European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 26, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Get involved in children s school by Hap Lecrone Cox news service with All the controversy Over education in the United states and test results that indicate our students Are falling behind those of other countries parents Are continually seeking ways to improve the education of their children. Societal changes due in part to changes in family structures have placed immeasurable demands on schools not Only to teach but to provide an environment that stimulates encourages and motivates. Besides providing Access to the expanding storehouse of knowledge schools Are expected to combat chemical abuse to demonstrate ways for healthy lifestyles to teach parenting skills responsibility self discipline decision making to explore careers of the future. The list goes on and on. One result certainly is that schools Are examining themselves and seeing what works and what does not. And the consensus is that in educating our children the schools need the help of communities of parents of everyone parents or other significant adults can be particularly helpful partners for the schools. In my experience in dealing with parents with youngsters who done to like school i find that the key to a child s academic motivation is revealed in family dynamics. Parents must do More than just Tell their children they expect them to do Well in school. They have to be involved in the educational process and that process begins at a very Early age. Barbara Bush is to be commended for her Active participation in Reading to children and being a role Model Many parents have found that Reading to their child on a daily basis has contributed not Only to Success in school but to a bonding that resounds throughout life by creating memories of tranquil scenes of listening and readers action Lin compensation for Holiday travel time it i am a Federal civilian employee my civilian performance plan includes a Standard requiring attendance of at least one funded conference per year. Every year the organization t work for coordinates a try temporary duty conference that All civilian and military. Employees Are expected to attend. This year the conference runs from self 3-6 we were told this was planned in order to Quot save organizational funds by making sept 2 labor Day a Quot travel  All attendees Are expected to drive to the conference six hours away for me on a Federal Holiday. I believe the conference is worthwhile but t cannot believe our organization has the right to expect us to give up a Federal Holiday in order to get to the conference to sign in on sept. 2 the conference officially commences a 8.30 a in. On sept. 3. When asked if we would be compensated via Holiday pay or compensatory time for relinquishing a Federal Holiday in order to travel to the conference our department supervisor who is military remarked Quot Well civilian employees do get More Federal holidays off than the private sector Quot and went on to say that we would not be compensated for this loss to me ins Quot argument Quot does not justify expecting employees to relinquish a Federal Holiday. It we Are expected to travel to the conference on a Federal Holiday Are civilian employees eligible Tor Holiday pay ii so How do we apply Lor it it our organization refuses to giant Holiday pay Are to eligible Lor Quot compensatory Quot time olt equal to our travel time to to used at another time it none of those options Are satisfactory to our organization Aie we within our lights to leave Tor the conference at our Normal duty time of 7 3d on tuesday morning which would make my arrival and sign in time �1 3qy does the fact that we will be on try status affect learning for fun. A parents can help their children develop a love for books in Many ways a trip to the Public Library the Purchase of used books at the Library s sate and the gift of a Book on a special occasion and the providing of a place for children to display their books families that study together a that View educational programs on television together that read together in books magazines and newspapers a create the dynamics that motivate children to succeed in school. Educators Are implementing year round schooling in Many districts. This will give Breaks of time throughout the year instead of a Long summer one. These Breaks can be beneficial if Wise planning is done if your child is studying a particular topic in social studies or science ask the teacher or a suggested site a museums planetariums Parks or displays a that will expand thetis for parents Cox news service Here Are a dozen tips for parents. They come from Little things make a big difference a Booklet based on a Survey of nearly 10,000 elementary and Middle school principals. A say Quot Good Job Quot and a i knew you could do  a ask Quot what do you think Quot a and really listen to their answers. A it s time to study. Set a daily routine for schoolwork meals and bedtime. A beat the clock. Let your children know you and others appreciate it when they re on time. A turn off the television. By limiting to time you la open More time for other activities. A say Quot Tell me about  learn what your children Are doing in school. Encourage them to explain their assignments. A beat the Quot Why do i need to learn this Quot blues show whether we will be eligible for meals or Holiday pay name withheld Stuttgart Germany Barbara s. Jackson personnel management specialist civilian personnel division office of the Deputy chief of staff personnel he Usa eur replies the writer asks if civilian employees can be required to travel without compensation on a Holiday sept 2 labor Day to be in Atten Chance at a required conference not later than 8 30 . On sept. 3. According to the code of Federal regulations wartime spent travelling shall be considered hours of work if any of certain conditions exist. Employees required to travel on non workdays Are entitled to compensation if travel is performed during periods of time that correspond to their Normal working hours. A report by the congressional committee on the Federal salary act succinctly stated in its report its philosophy on the Taw relating to time in a travel status. Basically the committee Felt that requiring employees to travel on their Day off was an unnecessary imposition upon their private life proper scheduling and administrative planning is the answer to the problems of travel pay in Many cases. It would appear based on information provided that compensation should be provided for the total amount of time spent in travel on the  is entitled to a Library card q a can we have a Library card my husband is a Dod department of defense civilian in Frankfurt we live near Hanau we have been denied a card because my husband will not out process through the Hanau military Community exceptions have been made for area students attending High school we have been shown the sop Standard operating procedure and were told that meaning of their school work. Parents grandparents aunts and uncles can band together car Pool and share responsibilities for taking these children on local Field trips. Certainly parents should help their child if he is having trouble with a particular subject. A conference with the teacher will usually uncover Many ways to Correct deficiencies in learning and will again demonstrate to the child that education is a family concern. Last but not least parents must not push children too hard and expect More from them than they Are capable of delivering. Learning should always be fun and can Only be enhanced when it is viewed As striving to reach ones potential. Or Hap Lecrone is a clinical psychologist. You can write him at . Box 7854. Waco Texas 76714. Children How their schoolwork applies to their lives. A get the Library habit. Libraries hold a world of information. Make a trip to the local Library a weekly routine. A talk talk talk with your children As you go about your daily routines. A make Story time a regular part of the Day. A set High but realistic standards. Recognize that each child is different. A give them a Pat on the Back for a Job Well done. For a single free copy of the Booklet Send a Long self addressed stamped envelope to world Book educational products station 9�?naesp, Elk Grove Village Iii. 60007. Copies of the Booklet Are sold in batches of 25 for 25 cents each. For an order form write to National association of elementary school principals educational products 1615 Duke Street Alexandria a. 22314. Because the Library is not automated they could not keep track of our patronage. We have also been told of funding policies based on military Community population stats. Is there any Way mar could change this policy and still insure that Dod civilians Are liable for their misuse of Library facilities would either a Legal consent for liability form or a Token users fee be a feasible solution Gioconda Lee Hanau Germany a e Nathan Scales Community recreation officer Hanau replies thank you for your kind inquiry. It gives us a Chance to Brief you on eligibility changes in the Hanau military Community Library system. Effective june 21, special agreements were reached with the Aschaffenbur Giessen and Frankfurt communities. Since More and More personnel Are assigned to one Community but live in another Hanau libraries will extend Library privileges to personnel stationed at the above mentioned communities if they live in the Hanau area. Clearance notification procedures have been worked out with the participating communities. The Hanau military Community Library system has been sensitive to this Issue for quite some time and is delighted to present you with a solution to your Reading needs see your local librarian for details to write us _ readers action line is the readers a court of last  striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas Ltd a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes. Apo 09211-4211. All letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers Page 16 b the stars and stripes monday August 26, 1991