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TODAY'S
ISSUE
Amid no traffic lights,
Twiggs' schools show big jump
By
Dr. Holly Robinson
Senior Vice President
Georgia Public Policy Forum
Special to GwinnettForum.com
Second
of two articles (See
first article)
(Editor's Note: As teachers return to the highly-regarded
Gwinnett schools this week, and school is about to start all over
Georgia, we present the second part of an inspiring story of a
school system that has seen great improvements, in the Middle
Georgia town of Jeffersonville, one helping tremendously in improving
all education in Georgia. ---eeb.)
AUG. 6, 2004 -- Twiggs County Public Schools began charting a new
course with the establishment of new leadership under a new superintendent,
Dr. Wanda West. With the system's milestone success in earning accreditation
from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation
(SACS), the pace of reform picked up rapidly.
 The
accomplishment of Twiggs' SACS accreditation for the first time
in the system's history served to reinforce the focus on reform
as a priority. Respect for the new superintendent grew as teachers
and the administration realized they were receiving support in the
areas deemed important to instruction - essential in a county where,
according to the 2000 census, just 56 percent of people over age
25 are considered literate (someone with a GED or high school diploma).
"Once she gives you a job, it is your job to do," remarked
one administrator. "(Her) trusting you makes you feel comfortable."
A clear chain of command was put in place, reflecting Dr. West's
passion for putting children first. The district developed a TWIGGS
vision: "Together We Inspire Great Gains for Students."
A strong mission statement recently was followed by compilation
of a set of beliefs. Putting the statements in writing has helped
motivate and direct teachers, administrators and staff, and provides
the community with a clear understanding of the vision for their
schools and children. It helped, too, that a dress code was implemented
for students, with school pride engendered as schools selected different
school colors.
The Board of Education, administration and teachers clearly understood
the need to include the broader community, and Dr. West's plan was
that every stakeholder would know the links and their role. Guiding
principles established a focal point for stakeholders: constancy
of purpose; commitment to success for each student; a family literacy
connection; and a celebration of diversity, teamwork and high standards.
Extended education initiatives are advancing literacy and the potential
for completing high school and post-secondary options. Twiggs County
Schools is leading the way to lifelong learning with programs from
Even Start for the very young up to age 4 to Even Start Adult Education
for GED (general equivalency diploma) preparation. A strong partnership
with Central Georgia Technical College began in 2000 with an adult
learning center. Today, Central Georgia Technical College Twiggs
County Center, established by the superintendent, provides opportunities
for the community to attend school right at home.
Grant-writing teams were established to bring in much-needed funds
for programs. The Quality Zone Application Bond brought in over
$3.8 million from the federal government; the Even Start grant for
Family Literacy provides $3 million over 12 years.
Twiggs schools also joined the Georgia Leadership for School Improvement
program; the middle school became a Georgia's Choice school, providing
curriculum based on performance standards for all teachers and students.
The system has earned both state and federal dollars through a Reading
Excellence Act grant and Reading First grant.
With these reforms in place and participants enjoying success and
an improved environment, Dr. West began to focus on data. The goal
was to fine-tune reform efforts, targeting specific challenges in
school, student and teacher performance. To that end, a three-year
(2004-2006) strategic plan will align all work to address four strategic
goals: Student achievement, highly qualified teachers, safe learning
environments and effective and efficient operations.
The county has four schools, one elementary, one elementary/intermediate,
one middle school and the high school, as well as the Even Start
programs. The student population is 65 percent black and 35 percent
white, with no ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) students.
Of the 250 employees, 150 are certified personnel.
Twiggs County, the geographical center of Georgia, has just one
industry. Although I-16 bisects the county, not one stoplight exists
in its 362 square miles. Yet Dr. West speaks with conviction of
her journey though Twiggs: "It has been the most tremendous
experience ... been just that!"
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Irish
of any religion can enjoy St. Patrick's Day in Savannah
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
AUG. 6, 2004 -- Each year, come St. Patrick's Day on March 17,
the city of Savannah has a green-fested celebration of Irish heritage.
The Savannah St. Patrick's Parade is the second largest (after New
York City) in the USA.
 Perhaps
you, like me, had considered this not only an Irish, but specifically,
a Catholic celebration? If so, think twice. We'll tell you why from
a recent visit to Northern Ireland.
Just consider history, in the time when St. Patrick was in Ireland.
His story is a remarkable story, with several versions of his early
life. One is of being enslaved at age 16 by marauding Roman Britons.
While a slave, he turned to theology in the Christian church, and
went to France to study. In 432 A.D. he returned to Ireland as a
priest, beginning a lifelong quest of converting the Irish to Christianity.
He's also credited with driving the snakes from Ireland. That may
be only symbolic of putting an end to the pagan practices in Ireland,
as St. Patrick encountered and converted the Druids to Christianity.
For sure, the island still today is not haunted by snakes.
St. Patrick brought Ireland to Christianity in the 5th century.
It was not for over 1,000 later in the 16th century that the Reformation
took place, splitting the Christian world into Protestantism and
Roman Catholicism.
So the conclusion: anyone, Protestant or Catholic, with Irish heritage,
can celebrate St. Patrick's Day with impunity. For all who follow
Jesus were mere "Christians" when St. Patrick was around.
You get the impact of how St. Patrick was so important to both
Catholic and Protestant religions when you study the churches of
Ireland.
Just check the names of the churches. Many are called St. Patrick's,
and they might be Anglican or Catholic.
One place is particularly confusing. In Dublin, there are two Anglican
Cathedrals. They are only a 10 minute walk from one another.
We asked someone in Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin to explain
how there could be two Anglican cathedrals in Dublin. "Christ
Church is the Anglican cathedral for the Diocese of Dublin,"
he explained. "A few blocks from here is St. Patrick's Cathedral,
which is the cathedral church of al the Episcopal Dioceses of Ireland."
"So where is the cathedral for the Catholics in Ireland,"
we asked.
"Oh, that would be in Armagh," he said, where we have
previously visited that morning, about two hours' drive away. "It's
named St. Patrick's, too," he told us. And interestingly, we
also learned that the Anglican cathedral for the Diocese around
Armagh is named…..yep, you guessed it. St.Patrick's.
These days, Irish all over the world celebrate St. Patrick's Day.
It is associated with green and gold, shamrocks and luck. It's a
holiday in Ireland, and all businesses close, except for restaurants
and pubs. Many Irish attend church prior to these festivities.
And in Savannah, come March 17, (March 16 if the 17th falls on
Sunday), the Irish festivities are always on. It's a day like no
other in Georgia, for Irish of any religion to enjoy.
ABOUT
OUR SPONSORS
 Today's
featured sponsor is the Gwinnett Civic and Cultural Center whose
slogan is "The right environment for a world of possibilities."
With the addition of the Thomas P. "Tommy" Hughes Grand
Ballroom and the 13,000 seat Arena, the possibilities truly are
endless. Whether a comfortable and convenient venue for your entertainment
pleasure, or the perfect location for your next event, the campus
of Gwinnett Center offers just the right environment. Preston Williams
is General Manager. Visit our web site at www.gwinnettcenter.com.
For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: http://www.gwinnettforum.com/about/sponsors.htm.
McLEMORE'S
WORLD
8/6: Floating rates
The latest from cartoonist Bill McLemore:
BOOK
RECOMMENDATION
8/6: From Paige Havens
of Lawrenceville
"I just finished the book "What Southern Women Know
That Every Woman Should" by Ronda Rich of Gainesville.
It is wonderful read that puts into perspective all the 'do's and
don'ts" of womanhood my Granny and Mama have taught me through
the years. This book made me relish in my womanly ways and be grateful
for the Southern femininity that was instilled in me since birth.
"I'm moving on now to the local favorite right now, "Walking
Across Egypt," by Clyde Edgerton. The image of Mattie stuck
in the rocking chair in the first chapter has made me giggle for
days. Can't wait to read on!"
- An invitation: What books have you enjoyed? Send us
your best recent book along with a short paragraph as to why you
liked it, plus what you plan to read next. --eeb
ENCYCLOPEDIA
TIDBIT
8/6: Savannah city
plan distinctive from other colonial cities
Savannah's remarkable city plan is distinguished from those of
previous colonial towns by its repeated pattern of connected neighborhoods,
multiple squares, streets, and designed expansion into lands held
by the city (the common). It is unique in the history of urban planning
in a number of respects, not the least of which is that the squares
allow for more open space in Savannah than in any city layout in
history.
 The
basic plan unit is a ward, 600 feet to a side in the north-south
direction, and 540 feet to 600 feet in the east-west direction.
Streets and building lots are organized around a central open space
or square. Each ward has a name. Wards were originally organized
as urban neighborhoods with direct correlation to garden and farm
lots in Oglethorpe's expanded regional plan system.
The streets bounding the wards allow uninterrupted movement of
traffic. Internal streets are interrupted by the squares to create
a pedestrian-friendly scale. The resulting pattern features eight
blocks to a ward. The larger four blocks on the north and south
sides of the square are called tything blocks and are further divided
by east-west lanes. Four smaller blocks front the squares on the
east and west. These are called trust blocks. Tything blocks are
subdivided into lots 60 feet in width that are sometimes further
divided into increments of 20 or 30 feet, thereby creating a diverse
pattern of building sizes and types.
Savannah's plan reflects political and organizational considerations
of the day. Each ward had tythingmen, who shared guard and other
duties. Wards were tied to a larger regional plan of garden and
farm lots. The repetitive nonhierarchal placement of wards, squares,
and equal-sized lots points to the utopian ideals of the colony.
The regularity of these lots controlled the size and rhythm of development
in the third dimension to create a visually diverse and humanly
scaled city.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Sometimes we overlook
main reasons we are here
"For the sake of making a living, we forget to live."
-- Margaret Fuller (1810-1850), via Deb Roberts, Duluth.
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