State Superintendent of Public Instruction visits YHS

Earlene Ward - The Sierra Star

 

Special to Sierra Star

Delaine Eastin tried to complete an exercise in the EAST lab but did not do any better than most of the students.

 

 

Special to Sierra Star

Yosemite High School Principal Steve Raupp escorted Superintendent Eastin on a tour of the YHS campus, followed by a group of student photographers.

 

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin visited Yosemite High School last Friday and wondered, as she left, how she could clone the school.

At a staff luncheon, she said "I feel very good about your school. Special things are happening here."

She commented on the constructive, positive things she had seen during her three-hour visit, she noted the sense of community and said YHS is a "safe and supportive place."

Ms. Eastin met with administrators and trustees, she visited with a group of students and then toured the campus with YHS Principal Steve Raupp and a group of student photographers.

YHS was one of 10 schools in California to receive the first grants in the state for an Environmental and Spatial Technology (EAST) lab. That, and YHS' distinction as a California Distinguished School prompted Ms. Eastin to visit.

"I loved what I saw in the EAST lab," she said. Students showed her some of the many community service projects they are doing with the use of the state-of-the-art technology provided through the grant.

She also had the opportunity to meet the founder of the EAST program, Tim Stevenson from Little Rock, Arkansas. Mr. Stevenson made his first visit to YHS last Thursday and Friday.

Not only did the EAST students show Ms. Eastin what they were doing, they challenged her to try one of the tests they all take. Looking in a mirror, she was asked to trace around a star, staying within the lines.

"Brain, don't fail me now," she laughed as she sat down in the midst of a group of smirking students. She tried, she scribbled, she tried again but she didn't get very far following the star. Students laughed and told her she was as bad, or worse, than they had been.

The point of the exercise, explained EAST facilitator Larry Pesetski, is for the students to learn teamwork, to try something new and to learn that something may look simple but be very difficult.

In the chemistry lab, she told students they were learning something very important. "Everyone needs to know a little chemistry," she said.

The state superintendent admired student work in the Badger Art Gallery. A strong supporter of the arts, she noted that at least 20 percent of the jobs in the new economy will be arts-related.

A group of about 20 students had been invited to meet with Ms. Eastin to ask and answer questions. When she found the students to be very quiet, she gave them a brief civics lesson about her job.

She told them that her time in office will end this year after two four-year terms because of the term limit provision. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction position is the only statewide non-partisan elected office and she is the first woman to serve in that capacity.

She noted that she is also the first state superintendent to visit Yosemite High School.

Ms. Eastin said today's students can expect to have six or seven careers in their lifetime. She has been a community college teacher, a corporate manager, a city council member and a state legislator. She paid for her college education working as a telephone operator.

"I've been everywhere (in California)," she told the students, "and this is one of the prettiest places on earth."

She has visited schools in each of the 58 counties in California, once again a first for someone in her position. She told the students that she has visited schools in the state so remote they don't have electricity and she has visited the largest schools in the state in Los Angeles Unified School District.

Amber LeRoy, a reporter for the YHS student newspaper, the Blue Print, asked her what she is the most proud of during her tenure. She quickly responded that it is class size reduction, in kindergarten through third grade, and the state academic standards.

When she took office, she said, California ranked last in the nation in the number of computers in schools, in the number of library books and in the student-counselor ratio.

She led the fight for state standards for all students so those who moved during their school years would be taught at the same level no matter where they lived. "This is as American as you get," she said of the standards.

Ms. Eastin stressed the importance of technology in today's schools. She told the students that every job involves technology, such as farming, mining, firefighting, auto mechanics and law enforcement

She believes that high schools throughout the state are in pretty good shape with technology but, she added, they still need to do a lot more at the elementary level. She compared the push for technology today with the push for electricity in the 1930s.

Ms. Eastin is proud that California has made "a steady curve of improvement" in per pupil spending over the last seven-and-a-half years but she is not pleased that the state is still 28th in the nation.

When she graduated from high school in 1965, California was fifth in the 50 states in per pupil spending. When she ran for office, the state was 43rd. It wasn't right, she said, that the most expensive state in the union was in the bottom 10 in per pupil spending.

She has fought hard for more money for schools. One of her fights led her to sue Governor Pete Wilson to force the state to give schools more money. She won the suit and the schools got $2.3 billion that was used for class size reduction.

"The first responsibility of the State of California is to educate its children," she said.

This is a challenge because of the growth in the state. California adds about 100 new schools every year to accommodate the almost 100,000 new students who come into the state annually.

"We must accommodate those who are moving here," she said, noting that 39 percent of the students in California now speak a language other than English in their home.

Ms. Eastin told the students that everyone has to be well balanced in their skills. "In the real world of work, you don't go down a narrow path, you have to be well balanced." Everyone needs to be able to read well, speak and write well, know some science and math.

"Everyone needs to write well," she said, "life is not a multiple choice exam."

She urged the students to consider a career in education, but, she said, "if you don't teach, always support education."

Ms. Eastin stressed the importance of respect for each other. "We live in peace and harmony (in the United States) because we have respect for all people," she said.

Addressing YHS staff and guests from the community at lunch, Ms. Eastin told the teachers that they are the heart and soul of the school. "You have in your hands the fate of the republic," she said. "Everything turns on the type of education we give our students."

She went on to say that the defense of the country begins with education and long-term welfare reform will come through education.

She congratulated the school and the community on the passage of the construction bond in 1998. YHS passed its bond when a two-thirds vote was still required and most bonds failed. Today, with the 55 percent requirement, most bonds are passing.

"I will try to help you get the money from the state you deserve," she said, referring to the change in state matching funds that has left YHS about $5 million short in funds for the construction project.

Ms. Eastin said there are no great schools without great principals and no great districts without great superintendents. She commended Mr. Raupp and District Superintendent Bill McCabe on the leadership they have provided at YHS. She also commended the district trustees for the direction they have set and for the expectations they have for the students.

With all of the progress over the last few years, Ms. Eastin is still not satisfied. "California needs to agree we need more resources in education," she said. "The system is under-resourced."

Ms. Eastin said she sometimes gets very depressed in Sacramento but when she gets out to visit schools, she feels good. "I learn more visiting classrooms and talking to teachers than I'll ever learn in Sacramento," she said.

 

 

She is confident about the future and the young people of today who will lead. "There is a goodness in children we must never lose sight of," she said. She noted that most young people become resilient adults and they do so because of two primary things: They have had an adult mentor in their life other than a parent (probably a teacher) and they have received more education than their parents.

She quoted Neil Postman, saying "children are messages we send to a time we'll never see."

She hopes the message people are sending today is that they believed all jobs are important and that they showed respect.

Earlene Ward

The Sierra Star

 

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin visited Yosemite High School last Friday and wondered, as she left, how she could clone the school.

At a staff luncheon, she said "I feel very good about your school. Special things are happening here."

She commented on the constructive, positive things she had seen during her three-hour visit, she noted the sense of community and said YHS is a "safe and supportive place."

Ms. Eastin met with administrators and trustees, she visited with a group of students and then toured the campus with YHS Principal Steve Raupp and a group of student photographers.

YHS was one of 10 schools in California to receive the first grants in the state for an Environmental and Spatial Technology (EAST) lab. That, and YHS' distinction as a California Distinguished School prompted Ms. Eastin to visit.

"I loved what I saw in the EAST lab," she said. Students showed her some of the many community service projects they are doing with the use of the state-of-the-art technology provided through the grant.

She also had the opportunity to meet the founder of the EAST program, Tim Stevenson from Little Rock, Arkansas. Mr. Stevenson made his first visit to YHS last Thursday and Friday.

Not only did the EAST students show Ms. Eastin what they were doing, they challenged her to try one of the tests they all take. Looking in a mirror, she was asked to trace around a star, staying within the lines.

"Brain, don't fail me now," she laughed as she sat down in the midst of a group of smirking students. She tried, she scribbled, she tried again but she didn't get very far following the star. Students laughed and told her she was as bad, or worse, than they had been.

The point of the exercise, explained EAST facilitator Larry Pesetski, is for the students to learn teamwork, to try something new and to learn that something may look simple but be very difficult.

In the chemistry lab, she told students they were learning something very important. "Everyone needs to know a little chemistry," she said.

The state superintendent admired student work in the Badger Art Gallery. A strong supporter of the arts, she noted that at least 20 percent of the jobs in the new economy will be arts-related.

A group of about 20 students had been invited to meet with Ms. Eastin to ask and answer questions. When she found the students to be very quiet, she gave them a brief civics lesson about her job.

She told them that her time in office will end this year after two four-year terms because of the term limit provision. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction position is the only statewide non-partisan elected office and she is the first woman to serve in that capacity.

She noted that she is also the first state superintendent to visit Yosemite High School.

Ms. Eastin said today's students can expect to have six or seven careers in their lifetime. She has been a community college teacher, a corporate manager, a city council member and a state legislator. She paid for her college education working as a telephone operator.

"I've been everywhere (in California)," she told the students, "and this is one of the prettiest places on earth."

She has visited schools in each of the 58 counties in California, once again a first for someone in her position. She told the students that she has visited schools in the state so remote they don't have electricity and she has visited the largest schools in the state in Los Angeles Unified School District.

Amber LeRoy, a reporter for the YHS student newspaper, the Blue Print, asked her what she is the most proud of during her tenure. She quickly responded that it is class size reduction, in kindergarten through third grade, and the state academic standards.

When she took office, she said, California ranked last in the nation in the number of computers in schools, in the number of library books and in the student-counselor ratio.

She led the fight for state standards for all students so those who moved during their school years would be taught at the same level no matter where they lived. "This is as American as you get," she said of the standards.

Ms. Eastin stressed the importance of technology in today's schools. She told the students that every job involves technology, such as farming, mining, firefighting, auto mechanics and law enforcement

She believes that high schools throughout the state are in pretty good shape with technology but, she added, they still need to do a lot more at the elementary level. She compared the push for technology today with the push for electricity in the 1930s.

Ms. Eastin is proud that California has made "a steady curve of improvement" in per pupil spending over the last seven-and-a-half years but she is not pleased that the state is still 28th in the nation.

When she graduated from high school in 1965, California was fifth in the 50 states in per pupil spending. When she ran for office, the state was 43rd. It wasn't right, she said, that the most expensive state in the union was in the bottom 10 in per pupil spending.

She has fought hard for more money for schools. One of her fights led her to sue Governor Pete Wilson to force the state to give schools more money. She won the suit and the schools got $2.3 billion that was used for class size reduction.

"The first responsibility of the State of California is to educate its children," she said.

This is a challenge because of the growth in the state. California adds about 100 new schools every year to accommodate the almost 100,000 new students who come into the state annually.

"We must accommodate those who are moving here," she said, noting that 39 percent of the students in California now speak a language other than English in their home.

Ms. Eastin told the students that everyone has to be well balanced in their skills. "In the real world of work, you don't go down a narrow path, you have to be well balanced." Everyone needs to be able to read well, speak and write well, know some science and math.

"Everyone needs to write well," she said, "life is not a multiple choice exam."

She urged the students to consider a career in education, but, she said, "if you don't teach, always support education."

Ms. Eastin stressed the importance of respect for each other. "We live in peace and harmony (in the United States) because we have respect for all people," she said.

Addressing YHS staff and guests from the community at lunch, Ms. Eastin told the teachers that they are the heart and soul of the school. "You have in your hands the fate of the republic," she said. "Everything turns on the type of education we give our students."

She went on to say that the defense of the country begins with education and long-term welfare reform will come through education.

She congratulated the school and the community on the passage of the construction bond in 1998. YHS passed its bond when a two-thirds vote was still required and most bonds failed. Today, with the 55 percent requirement, most bonds are passing.

"I will try to help you get the money from the state you deserve," she said, referring to the change in state matching funds that has left YHS about $5 million short in funds for the construction project.

Ms. Eastin said there are no great schools without great principals and no great districts without great superintendents. She commended Mr. Raupp and District Superintendent Bill McCabe on the leadership they have provided at YHS. She also commended the district trustees for the direction they have set and for the expectations they have for the students.

With all of the progress over the last few years, Ms. Eastin is still not satisfied. "California needs to agree we need more resources in education," she said. "The system is under-resourced."

Ms. Eastin said she sometimes gets very depressed in Sacramento but when she gets out to visit schools, she feels good. "I learn more visiting classrooms and talking to teachers than I'll ever learn in Sacramento," she said.

She is confident about the future and the young people of today who will lead. "There is a goodness in children we must never lose sight of," she said. She noted that most young people become resilient adults and they do so because of two primary things: They have had an adult mentor in their life other than a parent (probably a teacher) and they have received more education than their parents.

She quoted Neil Postman, saying "children are messages we send to a time we'll never see."

She hopes the message people are sending today is that they believed all jobs are important and that they showed respect.