HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-08-08 83-280 RESOLVE83-zW
introduced by Councilor Willey, August 8, X1983
ry� CITY OF BANGOR
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By Ma GYN CoWnN{ofW My ofBmngon
B LVVD. WHERIMS, the National Commission on &sellence in Education,
in. April of 1983, issued its report to the nation and reported that:
While we can take justifiable pride in whet our schools and collages
have historically accomplished anal Contributed to the Vnited States
and the well-being of its people, the educatiwmal foundations of
cor society are presently being eroded by a rising tine of mediocrity
that threatens nor very future as a Nation and a people. What was
unimaginable a generation ago has begun to occur - others are matching
and'eurpaeeing our educational attainments.
If an unfriendly foreign power had attempted to impose on America the
mediocre educational performance that exists today, we might well have
aged it as an act of war. As it Stands, we have allowed this to
happen to ourselves. we have wen squandered the gains in Student
achievement made in the Wake of the Sputnik challenge. Moreover, w
have dismantled the essential support systems which help make those
gains possible, we have, in effect, Men committing an act of
unthinking, unilateral educational disarmament.
Nor society and its educational institutions seemed to have lost
sight of the basic purposes of schooling, and of the high exrectationa
and disciplined effort needed to attain them.
WHEREAS, the Commission's report has the overall objective of urging
consideration of methods by which public school Students should be best
prepared for the complex, technological world of today; and
WNE:SRnS, the Commission's report, with its recommendations for action,
is designed to focus the public's attention and encourage citizen participation
at the local level in fastening excellence in our schoola; and
wediddS, the report underscores the need to zero in on problen areas of
curriculum, tiro for instruction, and obtaining public support for education
as a high priority in the information age.
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NM THEREFORE, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Bangor that
the elected rambers of the Bangor School Committee are hereby urged to assess
the Excellence Commission Report add to pursue recommended remedial actions
as deemed necessary at the local level. The City Council =gas our school
board, as the elected officials directly involved on the local level with
the establishvent of educational policy, to faster debate and discussion
of current high school graduation requirements and coarse offerings and to
develop written school board policies that call for more rigorous and
measurable standards at all gradelevels and higher expectations for academic
performance and student conduct.
The City Council takes pride in the work of the School Committee and pledges
its cooperation therewith, to attain the goal of excellence in our schools.
83-280
RESOLVE
N CITY COUNCIL u
August 8, 1983
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G d�
Oe City Clerk
Pu SuppOxtirq the national Couvnisaion
On Excellence in education Report.