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Alva Review-Courier Vol. 122 No. 72
Sunday, September 7, 2014 - $1.00
www.alvareviewcourier.com
620 Choctaw, Alva, OK 73717
Burlgars attempted to break into the rear door of Brown Shoe Fit company on Thursday night. Owner Cheryl Brown said they didn’t manage to get the door open, but certainly must have created a lot of noise attempting to peel back the metal. Two of her business neighbors, Rialto Theater and McDermott Insurance, have video cameras covering the alley, and those images are being reviewed to see if any clues can be obtained regarding identity of the vandals.
Fifi, the only flying B-29 in the world, will visit Woodring Airport in Enid Sept. 22-24. The visit is part of a fundraising effort for a replacement engine for Enid’s Lady Liberty CAF A-26 fast-attack bomber. An engine failed as Lady Liberty approached the Hutchinson, Kan., airport for an airshow in May, and the plane is still there awaiting repair. More than $30,000 has been raised toward the estimated $68,000 needed.
Can foreign countries really teach Oklahoma a lesson about education? By Nate Robson Oklahoma Watch How did Finland, South Korea and Poland become international leaders in education? How can the United States and Oklahoma learn from their models? That question and ways to improve the teaching profession were the main topics of a “Teachers Matter” forum held in Oklahoma City Thursday. Speakers included author and journalist Amanda Ripley, teacher of the year Peter Markes, Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Robert Neu and Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Keith Ballard. The event was organized by Stand for Children, which advocates for stronger schools. Ripley’s book, “The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way,” features an Oklahoma high school student who studied abroad in Finland; the book looks at what other nations have done with improve
education. Here are key takeaways from the discussion: • It’s unfair to draw direct comparisons between Oklahoma or the U.S. and other nations academically because of differences in racial and socio-economic makeup, Ripley said. “But the comparison is made whether we like it or not,” she said. The U.S. can learn from other nations to improve student academic performance. There is nothing other nations are doing that Oklahoma or the U.S. can’t do better, Ripley said. • The fact that other nations are surpassing the United States on international test results is not a sign that American students are performing worse than before, Ripley said. Studies show today’s students perform better on math and reading than previous generations. So why is the country losing on international assessments? “We have not gotten dumber,” Ripley said. “We are getting smarter – but much more slowly than other countries.” • Although Common Core standards
may be dead in Oklahoma, Ripley said, the state needs to implement rigorous standards. Foreign-exchange students surveyed by Ripley said they loved that U.S. schools have sports and extracurricular activities that are not available in many other nations. But foreign-exchange students also said the course content is easier here. “Whatever you end up doing, I am begging you to come up with a rigorous set of standards that aligns with what kids need to know in the world,” Ripley said. “There is no evidence that there is a way around this.” • Principals in the U.S. deal with too much bureaucracy, leaving them with insufficient time for supporting teachers in the classroom, Ripley said. Instead of devoting enough time to training, professional development and evaluating teachers, principals find themselves dealing with tasks such as hiring athletic coaches and talking to parents upset about their children’s punishment. • Education must be a priority,
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Cory Washburn (left) presents the September Rotary Students of the Month Award to Connor Cummings (center) and Dalton Manning (right)
September Rotary Students of the Month honored
Dalton Manning Dalton is the son of David and Dana Manning. High school activities include student council, football, basketball, track, golf, speech and One Act. Activities outside of school include Wednesday Night Live and vacation Bible school at the First United Methodist Church. His goal after high school is to attend a four year college and obtain a degree. The best advice Dalton could give to a freshman is, “It doesn't matter who you are. What matters is your plan.” His personal philosophy is, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Connor Cummings Connor is the See Rotary Page 11 daughter of John and