Vice President Gore Praises Wisconsin Schools
Photos
Wisconsin is way out front in creating an innovative, successful system
of public education, Vice President Al Gore said during a visit to Wisconsin
September 22.
“We want to create the best public school system in the world,”
Gore said during a “reverse town hall meeting” at Appleton’s
alternative Central High School. “You have a lead right here in Wisconsin.”
Gore said Appleton Central was a glowing example of how public education
can help all children succeed. In a unique one hour meeting in the school’s
auditorium, Gore and Rep. Jay Johnson interacted with many of the 220
teachers, administrators, students, parents and others who sat in a large
circle around them. Gore and Johnson handled the microphone in Phil Donahue
style while talking personally with audience members.
Prior to the town hall meeting, Gore met privately with six WEAC representatives
in a school office. At that meeting, he praised WEAC members for making
Wisconsin public schools a leader in the nation. He also praised WEAC
leadership for their active political involvement. Gore also listened
to WEAC leaders’ concerns about the need for smaller class sizes
, adequate school funding, vocal support from political leaders and fair
pay for teachers and staff.
During the town hall meeting, Gore talked often about the advantages
of after-school and before-school programs and tied that into the Clinton
administration’s proposed education initiatives.
He heard from several students, including 18-year-old Cory Schmidt, who
said the smaller class sizes, individual attention and caring, family-like
environment at Appleton Central have made a huge difference in his life.
The school is designed for students who are not succeeding in traditional
schools.
School officials said Appleton Central, which opened in 1996 and has
85 students, has played an important role in keeping Appleton’s dropout
rate below 1%.
“What we’ve really accomplished here is magic, with magicians
who are called teachers,” Johnson said.
Posted September 25, 1998