A new program will commence at Grady High School this year.
Grady will become a "magnet" Communication Arts School.
This opportunity will be offered to any student in Atlanta even
if he or she is not living in Grady's district.
The Atlanta Board of Education is creating a "magnet"
school out of Grady to "reduce minority isolation in secondary
schools . . ." This statement was taken from various notes
from the project's manual, passed out by the Board.
This process of reformation began officially July 7, 1980, but actual physical changes at Grady (addition of new equipment, cleaning out and remodeling of rooms, etc.) won't begin until second or third quarter of this year.
Grady is not the only school affected by this change. North Fulton High School is being reformed into a school of International Studies, and Roosevelt Hig h School is going to become a Communication Carriers and Technical School. The idea is to select the type of school most similar to that school's locale. North Fulton, for example, has a large percentage of international students, so the program would be more helpful and convenient to students at that school. Grady has many television and radio stations nearby, plus all the resources that downtown Atlanta can offer,
The Board of-Education applied the Federal Government for a grant of $1,169, 987. Approximately, $83,000 of the sum will go to Grady, $84,000 to Roosevelt, and $170,000 to North Fulton.
The purpose of "magnet" school is to attract students
from around the city that, under normal conditions would not attend
that school.
Dr. Crim, city superintendent of schools, in a recent conversation
stated that this idea of magnet" schools was a move toward
consolidation." The schools were designed with the specialities
of today's world in mind. International topics today (in regard
to North Fulton's theme) are so important; our foreign dependencies
are so heavy now and there's always a possibility of war, so students
should be well educated in foreign intricacies and language. Communication
is a key process in the prevention of wars with other nations
and in retaining the stability in our own country. These plans,
if carried out, will be come a valuable asset to the whole public
school system.
Voices of Discontment
By Viviane Haight
When Grady High School opened on September 2, 1980, students were introduced to a major schedule change. School started a half-hour later, the fifteen sacred minutes allotted for break were gone, and school was over at 3:15 instead of 3:00 p.m. Students and teachers have complained frequently and vehemently about the new schedule, more specifically the abolition of the break.
Some have even attempted to find a solution. Scott Jennings feels that school should start at 8:00 a.m. and we should have one hour for lunch. "We could have only one lunch and the extra half-hour would give the cafeteria ample time to serve the whole student body. With an hour for lunch we wouldn't need a break. " Mr. Conrad thinks that students could get to class in four minutes, that homeroom could be shortened five minutes, and four minutes could be taken off lunch. This would give us the fifteen minutes for break. Susan Hines blamed the system: "The system obviously cares nothing about the education of the students; it doesn't matter if they are late to first period just so they get to homeroom on time. " Lisa White said that the new schedule "stunk." Many students are coming into first period late using the bus was late as an excuse. If we had not changed the schedule, these people wouldn't miss important work but would miss sitting in a hot, stuffy classroom listening to Mr. Miller ramble on " Chris Brierly isn't able to find time to go to the library anymore. "The break was essential; if left like it is now, teachers are going to have to expect less last minute library research because we can't get into the library in between classes. "
The break was a time for club meetings, drill team meetings, and cheerleading meetings. Now these activities take up class time or have to happen before or after school hours. Mr. Moate made the comment, "When we had a fifteen minute break for meetings, the clubs were not functioning well, so what will they be like now?"
Although the majority of students and teachers disliked the abolition of the break, some didn't seem to mind the change. Ms. Mueller thinks that when the confusion is over and the buses are straightened out, "the schedule will work out just fine." Antonia Barraras didn't care if the break was part of the daily routine or not: "I leave early so it doesn't matter to me. "
Although a few people like the new schedule without the break, the consensus is severe dislike. Maybe after reading this article the administrators will strive to do the best thing for Grady High by changing the schedule and reinstating the break.
Grady Gets Free Transportation
By Vivane Haight
For the first time in the Atlanta Public School System's history,
students are receiving free bus transportation if they must travel
a mile or more to their schools. These new buses are leased and
operated by National Bus Transportation Service, Inc. They transport
over 30,000 students to school every day, and they serve 95 of
the system's 126 schools.
This project was only approved last March by the Atlanta Board
of Education. This only gave the transportation staff about out
four months to accomplish a year's work. Since the routes and
stops were organized according to students' June addresses, Dr.
Alonzo Crim, city superintendent, said that some of the routes
would be relocated to serve better the students.
Assessing the first day, Crim said "We are operating at 85% efficiency." The operation was marred by the absence of 10% of the bus drivers and others, unfamiliar with certain sections of the city or the bus routes, who drove past bus stops or got lost.
In the past years the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority and the Atlanta Transit System before that was the sole means of transportation for the school system. As long as students only paid 15 cents per ride, it was more practical for students to continue using MARTA to and from school.
To provide this transportation many APS divisions have been recruited. The Student/ Community Service produced a bus brochure, planned and conducted with the PTA Council a program on bus safety.
Cooperation and understanding on the part of everyone is vital. Busing is a mammoth business, and we should all be patient. The hitches and bugs that were evident the first day will be eliminated as soon as possible. National Bus Transportation, Inc. is providing a very useful service, free bus transportation, and should be commended for it.
Teacher Spotlight: Mrs. Fran Galishoff