1961 Headlines of Wilmington News-Journ
1961 WNJ Clipping - May 1, page 1. State Inspector Presents Reports to Schoolmen. Revoke Martinsvil
State Inspector Presents Reports to Schoolmen
The reports of Stanley J. Fox, school inspector with the state bureau of supervision and inspection, were handed to Clinton County school administrators today.
Although Fox inspected and approved Clinton-Massie and Blanchester schools, the reports on Martinsville, New Vienna, Sabina and Simon Kenton are of prime interest. Fox’s report recommends revocation of the high school charters of Martinsville and New Vienna and warns Sabina and Simon Kenton that their small-sized operations may eventually force action. To these two districts he recommends consideration of reorganization.
Martinsville and New Vienna may continue for another year’s operation on a temporary basis, even if the state board of education approves Fox’s recommendation at the next regular meeting.
The state board will notify the districts of intent to revoke high school charters and will set a date for a hearing. Local boards of education are entitled to legal counsel at these hearings but local schoolmen report that the business at hand has usually proven to be “open and shut” at this stage.
Clinton County is not the lone victim of the state board this spring, state board news shows that at the April 10 meeting alone the board declared intention to revoke first (continued on page 8) grade high school charters of the following schools: Roscoe Local, Keene Local, Conesville, Fresno, Union Local, Warsaw High School, all in Coshocton County; Huntsville Local; Bakescreek High, Rushylvania Local, Perry-Zane Local and Zanesville-Monroe, all in Logan County.
From the Clinton County Board of Educations’s viewpoint, the picture of proposed consolidation is temporarily clouded by two factors. One is the election in Martinsville school district on the question of “Shall the entire Martinsville school district be transferred to Lynchburg?” This surprise petition was filed even before the reports of the inspector were released.
The other factor is one of speculation: what will the state board do with neighboring Highland County schools, which also might figure in local organization plans? Leesburg and Lynchburg border the four yet-to-be-organized schools in Clinton County – Martinsville, New Vienna, Sabina and Simon Kenton.
The full complete and unabridged texts of Stanley Fox’s reports on the four schools in question are given here. Tomorrow’s News-Journal will carry reports on Blanchester and Clinton-Massie Schools.
Administrators today were concerned about the questions that might be raised about Fox’s report, since failures to meet standards are noted in all four districts, although only two revocations are recommended. It has been explained the the question of “degree of violation” enters at this point and the recommendations made are based alone on Fox’s inspection and the opinions that he derived.
The texts of the four reports follow: [Only the New Vienna report has been transcribed.]
1961 WNJ Clipping - May 1, page 8. State Inspector Presents Reports to Schoolmen. Revoke Martinsvil
[Monday, May 1, 1961 - Wilmington News-Journal, p. 8 continuation of report on local School Districts]
NEW VIENNA
Several improvements made since a previous visitation by a representative from this Department have been noted with appreciation. Increased attention has been given to providing library resources. Equipment has been added to the science department. Secretarial services have been provided for the administrative office.
The executive head [Mr. Fenwick] is commended for his efforts to provide a better educational program for your boys and girls. Limitations of the present school program, however, present difficult administrative problems.
The educational program of your school has serious shortcomings. The curriculum, which includes approximately 25 scheduled units, in addition to music and physical education, is not sufficiently comprehensive to provide adequately for the wide range of pupil needs, interests and abilities.
It is noted that minimum requirements are not met in several subject areas. No instruction is offered in the area of industrial arts. To provide staff and facilities for a complete industrial arts program is expensive and difficult to justify in schools which do not have sufficient enrollment to make full and proper use of the program. This illustrates the need for district reorganization which could provide expanded and improved educational programs in many areas.
There has been improvement in library resources. Facilities for library, leave much to be desired. The assignment of a professionally trained librarian is helpful; however the present part-time arrangement for services limits the contribution of the library to the educational program.
Curriculum offerings in business education are limited. Expansion of the program, for example, to include training on a variety of office machines is needed for girls who are preparing for clerical or general office positions.
The home economics department is “struggling” along. Present enrollments have prevented appropriate scheduling. Facilities are not well adapted to work in the clothing area.
Difficulties which have been encountered in staffing this school have been noted. It has been necessary to employ, and in some cases to re-employ, teachers who have temporary certification and insufficient preparation in subject areas. The diversified teaching lads which must be assigned in small high schools do not attract teachers to the system or encourage long tenure of those who become qualified while serving this school under sub-standard certification.
Your attention is respectfully directed to the following 1957 Ohio High School Standards which are not fully met:
II,d. (organization of secondary ed); IV,a,b,c (educational program); V,a,b (provision for ind. difference); VI,c (guidance); VII,b,e (records and reports); VIII,a,e (materials); IX,a.b.d.e.g, (library); XIII,f, (schedules); XIV,d (health, phys.ed., safety); XVI,b (evaluation of ed. program); XVII,a, (qualification of teachers); XIX,a,b, (in-service education); XXI,a, (buildings and grounds).
In view of the present shortcomings of this school and present trends in education a real concern for the education and future welfare of your boys and girls indicates that this school should become part of a larger administrative unit. It appears that this is the only way in which a modern, adaptable and comprehensive education program can be provided for the boys and girls of this district.
Due to the deficiencies listed above, I cannot recommend the continuation of this high school.
Sincerely, Stanley J. Fox
wow, what a scathing rebuke of the New Vienna High School, that Fox guy was hard core, maybe he was right though? so this is what gave rise to East Clinton I assume?....interesting
ReplyDeleteLink, yes you are correct. More drama and controversy in the following year though before that actually happened. Stay tuned! Thanks for the comment.
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