Sc~oo/ of Education * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Speaking to educate * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * H arding's School of Education received confirmation of the quality of its program when the State Department of Education announced in November the results of the Arkansas Educational Skills Assessment Tests mandated by the 1983 special legislative session for all teachers who held an Arkansas teaching certificate. Teachers who failed the test were traced in order to determine the colleges/universities from which they had graduated. Only two Harding graduates out of the last three years failed the examination. Harding was one of two institutions having fewer than one percent at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and the only institution below one percent in both categories. An in-depth study was made of the teacher education curricula as a result of the new NCATE standards and the new standards being enforced by the State Department of Education. One of the first changes implemented was the increase in student teaching from eight weeks to 12 weeks. There was also an increase in the GPA required for admission to the program. Additional changes were being studied. Dr. Bobby L. Coker, Dean of the School of Education, served on Legislative Act 110 Committee and helped in the development of the state's program approval system. Dr. Jim Nichols was elected president of the Phi Delta Kappa District III chapter which had more than 100 school administrators and teachers. Dr. Tony Finley was elected vice president for membership of the chapter. Jeanine Peck, associate professor of education, and Martina Peacock, adjunct instructor in reading, joined the education faculty in the fall. Mr. Wade Bedwell and Mrs. Betty Watson were promoted to full professor and Dr. Nichols was promoted to associate professor. ~ Duke of Education. At the faculty reunion at Camp Tahkodah at the beginning of the fall semester, Dr. Richard Duke mingles with other teachers to see how summer vacations were enjoyed. Duke was responsible for many areas in the School of Education, including working with students enrolled in Directed Experiences. - photo by Dr. Joseph Pryor. Attendez-vous. While speaking at the faculty reunion at Camp Tahkodah, Dr. Winfred Wright, French professor, addresses the faculty on his goals for the following year. Wright taught the methods course for those students certifying to teach foreign languages in high schools. - photo by Dr. Joseph Pryor. School of Education 187
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==