DATE: Monday, November 3, 1997              TAG: 9711030214

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Editorial 

                                            LENGTH:   42 lines

PORTSMOUTH HIGH SCHOOLS THREE GOOD IDEAS

On Oct. 14, a student melee at Portsmouth's Wilson High School sent 22 students to the school nurse and three pregnant students to the hospital. The next day, Superintendent Richard Trumble met with 140 teachers and administrators to discuss alternative programs for students uninterested in academics.

The system has been praised by us and others for its aggressive policy of recapturing students skipping school. Portsmouth has the lowest student dropout rate in South Hampton Roads.

But Trumble acknowledged at the meeting that recapturing students may have contributed to the trouble at Wilson by bringing back students who don't really want to learn.

He said alternative and vocational programs need to be developed for students uninterested in regular studies.

Last week, in his state-of-the-schools address to the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Trumble made three very good suggestions.

Mandatory, tuition-free summer school for students who have fallen behind in key areas such as reading. Currently, summer school is not mandatory and courses cost $100 each. Some scholarships are offered, but not nearly enough. Since students hopelessly behind in classes cause the most trouble, helping them helps everyone.

A vocational education center. Not everyone has the ability or the desire to attend college. A vocational education center would be of immense interest to such students. Perhaps Portsmouth could open a vocational center in cooperation with one or more neighboring cities, following the regional center model on the Peninsula.

A better selection of alternative classes for students. There is only so much room for such classes, however, given the necessity of completing core courses.

The student melee was far too serious to do nothing. Trumble's suggestions are well worth pursuing. Where the money will come from in perpetually strapped Portsmouth, we don't know; but it's in the city's interest to find a way to serve all students, not just the best ones.

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