h——— THE POST, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1950 Kingston Township School Board Is Only One. In Area That Has Asked For An School Board's Attempt To Improve Eval uation Standards Started With 1944 Survey No. 2 in a series of articles on schools Kingston Township~ Schools, in- cluding both Elementary Schools, the Junior High and the Senior High Scheol, are fully recognized, fully accredited, standard schools, operating under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania State Department of Education, under the guidance of the Office of County Superinten- dent of Schools for Luzerne County, and managed and directed by a duly elected Board of School Direc- tors whose specific duties, respon- sibilities and powers are fully set forth in the School Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Because of the great amount of misinformation which has appeared in one of the Wilkes-Barre news- papers in recent months regarding the status of Kingston Township schools the Post feels called upon to give the facts regarding the status of Kingston Township schools and to give a comprehensive report on the progress that has been made in improving these schools, This in- formation should be of value and interest to students, and to par- ents, who are interested in their education welfare. It should also be of considerable interest to the other taxpayers of the Township, who pay about one-half of the total cost of operating and maintaining these schools. The other half of the money necessary to pay the cost comes from State Appropriations, which are based on teachers’ sal- aries and operation cost of trans- portation for those students who travel by school busses. Comparison of schools, one with another, is -a difficult task; they may vary in size, type, wealth available for operating them, and objectives. In a community that is primarily industrial, or agricultur- al the emphasis might be placed on Vocational Education, while an- other community might feel that preparation for college is of pri- mary importance. : The Board of Education has con- sistently tried to bring to Kings- ton Township the type of schools and the quality of schools that its members feel are desired by the community, and in an honest effort to accomplish this have had these schools evaluated by Educational leaders from outside the district. In 1944 the Board of Education employed three outstanding edu- cators from the University of Penn- sylvania to make a survey of the two grade schools and the high school, and to report on the stand- ing of Kingston Township schools, when compared with AVERAGE schools throughout the country. The report of this survey, a copy of which is available in the office of the high school, showed that King- ston Township schools, at that time were considerably below the aver- age school. This was true of both the Elementary and the High School. The report of the survey included many criticisms and num- erous recommendations, which, if carried through, would enable these schools to compare favorably with average schools of the country. This report was carried in the Dallas Post. In 1948, four years after this in- itial survey, the Board of Education authorized membership in the Middle States Association of Sec- Fresh Hamburg Round Steak Boiling Beef Chuck Roast Neck Bone Pigs Feet Fresh Sausage Meaty Scrapple Skinless Franks ~ 188 MAIN STREET LARE'S MEAT MARKET OPEN FRIDAY and SATURDAY EVENINGS TILL 9 Ib. Ib. Ib. Ib. Ib. 1b. ib. ih. Ib. LUZERNE DIXON'S FAIRLAWN MARKET CUT UP CHICKEN Legs and Breasts Chuck (Center cut) 49c 1b. SA 59¢ |b. Bacon 39¢ Ib. Pkg. Carrots Cucumbers 2 Bu. 17¢ 2 for 15¢ Tomatoes ~ Mcintosh Apples 19¢ Pkg. 4 1b. 25¢ Royal Gelatine Fairlawn Evaporated Milk tall cans, 9 for $1.00 Columbia Sauer Kraut, Pride of the Farm Tomatoes, No. 2 can 8 for 89¢c Rice Ripe Fruit Cocktail Seaside Lima Beans, 1 1b. pkgs. No 2Y% can 2 for 25c¢ hse rime: 29¢ 12 pkgs. 69¢c 3 for 35c ~ ondary Schools and Colleges, and requested an Evaluation to be made of the High School by a committee from that Association. This com- mittee, comprising nine educators representing the numerous phases of High School education, from Ac- credited Schools of the Middle States Association, visited Kingston Township and spent three days in an intensive survey to determine the status of the high school when compared with other accredited schools of the association. Relatively few schools in Penn- sylvania are members of the Middle States Association. Kingston Town- ship school is the only high school in the Back Mountain Area to hold such a membership. Such member- ship does not imply any particular outstanding quality, but it does in- dicate that those responsible for the management and direction of the school are interested in having comparisons on a high standard, and are striving to bring about the improvements necessary to have these schools fully accredited by this organization, which is rec- ognized as representing THE BEST in Secondary and College Educa- tion. There are only SEVEN high schools in all of Luzerne County that have met the high standards of the Middle States Association and are accredited by that Associa- tion. These schools are: the three Wilkes-Barre Schools, G.A.R., Mey- ers, and Coughlin; Forty-Fort High School; Kingston Borough High School; Hazleton City High School, and Newport Township High School. The Evaluating Report of the Committee which made the Survey of Kingston Township High School in February, 1948, for the Middle States Association contains many criticisms, numerous recommenda- tions for improvement, and a set of comprehensive Charts which show at a glance the Status of the school when compared with other schools of the country, and when com- pared with Accredited Schools of the Association. This complete re- port is available to any student of Kingston Township High School, any interested parent or taxpayer of the Township, in the High School Office. The following tabulation, com- piled from information on the Chart showing the Summary of Evalua- tive Criteria in this Report indi- cates Kingston Township's stand- ing in various areas compared with Accredited Schools of the Associa- tion. This chart shows where they are above the average of accredited schools—in staff, plant and instruc- tion. It also shows that they are considerably below the accredited schools in six important areas of educational effort — curriculum, pupil activities, library, guidance, "| outcomes and administration. PTH Give Your Saws that new feel Let us renew the teeth on yours the factory way — by machine. We have new modern mach- inery for filing, re- toothing, and sett- ing hand and cir- cular saws. &® GARINGER Machine Service Memorial Highway at Fernbrook Phone Dallas 416-R-10 “UTERO” Priced For Quick Sale 8 Late 1946 DeSoto Seven Passenger Sedans A-1 Condition — Good Tires $450.00 . Hurry — Don’t Delay, See Them At Posten Taxi Co. ¢ 62 No. STATE STREET, WILKES-BARRE Table Based On Chart Summary of Evaluative Criteria— Kingston Township High School Accredited Subject School KTHS (*) *) Curriculum 52 35 Pupil Activities 52 16 Library 52 22 Guidance 52 18 Instruction 53 63 Outcomes 52 39 Staff 52 56 Plant 52 59 Administration 52 36 (*) Numerical scale based on “Thermometers” ranging from Zero to 100 per cent. Obviously, to obtain the Ac- credited rating from the Middle States Association it will be neces- tary for the school to make con- siderable progress in improving its status in the six areas in which the above tabulation shows it is below the standing of the Ac- «credited Schools of the Association. The recommendations of the Evalu- ating Committee have been, and are being, given serious considera- tion; many of them have already been complied with, much progress has been made toward achieving the score the school board is aim- ing at, but considerable progress needs to be made in areas which are beyond the scope of School Directors duties, responsibilities or powers. Some of the improvements which have been made in an effort to improve the school and to bring it into line with the high standards of the Middle States Association are quite obvious and apparent, even to a casual visitor to the school. Many of them may not be quite so obvious, but they are just as real. A few of the more recent im- provements are listed here to show how the School Board has been complying with some of these rec- ommendations: A SCHOOL CAFETERIA was rec- ommended by this Committee; while the idea of a cafeteria was not new to this Board, an all-out effort was made this past year, and a modern, well equipped school cafeteria, designed to serve at min- imum cost, is now in operation. While the cafeteria construction and equipment cost several thous- and dollars, student lunches are costing less than one-half of their actual cost because of participation in the Federal School lunch pro- gram, through which are received large quantities of surplus food- stuffs, in addition to a direct sub- sidy on each pupil’s lunch served. The Committee criticized the PHYSICAL EDUCATION PRO- GRAM, as it was conducted in 1948; this has been remedied by employing a fully certified and high- ly competent Physical Education Instructor and through the pur- chase of much ‘needed gymnasium and physical education equipment, including a Vaulting Horse, Parallel Bars, Gym Mats, and thousands of dollars worth of Athletic Equip- ment. The Board has been look- ing for a woman Physical Educa- tion Instructor to conduct the girls’ classes, and will employ one as soon as possible. THE COMMERCIAL DEPART- MENT has been greatly improved in its new location in the building, and through the purchase of sev- eral pieces of new equipment. Ad- NATIONAL RABBIT WEEK Feb. 12 to 18 offers you a chance to solve your problem if you're on the search for delicious and diff- erent meat dishes to. place before the family. Not only does Domestic Rabbit add variety to the menu, it also offers advan- tages in economy and food «value. For example, only 8% of a dressed Domestic Rab- bit is bone, and there is very little other waste. Domestic Rabbit is also high in calories—analysis by the Bureau of Animal In- dustry of the Dept. of Agri- culture show an average of 855 calories per pound. Your meat market and rabbitry features rabbits al ready cut up, ready to cook. Many a family will be enjoy- ing fried rabbit and any one of the 300 and over recipes this coming week. Call Your Grocer or Meat Market Today SPONSORED BY Northeastern Pennsylvania Rabbit and Cavy Breeder’s Association ditional pieces of modern office equipment will be purchased as the need for it arises and the funds to pay for it are available. THE HOME ECONOMICS DE- PARTMENT has been completely modernized, with new Napanee kitchen cupboards, sinks and coun- ters; modern electric kitchen ranges have been installed on the school purchase plan through which the newest models of these will re- place the older models each year, so that girls taking Home Econ- omics will be thoroughly familiar with the latest and best in kitchen equipment throughout their course in this Department. The Home Economics Instructor is fully qual- ified in her work, and is considered to be one of the best in this area. A NEW MUSIC ROOM, including storage space for all of the band instruments, was provided in the building; new band uniforms were purchased to supplement older uni- forms; new instruments were pur- chased, and every opportunity for music instruction is now available in the school, under the direction of a fully certified and highly com- petent Music Director. THE LIBRARY came in for con- siderable criticism from the Com- mittee; to correct this the Board employed Miss Morris throughout the summer months to carry out a program of correcting some of the faults in the Library. Miss Morris was then given Sabbatical Leave to enable her to attend Syracuse Uni- versity to complete her Certifica- tion as a Librarian. She will re- turn this fall fully prepared to com- plete the necessary alterations in the Library. Much of the criticism regarding the Library, however, falls on the students and their lack of use of the library, and on the teachers for their failure to require its use in the preparation of stu- dents’ studies. THE INDUSTRIAL ARTS SHOP is now one of the best equipped, and most modern shops of its type in this Back Mountain area. It is not a Vocational School Shop in any sense of the word, but it is a well rounded Industrial Arts Shop, with good equipment, and with a highly competent properly certified instructor. OTHER ITEMS The district was commended on the outside appearance of the High School Building, its location and ample grounds. The Board was se- verely criticized for the dark, dingy, appearance of the interior of class- rooms and corridors. To correct this condition the Board of School Directors started an intensive pro- gram of interior decoration this past summer in which many of the rooms in the building were painted. In this program all of the rooms in the two grade schools have been completely redecorated. In this program it is expected that all of the rooms in the High School Build- ing, and all of the corridors will be completely redecorated during the next few years. Much new instructional material has been purchased for class-room and laboratory use; new text-books bythe best authors are purchased by the schcol board, and every ef- fort is being made to improve the standards of education in the high school. Every other recommendation made. by the Evaluating Commit- tee has been, and is being, given the serious consideration of the School Board. These Recommen- dations will be adopted and carried out as rapidly as it is physically and financial possible to comply with them. It is the single minded purpose of the School Board to make King- ston Township Schools the best in this area; to eventually have them take their rightful place in the ranks of those few schools that are now Accredited by the ‘Middle States Association, and to so equip them that every educational re- quirement can be fully met with- in the limits of a good Secondary School operating under the Laws and Regulations of the Pennsyl- vania Department of Education. All of these Recommendations have been followed out, improve- ments made, cafeteria equipped, shop improved, painting done, etc., during a time of exceptionally high costs for labor, material and equip- ment, involving thousands of dol- lars in cost, without the School Board adding one mill to the burd- en of the home owner and tax- payer. Tax millage on property in Kingston Township has been for years, and still is 35 mills. This rate has not been increased despite the terrific increase in cost of every item that goes into the oper- ation and maintenance of a school. Much that goes into an Evalua- tion Report of a school depends on the students, teachers, prin- cipals, parents and community. The report given here is based primarly on what the School Board has done, and is doing, to improve the schools. What are YOU doing to help? The Post tribution— will publish your con- asking only that you state facts, not opinions, and that your letter is on the same high plane as the two previous articles which have appeared here on Kingston Township School.—Editor Veterans To Meet Kingston Township Veterans Association will meet at their home, Veterans Memorial Drive, Tuesday evening, February 8 at 8:30 p.m. Important business will be taken up and veterans will be asked to sign up for the Red Cross Blood Bank. Refreshments will be served. Any one unable to call at the veteran’s home for blood cards, should contact George Turn and they will be delivered. Edward L. Reese Funeral Today Edward L. Reese, 77, father of Mrs. Sheldon T. Evans, of Shaver- town, and a brother of Mrs. Mary Jane Simons, also of Shavertown, died suddenly Tuesday morning at his home 126 Storm Hill, Wilkes- Barre following a heart attack. Funeral services will be conduc- ted this afternoon from the late home with Rev. E. M. Greenfield of Abbott Memorial Church officiating. Mr. Reese was a life member of Abbott Church and was a life-long resident of the Storm Hill section. Two years ago he retired after 68 years’ service with Hudson Coal Company at Pine Ridge Colliery where he started as a slate picker at the age of seven. Had he lived until May 20, he and his wife, the former Lena Ahouse of Nanticoke, would have observed their 54th wedding anni- versary. Surviving in addition to his wife are these children: Wil- liam, Clemens, Elmer, Mrs. Fred Lancaster and Mrs. Edith Hunt of WilkesBarre; John, Plymouth; Mrs. Frank Evans, Frackville; Mrs. Shel- don T. Evans, Shavertown. United Sportsmen Meet At Herman Kern's Inn About sixty members of the Har- veys Lake United Sportsmen at- tended the meeting at Herman Kern's Monday evening. Steve Em- anuel showed wildlife movies and reported on the meeting of Federa- tion Sports Clubs of North Eastern Pennsylvania. Plans were made to chance off two fly rods. Announcement was made of a fox hunt to be held at Alberts Corners in February. Relax in Excellent Food - Cocktail Lounge at Brokenshire The Cocktail Lounge LBrokteniliire’s HARVEY'S LAKE HOTEL Phone Harvey’s Lake 3731 SIZZLING HOT STEAK DINNERS They're thick, tender and juicy Ideal Surroundings Bowman’s Restaurant MAIN STREET GOOD FOOD IS OUR SPECIALTY ICE CREAM wins Everyone’s Heart x "EVEN HIS!” On St. Valentine's Day, when pulses. race a bit faster, drop in, here, with your ‘Valentine Special.” Propose our jumbo - size sundae . . . Creamy rich ice cream teem- ing with choice nuts, fruits and syrup; it may give him the idea!
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