Jerald Posman’s recommendation in “Nurturing Success With ‘School Communities”’ (Commentary, Nov. 2, 1988) is not only a great idea, but it’s being piloted now as a real program in 10 cities across the nation.
Under a MacArthur Foundation grant, the Home and School Institute is working with five major national organizations to provide a community of educational support to families that are their members and those in the community.
Now completing its second year, this program is called New Partnerships for Student Achievement.
The participating organizations are the American Postal Workers Union, afl-cio; the American Red Cross; the Association of Library Services to Children of the American Library Association; the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs; and Parents Without Partners.
We’d be delighted to have your readers contact the institute for more information about this new community network of support for education.
Dorothy Rich President Home and School Institute Washington, D.C.
As a student pursuing a degree in private-school administration, I was elated by your article “Principals Cite Job Satisfaction” (Nov. 2, 1988).
The report that more than 70 percent of the surveyed principals and assistant principals were confident that they had made the right career choice is a great boost for morale.
Much is asked of school administrators today. Their continuing to work despite the virtual freezing of salaries during the past 10 years tells us that dedication to high-quality education is perhaps more important than personal gratification to these men and women.
I would also like to commend the 8 out of 10 principals who expressed willingness to empower teachers by sharing decisionmaking on important issues. They have shown a vision of leadership that may be lacking in the education process even today.
Sister Orlean Pereda, R.S.M. University of San Francisco San Francisco, Calif.
