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WHITI3Y FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1984, PAGE3 Plan to improvequality of educationMatherhopes The airector 0f the Durham Board of Education has revealed a long termn management plan which he hopes will resuit in the irn- provement of the quality of classroom in- struction in the region's 97 sehools. Bruce Mather, who succeeded Ken Munroe in February of this year, announced his management plan held staff. The sehool system, he said, should be placing an emphasis on'the in- struction of develop- ment of thinking skills in children. The system's success can only be measured by the quality of graduates it produces. "We will only be suc- cessful if we produce graduates who know how to think and make decisions," Mather aIl of the goals will be difficuit to achieve. One of the director's first tasks will be to have the principal of each sehool identify the developmental needs of his staff. Academie and professional upgrading will then be provided in a number of ways. Mather will then recruit people Jalready in the Durham system with special skills and training and have them Lafarga indicated that the board would probably be willing to spend money on staff upgrading pointing out that in the past it has been done with a "shotgun approach". Mather's plan, she added, will "focus on what people need."1 The director's plan is to effect' a change ini management climate and philosophy that is based on encouraging Bruce Mather, director of education and Trustee Ruth Lafarga, chairman of the Durham Board of Education are seen here announcing a new management program for the board and its 3,800 employees last week. The program, which was adopted by the board at its meeting last week, has already been implemen- ted and Mather says its aim is to increase the quality of instruction given in the classroom. Free Press Staff Photo last week at the board's -Oshawa headquarters along with board chairman, Trustee Ruth Lafarga. The director said that the plan, which was ap- proved. unanimously by the board- three days' prior. to the press briefing, was the result of six months of study, observation and con- sultation with teachers, principals, support and administrative staff. Mather added that he did not have the time to consuit fully with paren- ts' groups although he has met with the president of the Durham Home and School Association. He said that he has reviewed the findings of the C.E.D.S.S. (Co- operative Evaluation and Development '0f School Systems) com- mittees. Basically, Mather's plan has five goals, the reaching 0f which will be used by the board to evaluate his perfor- mance as director, alI 0f which are geared towards what he described as the "«pur- suit of excellence" in education. Five years from now, he wants Durham to be know for its excellence as defined by the quality of instruction. "Mfter ail, that's the only place where it counts," Mather said. He hopes to accom- plish lus plan through the introduction of "out- corne based learning" and the development of board staff at every level including teaching, secretarial, administrative and sup- port staff. The director said that he hopes to ask the board to ailot a sum of money in next year's budget» for the upgrading and development of board said. Until now, the board's various departments have planned in isolation. Under Mather's scheme, plan- ning, wiil be a co- ordinated effort. Teamwork will be Mather's watchword because he realizes that pass on their knowledge to others. This method, he noted is "a low cost form of, staff growth.'" The board wil also have to consider making' an investment in the development and "growth" of its staff. Board chairman Ruth Type writer- RENTALSt also SALES &,SERVICE 21 AVODE~ . S. AAX SOPPING...... and then allowing people to get on with the job while allowing themn to admit their weaknesses. The attitude of "if you admit a weakness, there's something wrong with you"l will be scrapped during Mather's tenure as director. Another more con- crete part of Mather's plan calîs for the development of stan- dard testing system throughout the Durham board and for a more uniform approach to curriculum. He also took time out to defend the board's fiscal policies saying that it was not a "cheap" board. "I'm not going to use that word," he said, "This board is not cheap." Mather said that the board had three main things going for it: its people and programs, public support and the fact that it is*,"fiscally responsible"'. He said that far too of- ten, there is a' pre- occupation with the cost of educational programs and services although he did describe the board as "llean" financially. PAST&PRESENT CLIENTS TIME: WED. SEPT. 12TH 8:00-11:00 P.M. SPLACE: WHITBY CURLING CLUB COME... CELEBRATE WITH US'. Ri.S... 668-7955 Wesl. y'World of Travel 15BOCK ST. N., WHITBY 668-7955 one respect, he added saying that "people have a tradition 0f going a second mile because of the leanness."1 And should he be un- successful in per- suading the board to make a financial com- mittment towards this plan or, any other program Mather said that he wil have failed in his responsibility as director. "The board is careful about the dollar but they are willing to listen to rationalization. If they don't spend it is because I haven't done a proper job of rationalizing the problem. " Lafarga said that MÃ"LLY MAID ""Speciulizing in Houa. Cleuning For Particulur Peopi."r 666m2-144' does not necessarily in- crease with the amount of money spent. "Spending a- lot of dollars does not equate with quality education," she said. "You have to look at where they are spending the dollars." The chairman said that, unlike Durham, many other school boards in the province are spending a great deal of money reducing their debt load. "But when it comes to quality of instruction V'Il put this system against any other system."> By November, 1985 Mather said he hopes to submit to the board a complete corporate' OSHAWA I 'AJAX ISCARBORO 140OSimcoe s.S.S 1313 HarwoodN. 553 Markham Rd.__ (Just S. of John SQ .> tN. of Hwy. 401) (Jus! 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