Pledge/Prayer: President Peter
Song: Bob Antoniac
Guests: Scott Brown
Brents Flim/Flam: Ran King
Raffle Winners: Bob Chase, Bob Antoniac, Ron Scott.
HAPPY BUCKS:
Much grumbling on lack of pin fines.
Yankees over Red Socks dollars (Boo).
Jokes, both corny & colorful (guess who told which)
Happy Birthday to Jesse!
Al Lindquist happy for a great family cruise to Alaska. Also extra happy for
his 12 year old grandson who won $3000 on last bingo game of cruise!
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
August 29th is our next evening meeting and we do have a program. President Peter
is looking for thoughts on where we might dine. More next week.
Club participation in the "Warm the Children" was approved by the board,
PROGRAM:
Ran King introduced Scott Brown, a retired high school teacher from Lyme/Old Lyme
who now is an educational consultant and works on a task force for accredadation of
New England high schools. Scott compared the 20th century high school envirnment
with the current 21st century. In the 'old days' 60% of the jobs were unskilled and
dropping out didn't have the stigma it has today. That model doesn't work today, it
needs to be retooled. The high school population needs "sensitizing" according to Scott.
He claims the teachers are better trained and technology literate. Todays home
environment of a single parent, or two working parents can't cope adequately with the
teen subculture that exists today. Language literacy also suffers, not only in english
but in some families own tongue (conversational, not gramatical). He claims 37% of kids
coming into 9th grade today are 3-4 years behind in reading. Also the materialistic
society of today gives kids too much and not enough spiritual or ethical guidance.
Scott outlined a 5 point set of needs for future high schools. They are:
1. An all students mandate. High expectations for all kids, in all disci[plines, not
only those college bound.
2. Equity - bring overall level of education up for all kids.
3. Active student engagement - Teachers should become facilitators for kids in
problem solving skills.
4. Personalization - Kids must connect to their learning, teachers must connect to
the kids. A student advisory program should be formed where groups of 11-15
kids connect with one teacher to follow them through all 4 years of high school.
5. Professional collaboration - high school teachers should form teams to meet
and develop programs and problem solving skills to impart to their students.
NET: This will take a lot of time and work, but must be done!
al
