European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 10, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Monday january 10, 1994 education the stars and stripes Page 9 vice Mem to e 5,e policy shift opens door of Augsburg Campus by Jimi Jones education writer Augsburg Germany a former military policeman believes the United states is not the safest place for a Youn Black Man today. So Robert mask decided that for this and other reasons he wanted to stay i Europe after he left the army. Now he is one of about 40 sex service members turned students who attend the University of Maryland s Augsburg Cam pus and live in a dormitory in Pursuit of an associate s degree. Former military men and women May now participate in the University s residential program. Until recently such people either attended German universities or none at All. When i first got out i was told i was t allowed to attend this school be cause it was for dependents mask said. However he persisted saying it was unfair that he was denied Access to his educational benefits simply because he chose not to return to the United states. I had this i Bill that was going to waste mask said. I was t planning on going Back to the states anytime soon but generally they were saying you have to go Back to the states to use this i Bill the University Campus now in Augsburg after years in Munich offers the first two years of a University education. The full time residential program was established in 1950 primarily for family members of . Military and defense department civilian employees. Adam Ivory spent three years As a member of a army m1a1 Abrams tank Crew in Mannheim before deciding to leave the service. He returned to Ger Many two months after he left the army in 1992. He started classes at the univer sity in january 1993. I had everything planned to attend school before i left said Ivory 23. Sex service members wishing to attend the school must get residence permits. For Ivory his place of residence in Germany was the Home of his Girlfriend s family. He also was required to Complete four forms and write a letter stating he was a student and had financial support. Even enrolment at the University Trade school Chain loses Federal funds Washington a the government is cutting off Federal Aid to a Chain of Trade schools saying the institutions Are run by felons who Siphon off Cash for personal gain. The emergency action by the education department in a letter dated wednesday immediately ends the flow of Federal dollars to pc career institutes. The Trade school Chain based in Phila Delphia has branches in Chicago Washington Baltimore Atlanta and Newark no. The schools which have taken in about $133 million in Federal Stu Dent Aid Over the past eight years apparently falsified their records to hide How much they were spending to recruit new students and How Little was being devoted to instruct ing those currently enrolled according to a confidential memorandum obtained by the associated press. S4s Jim Jonos Robert mask. Attending on i Bill does t necessarily mean that problems cease students said. You re on your own said mask who spent a year working on the German Economy before his acceptance to the University. You have to adjust to the German Economy Ivory said. You re not work ing within a military Community directly. We live Here but we re not allowed to use the facilities. They re basically locked Ivory was accepted under the new policy but in May was hired by the school which entitles him to an id card. He now attends As a contracted civilian working for the school. Fewer than 10 of the Stu dents hold such positions. Mask s situation is More typical. We re the same As your average Ger Man As far As being Able to use govern ment establishments where you need Anid card he said. And because he worked for the Ger mans he is not eligible for jobs with the . Government. Once we accept the work permit mask said we no longer fall under the sofa status of forces is Jami Jones Adam Ivory. From tank Crew to classroom officials need to Tell people about this school because there Are a lot of Mil itary people getting out and staying Over Here mask said. They have a lot of programs for people getting out but when it comes to staying in Europe what Are they doing for us education Wise the school has welcomed the former service members because they help fill the Gap left by students lost to the draw Down of . Forces in Europe and because they make Good students University officials said. And despite the hardships More sex military members Are Likely to stay Stu dents said. It s hard Over Here mask said. What bugs me most is that we Are sex military. I would like to Sec an emphasis put on the military Guys getting out and staying Over Here in Europe. They Are not being told that they can go to school and we need More Ivory said it depends on what your motivations Are. The language and cultural barriers Are there but if you enjoy Europe and enjoy the opportunities have some Type of tie then it s Worth req remenus listed for entry to University former . in Europe attend the University of Maryland s Augsburg Campus under what is called exception to logistical logistical support Means being entitled to a . Army in Europe identification card which provides Access to military installations and a variety of support privileges. Attending the University is considered a logistical support privilege. But most former service members do not have id cards and attending the school does not make them eligible for one. To be admitted they have to go through the regular procedure an applicant would for general admission said Mary Fiedler the University s director of admissions and registrations. That includes an application for admission an admission fee and copies of All academic records including High school and College University transcripts As stage one she said. In the second stage they go through a process of asking for permission to attend Here without an id card Fiedler said. Those requirements include an exception to logistical sup port questionnaire which is Avail Able from the school. A Good conduct certificate from a local Ger Man police station. A photocopy of the applicant s German residence permit. Form do 214, which is received when separating from the service. Once All paperwork is received it takes another two to three weeks to determine it the applicant will be admitted Fiedler said. Jimi Jones programs for advanced students face elitist stigma educator says by sue Palumbo Mediterranean Bureau Naples Italy americans Are so focused on conformity in education that the Best and the brightest students arc kept from reaching their full potential a top education researcher said. We Don t want to make anyone look special for fear of demeaning someone said Alexinia y. Baldwin a professor and head of the curriculum and instruction department at the University of connect Cut. We Are constantly fighting a Battle with parents and educators who think that giving special attention to talented and gifted students is an elitist concept Baldwin recently told about 50 parents and teachers at Naples elementary school. Talented and gifted programs Are de signed to Challenge students who Are Ca Pable of More advanced learning than is normally available in classrooms. Baldwin said such programs carry a stigma because children who do Well in school Are often ridiculed and ostracized by their Peers. Concerned parents Are sometimes viewed As overbearing or stage mothers by teachers burdened with overflowing classrooms and few resources she said. Advocates for gifted children Are pushing the Federal government to expand and fund pro Grams for advanced students along the lines of programs for mentally challenged children. Baldwin there Are those who say tag students should be left on their own because they can make it through the system without help Baldwin said. But if you Don t catch them Early and Challenge them they la lose interest in the department of defense dependents schools has its own version of the program that also offers enrichment activities for the entire school said Bald win who was invited by the Naples enrichment coordinator to speak to Parent Sand observe the Naples program. Baldwin cited a recent study by the department of education that compared top . Students to those in other industrialized countries. The study found americans perform poorly on International tests Are offered a less rigorous curriculum read fewer de manding books do less Homework and enter the work Force or pos secondary education less prepared than foreign Stu dents. Math and science Are the weakest subject areas for americans according tothe study. When comparing american and Japa Nese High school seniors enrolled in col lege preparatory math classes japanese students at the 50th percentile scored slightly higher than the top fifth percent Ile of american students the study re ported. You would think people would be pushing for More programs for kids not less especially when All these studies say americans Are so far behind said Mike Monaco Parent of two Chil Dren in the Naples program. We keep saying we have All of this special Talent but we Don t use
