Description:
BOSTON LATIN SCHOOL HEADMASTER MICHAEL CONTOMPASIS TAKES LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Collection:
Ten O'Clock News
Date Created:
07/21/1986
1 - 7 of 7
Description:
Christopher Lydon reports on a controversy over the distribution of contraception in schools. Lydon notes that the Adolescent Issues Task Force of the Boston School Department has recommended that birth control be distributed to students as part of a comprehensive adolescent health program in the city's middle schools and high schools. Lydon's report includes footage of an NAACP press conference with Jack E. Robinson (President, Boston chapter of the NAACP), Joseph Casper (member, Boston School Committee), and Grace Romero (NAACP board member). Robinson and Casper condemn the proposal as racist. Robinson says that the initiative targets African American students. Lydon's report includes footage from interviews with Hubie Jones (member, Adolescent Issues Task Force), Dr. Howard Spivak (member Adolescent Issues Task Force) and Dr. Deborah Prothrow-Stith (Chairwoman, Adolescent Issues Task Force). Jones, Spivak and Prothrow-Stith defend the proposal. Spivak and Prothrow-Stith discuss statistics relating to teen pregnancy. Lydon's report also features interviews with students about teen pregnancy and footage of students in schools.
1:00:11: Visual: Footage of an African American woman saying that she knows "what is going on" with teenagers from listening to them talk. Christopher Lydon reports that teenagers are starting to have sex at an early age. V: Footage of Dr. Howard Spivak (member, Adolescent Issues Task Force) saying that he is alarmed at the numbers of teenagers who are having sex. Spivack says that 25% of teenage girls are sexually active before the age of 15. Footage of Dr. Deborah Prothow-Stith (Chairwoman, Adolescent Issues Task Force) saying that one million girls under the age of nineteen become pregnant each year; that 600,000 of those girls give birth. Prothow-Stith says that teenage pregnancy has become an epidemic. Footage of Spivak quoting a statistic which predicts that 40% of fourteen-year olds will become pregnant before their twentieth birthday. Shot of teenage girls descending a staircase at a school. Lydon reports that the Boston School Department's Adolescent Issues Task Force is recommending the distribution of birth control as part of a comprehensive adolescent health program at Boston's middle schools and high schools. V: Shot of a collection of diaphragms in a health clinic. Shot of a clinic worker and a teenage girl at a school health clinic. Lydon reports that the proposal has been heavily criticized. V: Shot of the street outside of the Boston NAACP office. Footage of Jack E. Robinson (President, Boston chapter of the NAACP) at a press conference. Robinson says that the NAACP is opposed to the distribution of birth control in school health clinics. Joseph Casper (member, Boston School Committee) and Grace Romero (former member, Boston School Committee and NAACP board member) stand beside Robinson at the press conference. Lydon points out that Casper and Romero are unlikely allies for Robinson. V: Footage of Robinson saying that the plan introduces sexual devices into the schools under the guise of a health initiative. Robinson says that African American schools and school districts are the targets of these plans; that the plans are a form of "social engineering." Lydon notes that Robinson believes the proposal to be "insidiously racist." V: Footage of Hubie Jones (member, Adolescent Issues Task Force) saying that the proposal has nothing to do with race. Footage of Casper saying that the proposal targets inner city students; that there are no proposals to distribute birth control among white suburban students. Casper says that "something is afoot." Footage of Jones saying that it is genocidal to allow large numbers of African American teenage girls to become pregnant. Lydon reports that Jones sees the proposal as a "regrettable necessity," needed to combat the incidence of pregnancy in young girls. V: Shots of teenage students in a study hall. Footage of Prothow-Stith saying that the Task Force is concerned about the increase of pregnancies among girls aged ten to fourteen. Footage of a young African American male student saying that a lot of teenage girls are pregnant; of a young Hispanic male student saying that he knows a girl in ninth-grade with a child. Footage of another African American male student saying that he knows a thirteen-year old girl who became pregnant; that the girl has dropped out of school. Footage of a white female student saying that she knows eighth grade girls who are pregnant; that it is wrong for young girls to be pregnant. Shots of students outside of a school. Lydon says that everyone seems to agree that young girls should not be pregnant.
1:00:11: Visual: Footage of an African American woman saying that she knows "what is going on" with teenagers from listening to them talk. Christopher Lydon reports that teenagers are starting to have sex at an early age. V: Footage of Dr. Howard Spivak (member, Adolescent Issues Task Force) saying that he is alarmed at the numbers of teenagers who are having sex. Spivack says that 25% of teenage girls are sexually active before the age of 15. Footage of Dr. Deborah Prothow-Stith (Chairwoman, Adolescent Issues Task Force) saying that one million girls under the age of nineteen become pregnant each year; that 600,000 of those girls give birth. Prothow-Stith says that teenage pregnancy has become an epidemic. Footage of Spivak quoting a statistic which predicts that 40% of fourteen-year olds will become pregnant before their twentieth birthday. Shot of teenage girls descending a staircase at a school. Lydon reports that the Boston School Department's Adolescent Issues Task Force is recommending the distribution of birth control as part of a comprehensive adolescent health program at Boston's middle schools and high schools. V: Shot of a collection of diaphragms in a health clinic. Shot of a clinic worker and a teenage girl at a school health clinic. Lydon reports that the proposal has been heavily criticized. V: Shot of the street outside of the Boston NAACP office. Footage of Jack E. Robinson (President, Boston chapter of the NAACP) at a press conference. Robinson says that the NAACP is opposed to the distribution of birth control in school health clinics. Joseph Casper (member, Boston School Committee) and Grace Romero (former member, Boston School Committee and NAACP board member) stand beside Robinson at the press conference. Lydon points out that Casper and Romero are unlikely allies for Robinson. V: Footage of Robinson saying that the plan introduces sexual devices into the schools under the guise of a health initiative. Robinson says that African American schools and school districts are the targets of these plans; that the plans are a form of "social engineering." Lydon notes that Robinson believes the proposal to be "insidiously racist." V: Footage of Hubie Jones (member, Adolescent Issues Task Force) saying that the proposal has nothing to do with race. Footage of Casper saying that the proposal targets inner city students; that there are no proposals to distribute birth control among white suburban students. Casper says that "something is afoot." Footage of Jones saying that it is genocidal to allow large numbers of African American teenage girls to become pregnant. Lydon reports that Jones sees the proposal as a "regrettable necessity," needed to combat the incidence of pregnancy in young girls. V: Shots of teenage students in a study hall. Footage of Prothow-Stith saying that the Task Force is concerned about the increase of pregnancies among girls aged ten to fourteen. Footage of a young African American male student saying that a lot of teenage girls are pregnant; of a young Hispanic male student saying that he knows a girl in ninth-grade with a child. Footage of another African American male student saying that he knows a thirteen-year old girl who became pregnant; that the girl has dropped out of school. Footage of a white female student saying that she knows eighth grade girls who are pregnant; that it is wrong for young girls to be pregnant. Shots of students outside of a school. Lydon says that everyone seems to agree that young girls should not be pregnant.
Collection:
Ten O'Clock News
Date Created:
09/08/1986
Description:
SUPT WILSON'S PLAN TO COMBAT HIGH DROPOUT RATE
Collection:
Ten O'Clock News
Date Created:
05/07/1986
Description:
Marcus Jones reports that Dr. Laval Wilson, Superintendent of Boston Public Schools, has announced cuts to the school budget. Jones outlines the nature of the cost-saving measures and reports that additional cuts may be necessary. Wilson talks about the budget at a press conference. Interview with John Nucci, President of Boston School Committee, about Wilson's attempt to cut costs in the budget. Jones notes that the Boston School Committee has rejected Wilson's proposal to consolidate eight schools. School Committee meeting. This tape includes additional footage from the end of a news story on mental illness.
1:01:08: Marcus Jones reports that Dr. Laval Wilson (Superintendent, Boston Public Schools) has announced cuts to the school budget. Visual: Shots of Wilson at a press conference; of an audience member looking at a handout of the budget. Footage of Wilson saying that he was faced with difficult decisions when he made the budget cuts. Shots of a list of names of school administrators targeted for layoffs. Jones reports that the superintendent submitted a $292 million budget last month; that the mayor had allotted $288 million for the school budget. Jones notes that the total for the new budget is $289.3 million; that more budget cuts may be necessary. V: Footage of Wilson saying that he has tried not to cut programs; that he has made minimal cuts in the school support staff. Shot of the printed cover of Wilson's preliminary budget. Jones reports that Wilson has recommended layoffs for 90 teachers, administrators and office workers; that Wilson has cut chosen not to implement a $2 million program geared toward reducing the school dropout rate; that Wilson had eliminated a $6 million request for repairs to aging school facilities. V: Footage of John Nucci (President, Boston School Committee) saying that Wilson has made a good effort to preserve educational programs while staying within the budget. Jones reports that the School Committee vetoed Wilson's proposal to cut costs by closing or consolidating eight schools. Jones notes that Wilson has made cuts elsewhere in the budget. V: Shots of audience members at a School Committee meeting. The audience members hold up signs protesting school closings. Shot of a sign reading, "JP is a pleasure because JP is a treasure." Shots of Wilson at the meeting. Footage of Nucci saying that the School Committee will not cut educational programs for at-risk youth; that the Boston Public Schools have an "astronomical dropout rate." Marcus Jones stands outside the offices of the Boston School Committee. Jones reports that the School Committee will discuss the new budget proposal next Tuesday; that members of the public will have an opportunity to weigh in on the proposed budget.
1:01:08: Marcus Jones reports that Dr. Laval Wilson (Superintendent, Boston Public Schools) has announced cuts to the school budget. Visual: Shots of Wilson at a press conference; of an audience member looking at a handout of the budget. Footage of Wilson saying that he was faced with difficult decisions when he made the budget cuts. Shots of a list of names of school administrators targeted for layoffs. Jones reports that the superintendent submitted a $292 million budget last month; that the mayor had allotted $288 million for the school budget. Jones notes that the total for the new budget is $289.3 million; that more budget cuts may be necessary. V: Footage of Wilson saying that he has tried not to cut programs; that he has made minimal cuts in the school support staff. Shot of the printed cover of Wilson's preliminary budget. Jones reports that Wilson has recommended layoffs for 90 teachers, administrators and office workers; that Wilson has cut chosen not to implement a $2 million program geared toward reducing the school dropout rate; that Wilson had eliminated a $6 million request for repairs to aging school facilities. V: Footage of John Nucci (President, Boston School Committee) saying that Wilson has made a good effort to preserve educational programs while staying within the budget. Jones reports that the School Committee vetoed Wilson's proposal to cut costs by closing or consolidating eight schools. Jones notes that Wilson has made cuts elsewhere in the budget. V: Shots of audience members at a School Committee meeting. The audience members hold up signs protesting school closings. Shot of a sign reading, "JP is a pleasure because JP is a treasure." Shots of Wilson at the meeting. Footage of Nucci saying that the School Committee will not cut educational programs for at-risk youth; that the Boston Public Schools have an "astronomical dropout rate." Marcus Jones stands outside the offices of the Boston School Committee. Jones reports that the School Committee will discuss the new budget proposal next Tuesday; that members of the public will have an opportunity to weigh in on the proposed budget.
Collection:
Ten O'Clock News
Date Created:
05/14/1986
Description:
A group of school bus drivers stand in the lobby of a building. They protest as police officers tell them to leave the building. One of the bus drivers demands to be let into a press conference to be given by Laval Wilson (Superintendent, Boston Public Schools). The bus driver negotiates with school officials, who decide to let him attend the press conference. The bus driver promises not to be disruptive. Wilson speaks at the press conference. Wilson says that school attendance was low because of a strike by school bus drivers. Wilson refers to a chart with school attendance figures. Wilson talks about the bus drivers' strike. He says that an agreement cannot be reached until the drivers rescind their outrageous economic demands. Wilson describes these economic demands. Wilson adds that the union members do not support the strike. He demands the union leaders to let the membership vote on the proposed contract by secret ballot. Wilson answers questions from the media about the strike. Wilson says that the Boston School Department will not hire substitutes to drive the buses. Wilson notes that the School Department cannot afford the economic demands of the bus drivers. He reviews the estimated costs of the bus drivers' demands. Wilson says that he is willing to negotiate with the drivers, but that he will not give into their economic demands. Wilson accuses the union leadership of introducing the demands after negotiations were already in progress. Wilson notes that school attendance may be down because it is the first day back after winter vacation
0:59:58: Visual: A group of school bus drivers stand in the lobby one of the school buildings. The drivers are asked to leave the building by uniformed police officers. The drivers contend that they have a right to be in a public building. A police officer tells them that the building is controlled by the superintendent of schools; that the superintendent has asked the police to escort the drivers from the building. One of the drivers demands to see either Dr. Laval Wilson (Superintendent, Boston Public Schools) or a representative of Wilson. Another police officer tells the drivers to pick a representative; that someone will meet with the representative. The officer tells the drivers to wait outside of the building. Members of the media watch the confrontation between the police officers and the bus drivers. One of the bus drivers is designated as the representative. The representative demands that he be able to attend Wilson's press conference. The representative asks why bus drivers are "second class citizens." A school official approaches the representative. He says that the bus drivers may choose one person to attend the press conference to represent the union's newspaper. The representative asks permission to have three bus drivers wait outside of the press conference room. The representative wants those bus drivers to talk to the media after the press conference. The school official denies his request. The representative negotiates permission to bring another bus driver into the press conference as his photographer. The representative promises not to disrupt the press conference. The school official confers with another official. The second official speaks to the representative of the school bus drivers. The representative tells the official that he has no intention of disrupting the press conference. He asks permission to speak to the media afterwards. 1:05:03: V: Wilson stands behind a table set up for the press conference. He is joined for a moment by the second official. Wilson comments on the "ruckus" outside of the room. Wilson sits down and begins to speak. Wilson reports that there was a strike by school bus drivers in the morning; that he visited several schools this morning; that attendance was low. Wilson indicates a chart detailing school attendance figures. Wilson says that attendance at the high schools was at 67%; that attendance was at 48.8% for the middle schools; that attendance was at 54% at the elementary schools. Wilson notes that district-wide attendance was down 24% from last year. Wilson says that he hopes that attendance will increase; that a settlement is reached with the bus drivers to end the strike. Wilson says that the bus drivers must rescind their three "outrageous economic demands" before a settlement can be reached; that these economic demands were not made until November; that their only demand before November was to resolve the issue of terminated drivers. Wilson says that the drivers have demanded a pension benefit, full coverage of medical benefits and an extra mid-day break; that a settlement can be easily reached outside of those three economic demands. Wilson says that the leaders of the union are supporting the strike; that the majority of bus drivers do not support the strike. Wilson urges the leadership to call a meeting of the union membership. Wilson says that the leadership should let the membership vote on a new contract by secret ballot; that the membership would support the contract put forth by the Boston School Department. Wilson notes that there have been no major disruptions in the schools. 1:10:58: V: A reporter asks Wilson about contingency plans to hire more drivers. Wilson says that the school department will not try to substitute other drivers for those on strike. Shot of the press conference from the side of the room. Members of the media are visible. Wilson sits in the center of a long table. A reporter asks if parents support the strike. Wilson says that parents would like to have their children in school. Shot of Meg Vaillancourt (WGBH reporter). Wilson adds that the school department cannot afford the economic demands of the bus drivers. A reporter asks if the timing of the strike has worked in favor of the school department. Wilson says that he does not know. Shots of members of the media; of the representatives of the school bus drivers. A reporter asks Wilson about his belief that the membership of the union does not support the strike. Wilson repeats his challenge to the union leadership to let the membership vote on a contract by secret ballot. Vaillancourt asks Wilson to comment statements by the union. She says that the union has noted that their economic demands are affordable and that Wilson is trying to negate benefits which are already in their contract. Wilson says that the union has never had pension benefits, full coverage of medical benefits, or an extended mid-day break. Wilson reviews the breaks to which the bus drivers are entitled according to the last contract. Wilson says that the new economic demands are not in the contract. Wilson adds that the school department has estimated costs to be $800,000 for medical insurance, $450,000 for pension benefits and $450,000 for the additional break time. A reporter asks if Wilson will tolerate a lengthy strike. Wilson says that he would like to resolve the issues; that the school department is willing to negotiate on all of the issues except the economic demands. Wilson says that he was shocked when the three economic demands were added at the last minute. Wilson says that he has not set a deadline for resolving the strike; that he wants to negotiate with the bus drivers. Wilson notes that negotiations were in their fifth month before the bus drivers added the economic demands. Wilson says that progress had been made on all of the issues before the economic demands were introduced. 1:17:34: V: A reporter comments that the union added the demands because the school department was trying to introduce "giveback issues." Wilson says that the "giveback issues" would have been resolved. A reporter asks why the leadership would want a strike. Shot of the attendance chart. Wilson says that the union leadership has a "credibility gap" because they introduced the economic demands after negotiations were in progress. Wilson accuses the union leadership of being "unreasonable." Wilson explains that the school department picks up costs in the contract which are not covered by the bus companies. A reporter asks how much money the school department is saving due to the strike. Wilson says that he does not know. A reporter asks about the costs of 11,000 MBTA passes handed out to students. Wilson says that it depends on how many MBTA passes are used. A reporter asks if he knows why some students did not attend school. Wilson says that he does not know. Wilson notes that it is the first day back after winter vacation.
0:59:58: Visual: A group of school bus drivers stand in the lobby one of the school buildings. The drivers are asked to leave the building by uniformed police officers. The drivers contend that they have a right to be in a public building. A police officer tells them that the building is controlled by the superintendent of schools; that the superintendent has asked the police to escort the drivers from the building. One of the drivers demands to see either Dr. Laval Wilson (Superintendent, Boston Public Schools) or a representative of Wilson. Another police officer tells the drivers to pick a representative; that someone will meet with the representative. The officer tells the drivers to wait outside of the building. Members of the media watch the confrontation between the police officers and the bus drivers. One of the bus drivers is designated as the representative. The representative demands that he be able to attend Wilson's press conference. The representative asks why bus drivers are "second class citizens." A school official approaches the representative. He says that the bus drivers may choose one person to attend the press conference to represent the union's newspaper. The representative asks permission to have three bus drivers wait outside of the press conference room. The representative wants those bus drivers to talk to the media after the press conference. The school official denies his request. The representative negotiates permission to bring another bus driver into the press conference as his photographer. The representative promises not to disrupt the press conference. The school official confers with another official. The second official speaks to the representative of the school bus drivers. The representative tells the official that he has no intention of disrupting the press conference. He asks permission to speak to the media afterwards. 1:05:03: V: Wilson stands behind a table set up for the press conference. He is joined for a moment by the second official. Wilson comments on the "ruckus" outside of the room. Wilson sits down and begins to speak. Wilson reports that there was a strike by school bus drivers in the morning; that he visited several schools this morning; that attendance was low. Wilson indicates a chart detailing school attendance figures. Wilson says that attendance at the high schools was at 67%; that attendance was at 48.8% for the middle schools; that attendance was at 54% at the elementary schools. Wilson notes that district-wide attendance was down 24% from last year. Wilson says that he hopes that attendance will increase; that a settlement is reached with the bus drivers to end the strike. Wilson says that the bus drivers must rescind their three "outrageous economic demands" before a settlement can be reached; that these economic demands were not made until November; that their only demand before November was to resolve the issue of terminated drivers. Wilson says that the drivers have demanded a pension benefit, full coverage of medical benefits and an extra mid-day break; that a settlement can be easily reached outside of those three economic demands. Wilson says that the leaders of the union are supporting the strike; that the majority of bus drivers do not support the strike. Wilson urges the leadership to call a meeting of the union membership. Wilson says that the leadership should let the membership vote on a new contract by secret ballot; that the membership would support the contract put forth by the Boston School Department. Wilson notes that there have been no major disruptions in the schools. 1:10:58: V: A reporter asks Wilson about contingency plans to hire more drivers. Wilson says that the school department will not try to substitute other drivers for those on strike. Shot of the press conference from the side of the room. Members of the media are visible. Wilson sits in the center of a long table. A reporter asks if parents support the strike. Wilson says that parents would like to have their children in school. Shot of Meg Vaillancourt (WGBH reporter). Wilson adds that the school department cannot afford the economic demands of the bus drivers. A reporter asks if the timing of the strike has worked in favor of the school department. Wilson says that he does not know. Shots of members of the media; of the representatives of the school bus drivers. A reporter asks Wilson about his belief that the membership of the union does not support the strike. Wilson repeats his challenge to the union leadership to let the membership vote on a contract by secret ballot. Vaillancourt asks Wilson to comment statements by the union. She says that the union has noted that their economic demands are affordable and that Wilson is trying to negate benefits which are already in their contract. Wilson says that the union has never had pension benefits, full coverage of medical benefits, or an extended mid-day break. Wilson reviews the breaks to which the bus drivers are entitled according to the last contract. Wilson says that the new economic demands are not in the contract. Wilson adds that the school department has estimated costs to be $800,000 for medical insurance, $450,000 for pension benefits and $450,000 for the additional break time. A reporter asks if Wilson will tolerate a lengthy strike. Wilson says that he would like to resolve the issues; that the school department is willing to negotiate on all of the issues except the economic demands. Wilson says that he was shocked when the three economic demands were added at the last minute. Wilson says that he has not set a deadline for resolving the strike; that he wants to negotiate with the bus drivers. Wilson notes that negotiations were in their fifth month before the bus drivers added the economic demands. Wilson says that progress had been made on all of the issues before the economic demands were introduced. 1:17:34: V: A reporter comments that the union added the demands because the school department was trying to introduce "giveback issues." Wilson says that the "giveback issues" would have been resolved. A reporter asks why the leadership would want a strike. Shot of the attendance chart. Wilson says that the union leadership has a "credibility gap" because they introduced the economic demands after negotiations were in progress. Wilson accuses the union leadership of being "unreasonable." Wilson explains that the school department picks up costs in the contract which are not covered by the bus companies. A reporter asks how much money the school department is saving due to the strike. Wilson says that he does not know. A reporter asks about the costs of 11,000 MBTA passes handed out to students. Wilson says that it depends on how many MBTA passes are used. A reporter asks if he knows why some students did not attend school. Wilson says that he does not know. Wilson notes that it is the first day back after winter vacation.
Collection:
Ten O'Clock News
Date Created:
01/02/1986
Description:
David Boeri reports that the Massachusetts Advocacy Center released statistics indicating that the student failure rate in the Boston Public Schools has increased by 24 percent. Boeri notes that school officials have raised promotion standards but that students are unprepared. Boeri interviews Anne Wheelock (Massachusetts Advocacy Center) and Robert Schwartz (Director, Boston Compact) about the failure rate in the schools. Wheelock says that the schools must create a climate which allows all students to succeed. Wheelock says that non-promotion will cause an increase in the drop-out rate. She adds that schools must provide remedial services for at-risk students. Schwartz says that a high school diploma must signify a minimum amount of achievement on the part of students. Schwartz admits that schools need to do more to help at-risk students. Boeri analyzes that failure statistics for African American and Latino students. Boeri's report is accompanied by footage of students exiting a school and by footage of students in a classroom.
1:00:16: Visual: Shot of a memo from the Massachusetts Advocacy Center. David Boeri reports the Massachusetts Advocacy Center has released troubling statistics about the Boston Public Schools. V: Shot of students in a classroom. A white male teacher stands at the front of the classroom. Boeri reports that the group found that one of every six middle school students was kept back last year; that one out of every eight middle school students was kept back three years ago. Boeri notes that the failure rate has increased by 24 percent. Boeri reports that the largest increase in the failure rate took place among Latino students. Boeri reports that the number of failing African American students is not out of proportion with the student population. Boeri notes that the number of failing African American students is vastly out of proportion with the student population at some schools. Boeri reports that African Americans made up 78% of the failing students at the Wheatley Middle School; that the school's African American population is 58%. Boeri says that Anne Wheelock (Massachusetts Advocacy Center) believes that the failure rate stems from low expectations, racial climate, and staff composition. V: Shot of students of diverse races exiting a school. Shot of the exterior of the Phillis Wheatley Middle School. Footage of Wheelock being interviewed by Boeri. Wheelock says that something must be changed in schools which hold back a disproportionately high number of African American students. Wheelock says that schools must create a climate which allows all students to succeed. Boeri asks why the failure rate has increased. Wheelock says that present promotion policies have imposed tougher standards on students without increasing additional services. Footage of Robert Schwartz (Director, Boston Compact) being interviewed by Boeri. Schwartz says that a high school diploma must signify a minimum amount of achievement on the part of students. Schwartz says that students must be promoted for achievement instead of "time served." Boeri says that school officials raised standards; that some students are not prepared. V: Shots of white female students in a classroom. Footage of Wheelock being interviewed. Wheelock says that non-promotion has a huge effect on the drop-out rate. Wheelock says that a recent study shows that being held back one grade increases a student's chances of dropping out by over 40%. Wheelock says that the study shows that being held back two grade increases a student's chances of dropping out by 90%. Footage of Schwartz being interviewed by Boeri. Schwartz says that the drop-out rate could be decreased if the schools promoted all students regardless of performance. Shwartz says that the schools are not performing their jobs if students are promoted regardless of perfomance. Boeri remarks that it is irresponsible to raise standards without preparing students. Schwartz says that there is a possibility that the schools have not done enough for at-risk students. Footage of Wheelock being interviewed. Wheelock says that students should be promoted with remediation and special attention. Wheelock says that the best teachers should be working with at-risk students.
1:00:16: Visual: Shot of a memo from the Massachusetts Advocacy Center. David Boeri reports the Massachusetts Advocacy Center has released troubling statistics about the Boston Public Schools. V: Shot of students in a classroom. A white male teacher stands at the front of the classroom. Boeri reports that the group found that one of every six middle school students was kept back last year; that one out of every eight middle school students was kept back three years ago. Boeri notes that the failure rate has increased by 24 percent. Boeri reports that the largest increase in the failure rate took place among Latino students. Boeri reports that the number of failing African American students is not out of proportion with the student population. Boeri notes that the number of failing African American students is vastly out of proportion with the student population at some schools. Boeri reports that African Americans made up 78% of the failing students at the Wheatley Middle School; that the school's African American population is 58%. Boeri says that Anne Wheelock (Massachusetts Advocacy Center) believes that the failure rate stems from low expectations, racial climate, and staff composition. V: Shot of students of diverse races exiting a school. Shot of the exterior of the Phillis Wheatley Middle School. Footage of Wheelock being interviewed by Boeri. Wheelock says that something must be changed in schools which hold back a disproportionately high number of African American students. Wheelock says that schools must create a climate which allows all students to succeed. Boeri asks why the failure rate has increased. Wheelock says that present promotion policies have imposed tougher standards on students without increasing additional services. Footage of Robert Schwartz (Director, Boston Compact) being interviewed by Boeri. Schwartz says that a high school diploma must signify a minimum amount of achievement on the part of students. Schwartz says that students must be promoted for achievement instead of "time served." Boeri says that school officials raised standards; that some students are not prepared. V: Shots of white female students in a classroom. Footage of Wheelock being interviewed. Wheelock says that non-promotion has a huge effect on the drop-out rate. Wheelock says that a recent study shows that being held back one grade increases a student's chances of dropping out by over 40%. Wheelock says that the study shows that being held back two grade increases a student's chances of dropping out by 90%. Footage of Schwartz being interviewed by Boeri. Schwartz says that the drop-out rate could be decreased if the schools promoted all students regardless of performance. Shwartz says that the schools are not performing their jobs if students are promoted regardless of perfomance. Boeri remarks that it is irresponsible to raise standards without preparing students. Schwartz says that there is a possibility that the schools have not done enough for at-risk students. Footage of Wheelock being interviewed. Wheelock says that students should be promoted with remediation and special attention. Wheelock says that the best teachers should be working with at-risk students.
Collection:
Ten O'Clock News
Date Created:
06/20/1986
Description:
Superintendent Laval Wilson recommends Boston School Committee close underenrolled schools and relocate and consolidate others. Plan does not meet with approval, though it is intended to save $3.9 million in the education budget. Jean McGuire.
Collection:
Ten O'Clock News
Date Created:
05/06/1986
