CONGREGATION B'NAI DAVID SUNDAY SCHOOL IN WEST BLOOMFIELD Graduate School of Educa- tion. The coalition was organ- ized after Dr. Sizer and educators from the Boston area toured the country for five years observing public and private high schools. The Coalition grew out of the interest expressed by teachers from 12 of the schools observed for reform. "The impetus has to come from the faculty and there has to be some funding avail- able to launch a program," Dr. Sizer says of changes in a school. Now, 100 schools are part of the Coalition, which espouses nine principles. The first principle is to learn to use one's mind, so that the primary educational goal is intellect-focused. Other prin- ciples deal with the size of the student population; the phys- ical and spiritual environ- ment; student-teacher roles and expectations; and fund- ing, either federal or cor- porate. The Denver, Colo.- based Re-Learning Project, which operates under the auspices of the Educational Commission of the States, helps schools in the coalition find funding for their programs. Educational networks share ideas, failures and suc- cesses. One area of concern is assessment. Influenced by the MI Theory, schools in the reform movement agree on the need to refocus and rede- sign ways of evaluating know- ledge. Assessment must be intelligence-fair — that is, a "fair" way of measuring in- tellectual growth must be formulated. Drew Gitomer, a research scientist at the Educational Testing Services, Princeton, N.J., says, "When limited by the instruments with which we use to measure intellect, we may be painting a narrow picture of human perfor- mance possibilities." Mr. Gitomer contends that assess- ment should be used to educate students. "Testing should not be strictly an ac- countability or gate-keeping function, and should attend to the individual and not the in- stitution," he says. In the future, he believes, "standard- ized testing will change dra- matically." The current system, in which tests are designed from afar, will be replaced by testing conceived locally. It is also important to take cultural aspects into ac- count. "We have to find a way to be equitable in our assess- ments and preserve some standards," remarks Mr. Gitomer. Several programs are al- ready exploring alternative assessment techniques through Project Zero, a Harvard research group directed by Dr. Gardner that examines the restructuring of curriculum and content by using the MI Theory. Arts Propel, a collaborative research project with Educa- tional Testing Services and the Pittsburgh Public School System, assesses middle and high school students' growth and achievement in art pro- jects. Students compile a port- folio in music, creative writing and visual arts — areas usually neglected by most standardized tests. "This is an example of perfor- mance assessment where the project evaluations are being used to change the classroom climate," explains Mr. Gitomer. On the elementary school level, The Key School's assessment system involves creative evaluations of cur- riculum projects. According to Mrs. Balanos, all projects are presented and videotaped. Project Zero researchers are now devising criteria to as- sess the videos. Project Spectrum, co-di- rected by another leader of the movement, David Feld- man, a psychologist at Tufts University, Boston, Ma., is developing assessment alter- natives for preschool and kindergarten children. Stu- dents and teachers function in an experimental classroom equipped with a range of stimulating activities cover- ing a variety of intellectual strengths. Throughout the year, students are observed, their strengths and interests evaluated. In addition, using games and a detailed scoring system, researchers measure each child's ability to perform a variety of tasks. This as- sessment approach has al- ready been adopted by at least one school, the Healey School in Somerville, Mass. In the search for ways to change the existing educa- tional structure, Dr. Gardner and others in the reform movement stress the value of a more humanistic view of in- telligence. As Dr. Gardner stated in a recent interview, "I believe that as long as we have a narrow definition of in- telligence most kids are going to think they're stupid and not recognize many of their abilities." Educational reform will not come easily, and change is frightening to many. But the movement appears to be gain- ing momentum and its sup- porters believe it is necessary in order to secure the intellec- tual future of the country. Beth Buxbaum is a writer in Philadelphia, Pa. Congregation B'nai David, Michigan's largest Traditional Synagogue, is proud to announce that registration is now open for our SUNDAY SCHOOL located at the Maple-Drake Jewish Community Center. Classes will begin on September 16, 1990, and include: KINDERSPIEL a pre-school class designed for 3 and 4 year olds. CLASS for children who will be 5-7 during the 1990/91 school year. Both classes will enable our students to explore Judaism in a warm and supportive setting. OPEN HOUSE AT MAPLE-DRAKE JCC SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1990 10:00 Pig 11:30 a.m. Come meet our highly qualified instructors Refreshments will be served Enrollment is open to the community and will be limited. — — For further information call Marla Schloss at the school office, 557-8210 DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND... ANNME & COMPANY School of Dance is once again expanding our facilities without an increase in tuition costs to you. Classes Begin September 10, 1990 * MALE & FEMALE INSTRUCTORS Beginner thru Advanced REGISTER EARLY TO SECURE YOUR PLACE IN CLASS TAP * JAZZ * BALLET Pre-School thru Adult MORNING, AFTERNOON AND EVENING CLASSES CALL NOW 553-0305 * Home of Gold, Silver, & Bronze Medalists in Professional Dance Competition * Special family discounts available * Many College Dance Scholarship Winners * Special Performance Groups for serious minded dancers ❑ ANNEITE & COMPANY 28857 Orchard Lake Road THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 109