Indispensable Tools

by Felton, Keith Spencer; Thorp, Peter

• ISBN13: 9780761820154
• ISBN10: 0761820159
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-04-01
• Publisher: Univ Pr of Amer

Summary

The charter school movement in America is a radical departure from traditional ways of facing the dilemma of matching student to school. With the advent of the charter concept-- schools where individualized attention becomes possible, where lower teacher-to-student ratios are the norm, and where public moneys provide the same backing as for "regular" schools-- enormous possibilities opened up for addressing the unsuccessful high school careers of many in America's cities. Indispensable Tools follows a year in the life of a new charter high school and its principal. From birth pangs to the Education Board's award of a five-year opportunity, Gateway High School in San Francisco has proven that modern pedagogy and inspired leadership can offer real betterment to those facing secondary education's disheartening pitfalls.

Table of Contents

A Personal Preface
Introduction
Part One: FIRST SEMESTER
Breaking the Ice, and Setting the Scene	1	(14)
Problems In Education---An Intial Survey	15	(16)
Drawing Up The Contract	31	(14)
Depression, Identity, and Growth	45	(16)
Neural Pathways and Other Routes to the Goal	61	(16)
Part Two: THE NUTS-AND-BOLTS OF GATEWAY
A Prefactory Note: Three Key People---One Who Got It Started; One Who Feeds Its Coffers; One Who Finds Its Students	75	(2)
The Board Chair: Speak Softly, and Carry an Absolute Conviction	77	(14)
The Director of Development: Parting a Wise Community and its Money	91	(8)
Class Time	99	(4)
New Blood	103	(22)
A Note at First Semester's End	117	(6)
Part Three: SECOND SEMESTER
Forethought	123	(2)
Heart Coming Together	125	(28)
The Pre-Storm's Melancholy Quiet	153	(22)
In The Gladiators' Pit---The San Francisco Unified School District Beckons	175	(14)
Post-Mortem: The Migraine-Swell of Reflection	189	(20)
Creative Genius Versus Slogging Student	209	(24)
A National Awakening To Charter Schools	233	(18)
Monk's Cowl and Cellular Phone	251	(22)
When Honorable Men Disagree	273	(22)
The Mouths of Babes	295	(14)
Curriculum Vitae	309	(18)
Many Slips `Twixt Fourteen and Eighteen	327	(20)
``I'am Mad As Hell, And I'm Not Going To Take It Anymore!''	347	(22)
``Out of It'', Teenagers Who Can't Come In From The Cold	369	(14)
Is Bigger Better?	383	(18)
One Step Foreward, Two Steps Back	401	(18)
Gateway Versus Groton!	419	(20)
Groton Loves Gateway!	439	(32)
Valedictory	471	(24)
Coda---Voices In The Quiet Of A Dialogue's Completion	495	(6)
Postscript	501	(2)
About The Participants	503	(2)
Index	505