausen made the Point bluntly recently when he called the National teachers examination required of Louisiana teacher candidates a racist  Lousiana educators also  a catch-22 local tax situation that keeps school dollars perennially scarce. Under state Law Homes Are exempt from property taxes on their first $75,000 in assessed value. But because tax assessors Are elected in Louisiana few Homes Are assessed above $75,000. The result in new Orleans school superintendent Everett Williams says 80 percent of the homeowners pay no property taxes at All. And Reform has Only barely begun to erase historic inequities Between predominantly Black schools and White schools Rich schools and poor schools. Test scores at mostly White affluent Irmo High school in the suburbs of Columbia ., Are tops in the state. Eighty percent of the school s 2,200 students go to College. Honor student Greg Matthews 17, can study advanced chemistry in a sparkling Well equipped lab. He can study world history with Terry Dozier the 1295 National teacher of the year. But the principal of poor Rural predominantly Black Elloree elementary has to organize Candy drives to raise Money. And principal Dewayne k. Bailey of Denham Springs High school in Rural Louisiana says the Only Way he can think to finance a graphic arts program is to sell magazines or play in faculty basketball games. Mississippi schools superintendent Richard a. Boyd expresses a common frustration among Southern reformers As the education Reform movement spreads throughout the United states it becomes Ever harder to catch up. It would be  to be doing All this while the other 49 states were sitting still he said. But we re shooting at a moving  education initiatives changes in curriculum and textbooks stiffer High school graduation requirements increased instructional time career advancement plans and Merit pay for teachers continued training for working teachers increased training higher standards for new teachers 00 00 000 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0000000 00 00 0000 00 00 0000 00 00 p00 source duct ton comm Thon Oltha sum we Touet Uon a it mint states Are boo the Quality of education by Lee Mitgang associated press Ere Are highlights of what 12 Southern states have done in recent years to Reform Public education and what May. Lie ahead. Alabama teacher pay up 30 percent in last two legislative sessions but fight looms Over future raises forgivable loan program for prospective math and science teachers exit exam required for High school graduation fewer extracurricular activities in school Day High school students can take College courses for High school credit this fall voluntary but fully funded kindergarten career ladder plan for teachers being drafted. State elementary and secondary school spending k-12, kindergarten through 12th Grade for 1985-86 $1.37 billion up 15.9 percent. Arkansas passed one cent sales tax hike for school improvement in 1983 two thirds of state s school districts raised property taxes raised teacher pay became first state to test Veteran teachers raised school leaving age from 16 to 17 limited class size effective june 1987 diagnostic testing for grades 3 and 6, promotional test for Grade 8 districts with poor test scores must submit improvement plan to state or face merger or dissolution. State k-12 budget for 1985-86 $735.4 million up 10 percent. Florida gov. Bob Graham proposes 7.8 percent teacher pay raises in fiscal 1986-87, and statewide starting salaries of $18,000 in 1986, $20,000 in 1987 and $22,000 in 1988 state May revamp problem plagued master teacher program forgivable Loans for prospective teachers in shortage areas literacy test for graduation Tough teacher certification Law under consideration legislature lengthened school Day but May Roll it Back because school districts Lack Money to finance it. State k-12 budget for 1985-86 $2.98 billion up 8.2 percent. Georgia Quality Basic education act passed last february expected to Cost More than $221 million this year and $688 million by 1990 new school funding formula sends More dollars to poorer districts mandatory kindergarten by 1987-88, new statewide mandatory curriculum and average 8 percent across the Board teacher pay hike practising teachers excluding those with lifetime certificates must pass subject area test after five years state Board directed to set up career ladder for teachers raised passing scores on state Basic skills test in Reading math problem solving effective fall 1986. State k-12 budget for 1985-86 1.96 billion up 17.7 percent. Kentucky enacted $300 million Reform plan in 1985. Career ladder teacher pay plan under study new teachers must Complete one year internship and pass competency test districts failing to meet standards risk state control smaller classes raised graduation requirements lengthened instructional time to six hours a Day minimum required testing in All grades mandated remedial work for students with poor scores. State k-12 budget for 1985-86 $1.13 billion up 6.2 percent. Louisiana raised teacher pay 7 percent in 1984, but Defeated plan to set up career ladders and boost starting pay to $17,000 minimum competency exam to enter teacher training program started to encourage advanced placement programs class of 1989 must pass exit exam by end of Grade 11 school districts required to provide half Day kindergarten. State k-12 budget for 1985-86 $1.33 billion up 1.4 percent. Mississippi passed 1 percent corporate and personal income tax increase and boosted sales tax by 0.5 percentage Points in december 1982 to be used for educational improvement legislature overrode gov. Bill Allain s veto and approved 3-year, $4,400 pay increase last March following Wildcat teacher strike raised requirements for schools of education lifetime teaching certificate to be replaced by periodic licensing effective september 1988 compulsory attendance age gradually raised to 14 by 1989 functional literacy test required for graduation 1986 statewide testing in grades 3, 5, 8 and 11 mandatory statewide kindergarten effective september 1986. State k-12 budget for 1985-86 $671.1 million up 18.3 percent. North Carolina 1985 Basic education program provides $223 million in Aid in the first two years envisions $2.7 billion Over eight years. Authorized half cent local sales tax increase 40 percent earmarked for schools raised passing Grade on teacher exam boosted scholarship programs for prospective teachers reduced class sizes stiffened promotion and graduation requirements provided free summer school for those who fail raised teacher salaries last summer by 9.6 percent approved draft statewide curriculum experimenting with career ladder plan for teachers in 16 school systems. State k-12 budget for 1985-86 $2.2 billion up 10 percent. South Carolina education improvement act of 1984 increased sales tax by a Penny raising $227 million a year for schools boosted teacher salaries to Southern average Cash incentives for schools showing outstanding Progress deficient districts must improve or face state action state Aid to students weak in Basic skills Early childhood development program for All 4 year Olds needing help mandatory kindergarten for 5 year Olds required exit exam for High school graduation longer school Day tightened absence and truancy standards increased school year for teachers and principals by five Days. State k-12 budget for 1985-6 $910.9 million up 6.9 percent not including the $227 million from Penny sales tax kept in a separate account immune from budget cuts. Tennessee passed $1 billion three year school improvement plan in 1984, including career ladder plan offering teachers incentive pay up to $7,000 a year 20 percent across the Board pay hikes Over three years set maximum class sizes at All grades minimum competency test for High school graduation increased math and science requirements added computer literacy requirement increased textbook allocations and set up summer program for gifted High school pupils kindergarten available for All 5-year-Olds teacher Union May press to repeal career ladders after gov. Lamar Alexander leaves office next year. State Board of regents in december stiffened state University admissions requirements for 1989. State k-12 budget for 1985-86 $1.01 billion up 7.5 percent. Texas approved increases in sales and other taxes to help finance $2.8 billion educational Opportunity act of 1984 set up Multi tiered teacher certification system tying salaries to College degrees began teacher competency testing in March no pass no play policy puts most extracurricular activity off limits to students failing any course mandatory achievement tests every two years exit exam to graduate starting 1987. Court Battle underway Over state plan to exclude students from teacher education programs solely on basis of failure to pass skills test. State k-12 budget for 1985-86 $4.93 billion up 3.2 percent. Virginia boosted state Aid to education by $78.6 million in March 1985, passed Law requiring readiness test for students entering kindergarten before age 5, and approved funds to continue Magnet school program established $1.2 million scholarship loan program to attract science and math teachers teacher candidates required to pass National teacher exam As of july students get four chances to pass math and Reading minimum competency exams schools must provide computer literacy programs for class of 1988. State k-12 budget for 1985-86 $1.55 billion up 15 percent. Page 14 the stars and stripes sunday March 30, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 15