Wyomissing Area High School - Colophon Yearbook (Wyomissing, PA)

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INNOVATIONS, INDIVIDUALIZATICDN Schools seek to achieve the purposes of education by teaching students those subjects that would seem most beneficial to them. It is a function of elementary and secondary education to provide them with the basic skills and knowledge that are essential to their future growth. No longer can education be terminal with high school, college, or graduate school. Education must be a continuing process. However, perhaps the most fundamental factors in the teaching-learning processes are those which have been given the least effort in their development-inspiring students to learn and pro- viding an environment where students may develop the skills of inquiry and discovery according to per- sonal interests and abilities. It is these processes which will provide us with the capabilities of meeting the challenge of the future. In the traditional school with traditional instruction it is observed that most students develop a dependence upon the teachers for the knowledge which they acquire. The emphasis is upon teacher-directed activities and students seek only that which is requested of them. We also find classes of comparable ability and size with equal amounts of time allotted to each subject and each student. It is believed that instruc- tion organized in this manner falsely assumes that all students need the same amount of time for learning in all subject areas and that all subject areas need equal amounts of time to realize the desired results. This concept of teaching in doses retards the progress of the academically talented students and forces the less academically talented students to progress at a rate which is not within their realm. Since the 1930's educators have experimented with groupings of students. They have been seeking the best possible method to accommodate the diverse rates and abilities of students. It was the first step to- wards individualizing instruction, but in terms of the group, not the individual. I-Iomogeneous grouping has fulfilled its destiny by bringing us to the next point of departure-an organizational pattern that will more nearly and effectively fulfill the aspiration of individualizing instruction. - More recently such concepts as team teaching, large and small group instruction, modular scheduling, instructional media, and nongraded schools have been pioneered. Each has merit of its own and is educa- tionally sound. However, they require that the public in general be educated as to their worth. The new concepts do not have the image of education past and are rejected on this basis. Many point with pride at their new schools and feel secure that their children are receiving the best education possible. However, providing new buildings with modern equipment does not insure better or improved education. It is only through the educational program and improved instructional organization and teaching procedures that this can be achieved. ' David R. Barrett, III

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r It's been a long Week . . . ' , A. Kirkpatrick, M. Moyer, and N. Smith study out of doors. Dr. James Olivero evaluates our new school program. 25

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ACADEMICS Instructional Media. Tom Breitinger and Kris Cramer. THE NEW PROGRAM IN AC TIGN Lounge Area Gab Session. 2 dependent Study. . l Semor Englxsh Semmar 27