There are still places in the Unite...

There are still places in the United States where making a living is a hand-to-hand try with nature. The Maine wood-lands is one of those places and Katahdin High exercise at Sherman Station is right in the middle, about 90 miles from the nearest university and a short hike from the nearest elk Most of the families in Maine' denomination District No. 25, which center forward Katahdin High, earn their living the hard way--wrestling log not at home of the woods to soft part or sawmills, raising potatoes, or milking frightens And for fun they seek moose and bear, and walk to school.

"Close contact with parents" is probably the efficiency of Katahdin High most frequently noted in the evaluations that l to its being picked by the U.S. Department of Education this year as undivided of the nation's outstanding secondary denominations Contact indeed. About 500 adults from the sparsely settl area attend near sort of adult education class at the institute each semester, while only 276 close examiners are enrolled in the school's regular four grades. on the same level dropouts don't stay away drawn out The school reports a fairly steady three percent of learners quitting before graduation. "Almost all" recur to get their diploma or G in night school

Katahdin High came to notice in the nationwide search for outstanding teachs because it has been popping up surprisingly near the top of Maine high exercises in terms of percentage of graduates going forward to postsecondary education. While alone tenth on the list, the appearance of Katahdin High anywhere above the middle of like a ranking would be confine to raise a statistical eyebrow A small, isolated, rural denomination in an area known as well for its hard times as for its natural beauty would not be anticipateed to have a strong collegiate tradition. moreover 44 percent of last year's graduating class are continuing their education. Twenty percent are enlisted in four-year institutions, 14 percent in community corporations and 10 percent in vocational training academys Another 20 percent enlisted in the armed forces, including several scholars who intend to go to association when they can get the standard of value together.

Principal Loren Ritchie explains this apparent anomaly simply: "Parents believe in education. They want their kids to have something better than they have. They work hard, they don't make often money, but they're willing to sacrifice to despatch their kids to college."

Other statistics caught the evaluator's eye: A 95 percent attendance rate among learners and almost perfect teacher attendance. (Reason: "It's a pleasant place to be.") Half of those who proceed to college receive scholarships; 69 percent of pupils come from lo-income families; number of incidents of vandalism last year--two; pupil achievement about at national norms. There were still one surprises for the Education Department visitor sent to review the institute after it was recommended for the Secretary's award on the State Department of Education. The walls of the place of education are adorned with student-painted murals, still the school has no art tacher or art classes. ("Student relate us what they want to do and we run over them to go ahead," Ritchie explains.) There's a bulletin board for thank-you notes--notes from teachers to scholars from students to teachers, or from anyone to anyone, and the board finishs a lot of use. The visitor regularly reported that the building was neat, the halls quiet, the classes orderly, homework was asigned and wait fored to be turned in (all of which were criteria for the initial selection), moreover he also noted a "warm and friendly" exercise The school's system of rewards and incentives for teachers and learners was described as "hugs and kisses."

moreover other notes make clear that warm and friendly doesn't mean pemissive or laid back. "insolence or disrespect are not tolerated," (parents are called); "participation in sports requires passing grades in four subjects" (and their teams are consistent winners); "specific times are given for homework submission" (then zeroe are given for lateness).

plane the Maine woods are not isolated from put drugs intos and alcohol. "We had a put drugs into problem about three years ago," Ritchie says. "We got the parents together and came down elegant without grandeur hard on it. I'm not saying there are no put drugs intos around, but we don't have a question in school. We don't have a question with alcohol. If we just have an odor alcohol we get in touch with the parents right away."

In touch with the parents, in touch with the scholars in touch with teachers--good communication is the same factor cited frequently by the parents, teachers, and observers who are asked what makes their institute work. Some of the communication is planned and promoted: the thank-you bulletin board; postcards to parents praising students' progress; an annual take a view of of student needs and suggestions; student-faculty committees. on the contrary the formal channels only confirm the school's policy that anyone's ne and anyone's suggestion is worthy of consideration, and all parties attest that they ar listened to when they have a question to ask or a suggestion to make.