European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 19, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Grading the most difficult school years by Ellis e.conkl1n United press International think Back to those Sto Nach churning school Days when your biggest worry was understanding Dick and Jane grappling wit Long division or trying to impress miss Kelley your secret crush by making a proper cursive s. Reading writing and arithmetic were a Tough Way to make a living and you certainly could t just quit first Grade and become a plumber. It s a wonder How Many of us made it to graduation considering that first Grade May be the toughest Grade of All for students teachers and parents alike according to Gordon Bishop a professor at United states International University in san Diego. Based on his research Bishop also believes the third sixth seventh ninth and 12th grades Are almost As difficult because of High expectations and peer pressure. But first Grade he emphasized May be the severest test. What makes first Grade Tough is the Public expectation that All students will be Able to read at the end of the year Bishop said. If a youngster does t learn to read in first Grade he s often classed a Bishop said educators set up a nearly impossible task by moving Young children from the play world of kindergarten into first Grade a new land of self discipline and work assignments. We should have our master teachers working in first Grade and give teachers of first graders the lion s share of the resources to maintained. Bishop has spent most of his life teaching the third through 12th grades in California schools. He has also worked As a principal of two elementary schools and As superintendent of three unified school districts in Orange county the san Joaquin Valley and North san Diego county. These Days he teaches education and business courses at Usu working closely with students preparing to be elementary and secondary school teachers. In our school system we make this grand organizational Assumption that every Grade is exactly the same Bishop said. We give students the same amount of time to learn what we expect them to master. And we assume that students learn As a group not As in i View Matching Grade Levels to chronological Ages and giving teachers an All or nothing Choice in promoting students is a crazy a better system would allow a student to be in Grade 3vi if that s where he or she really third Grade can be a real Challenge. This said Bishop is the year we do another crazy thing we take children we be been very carefully teaching to print and Tell them to forget about printing and learn to write in cursive. You might just As Well ask them to jump to the sixth Grade poses special hardships for teachers he added they Are expected to receive boys and girls in september and. Promote Young women and Young men in further Bishop noted the students who do Well in school and those who Don t the haves and have not Are further apart by sixth Grade he explained. This Grade begins the Start of a tumultuous three year period known As Junior High which is characterized by confusion and mixed messages Bishop said. As adults we forget How painful that period was. Then you add going to a new school and having six separate classes each Day and it just amplifies the Junior High begins with the dreaded seventh Grade the Bermuda Triangle of the education profession. If you ask 100 teachers the Job they want least 99 of them might say teaching seventh Grade Bishop said. The next Tough Grade on Bishop s list is ninth Grade the year of decisions the beginning of commitment you have students who May have had a few Independent thoughts in their lives and we Send them to a Counselor who asks what they want to be what major they want to establish what clubs they want to in ninth Grade when High school officially begins teachers and parents alike try to orchestrate the student s whole life. We put awesome responsibilities on the shoulders of ninth graders said Bishop. Seni Oritis is the common malady that strikes the 12th grader he continued. Some of the students Are coasting some Are just getting around to Blooming. All of them Are anticipating leaving the system after 13 years and Many of them get emotional Mushy and Bishop said the 12th grader often exhibits anxiety about the future and it s hard to keep them on course. This like the other Tough years is a critical one Tor parental buying Back to school clothes i Judith Saatian Dacet. But mom they re shrinking cried my unhappy Young son years ago As he protested having to Wear his jeans two inches too sort. It never occurred to him that he was growing. It s Back to school time and parents Are again faced with the annual task of coming up with clothes for their kids. Rapid growth spurts and shrinking pants Are Only a part of the problem they have to Cope with. Whether store bought or Home sewn clothing must be suited to a child s need if it s going to contribute to proper growth and development. Children s clothing should be comfortable. Tight fitting clothes Bulky or scratchy fabrics and excessive amounts of material such As in Little girl s full or Long skirts May restrict movement make kids miserable and inhibit their participation in the classroom or on the playground. Rough indoor and outdoor activities require durable and protective clothing. Safety factors Are essential in the selection of clothing for younger children. Avoid Small detachable and decorative items or pins Long ribbons or bows drawstrings at the neck or limbs Long skirts and cuffs on pants. Look for pants with reinforced Knees and clothing in Bright easily visible colors. Clothing can Mirror feelings. Observe your child s behaviour and use clothing to boost his or her self concept and self Confidence. Children generally like their clothing to be similar to what their friends Wear. The clothes Aid in social acceptance and Foster a sense of belonging to the group although i think that letting youngsters get hooked on designer labels is going a bit too fart children appreciate and respond to attractive colourful and Well decorated clothing. Red yellow and Blue Are among their favorite colors. While children usually like their clothes to be attention getting parents would use caution not to Over dress them particularly a shy child. Flashy colors and highly decorated styles tend to attract extra attention and just May cause a timid child to withdraw even More. If a youngster is frightened about the school year ahead get his or her new school clothes Early. As the child imagines wearing them the new clothes become Good friends that will stick with the child through any number of scary situations. Clothing should be Well fitted even during years of rapid growth. Clothing features that will increase wearing time include stretch fabrics two piece outfits wrap around skirts adjustable straps on jumpers and overalls dresses that hang from the shoulders or Yoke with indefinite waistlines eased or stitched pleats that can be adjusted and wide hems. Easy on and off clothing styles contribute to the development of Independence and self Reliance. Self help features include front opening styles Large and uncomplicated fasteners Large Pullover necklines elasticized waistbands and mittens. Shoelaces with tips Are a last minute life Saver that adults Seldom think about until they have to help with the laces themselves. For younger children Mark the clothes front and Label shoes left and coordinate the clothes to be worn and Lay them out in the order they la be put on. Clothes rods and Hooks placed at Heights children can reach Are a real help. Use your children s clothing to help teach the values you would like them to acquire. Children can be expected to learn to throw their clothes on the floor unless taught to pick them up and put them away. And believe it or not children can be taught to coordinate their own clothing. I muffled a chuckle one monday morning when i overheard Little brother inform big brother who was dressed for so awol in a striped shirt and plaid pants go Back upstairs and change either your shirt or your pants cause two buses Don t go together if you have dress or grooming questions i would like to hear from you men As Well As women. Send. Questions to Judith Rasband in care of stars and stripes Apo 09211, local forces tuesday August 19, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 17
