Sterling Community Unit School District #5
6.10 Instruction
Educational Philosophy and Objectives
The District's educational program will seek to provide an opportunity for each child to develop to his or her maximum potential. These beliefs and objectives shall guide the educational program:
We recognize that parents shape their children's motivation, confidence, and academic success by being interested and involved in their academic development. We are committed to providing opportunities for parents and the community to take an active role in the education
of children.
We recognize that the students' active participation in learning insures an opportunity for success. We are committed to instructional activities that involve students, staff and parents in a cooperative effort to produce individual growth.
We recognize the diversity of students' socioeconomic backgrounds and cultural heritages and its impact upon the educational setting. We are committed to providing a variety of educational experiences on an equitable basis.
We recognize that the social, political, and economic vitality of our nation depends on the ability of students to learn how to think critically, to process and adapt information, and to adjust to a rapidly changing society. We are committed to assisting students in the development of problem-solving skills and the acquisition of knowledge needed to employ those skills.
We recognize the social, physical, and psychological needs of students. The fulfillment of these needs enables students to focus on learning. We are committed to making school a supportive place where students will develop positive self-concepts through an awareness of their social, physical, and psychological needs.
We recognize that effective instruction is the result of teaching practices and patterns documented by educational research. We are committed to providing staff development opportunities for all teachers so that they can implement more effective teaching strategies.
We recognize the impact of technology on our lives, both at home and at work. We are committed to providing staff development opportunities for all teachers so that they can implement more effective teaching strategies.
We recognize the impact of individual responsibility upon the preservation of democratic ideals. We are committed to teaching the responsibilities of citizenship.
We recognize the inherent need of individuals to express themselves through aesthetic involvement. We are committed to providing appropriate and varied opportunities in the arts.
We recognize the need for global awareness. We are committed to providing students information, skills, and understanding necessary to deal with the social environmental and political problems of the world.
We recognize that we can always improve. We are committed to encouraging risk-taking among the staff and students as they pursue academic excellence.
The administrative staff is responsible for appraising the Board of Education of the educational program's current and future status. The Superintendent should prepare an annual report that includes:
A review and evaluation of the present curriculum;
A projection of curriculum and resource needs;
An evaluation of, and plan to eliminate, any sexual, cultural, ethnic, or religious bias that may be present in the curriculum or instructional materials and methods;
A plan for new or revised instructional program implementation; and