->> *6   VOUCHERS WORK:  MILWAUKEE STUDENTS SHOW PERFORMANCE GAIN
[...]
 RM> But does this mean:
 RM> A) The teaching is better
 RM> B) Private schools are better
 RM> C) The learning "atmosphere" is better in a private school
 RM> My guess is "C"....  Now if we could just get the gutless
 RM> politicians and administrators to impose some discipline in
 RM> public schools, and perhaps write off problem students,
 RM> maybe we could improve things.....
Hi Ron,
I am very happy to announce that Phoenix Prep is getting some positive,
local public opinion for our program.
When I'm talking to people in general & I've told them I'm a teacher,
they always wanted to know at which school I teach.  When I tell them,
there is often name recognition & if they don't recognize the name, they
certainly remember the dress code issue from last year.  Today I was on
the phone with an evaluator at the AZ Dept. of Ed.  He actually
congratulated me for our school!
I was at Wal-Mart tonight looking for uniform clothing & the 11th grade
high school student who was helping me said that SHE wishes that her
district would require uniforms because the "gang thing" is moving into
her area (which scares her) & besides, she doesn't like the idea of
feeling pressured by other kids into having to wear $70 jeans in order
to be accepted.
One of our teachers attended a neighboring district's 7th grade
orientation yesterday & today she said, "I will NEVER go back to a
non-uniform school, nuh-uh, no WAY."   This because of the students'
behavior.
The three main components of our program are 1) the mandatory uniform
dress code  2)  the City of Phoenix "Attendance Is Mandatory" program
(run through the city prosecutor's office)  & 3)  the Teaching
Responsible Thinking discipline model.
We've not given up on providing incentives for academic achievement,
perfect attendance & good behavior, but we are no longer relying solely
on those types of things to accomplish our goals.
Yesterday was our opening day for this school year & the kids behaved SO
well.  Various staff members kept waiting for something to go wrong, but
it was the smoothest opening in the short history of the school (which
is saying A LOT.)
I hope that other schools will also innovate so that other teachers can
leave school less stressed & knowing they accomplished something that
day.  It's a great way to feel.
See ya.
Leona Payne
... "Uniforms?  But how will I express my originality if I'm not in 
fashion?!?!
--- Via Silver Xpress V4.3P SW12194
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