THANKS TO LARNED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR TRANSCRIBING THIS ACCREDITATION REPORT
FILED WITH THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. - Date of reporting, approximately, 1999 .

The following report of prejudice in Larned Schools was made by the Larned School system in a self evaluation.

The entire page is quoted here, for the SHORT CUT TO self report on prejudice, bias, or discrimination
Larned High School reports discrimination is a problem preventing learning

The purpose of this project is to inform others of my schools goals, objectives, and values. Most of the results in this paper come from the QPA results put together through a committee of teachers and students. My reason for informing you of this, is a physics assignment working with the internet.

Larned High School "Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow"

The mission of Larned High School is to develop all students into life long learners, possessing the skills for successful leadership in today's society. We will accomplish this by providing a safe, comfortable environment where a positive, professional staff will ensure a challenging and relevant curriculum.
To better Larned High School, staff and students have decided to target three main areas. These areas are Communication Skills, Mathematics, and Caring for Self and Others.

Communication Skills:

Selection of Target Area -

In our society and this community, high expectations are placed on students to possess a wide variety of written and oral communication skills. Five years ago, the faculty of Larned High School evaluated areas of concern for improvement. Improvement in written and oral communication was seen as a high priority for students at Larned High School and became one of the major target areas for the building. Through the results of the California Achievement Test (CAT), Kansas Assessments and teacher observations, the Larned High School staff recognized written and oral communications skills as an area in which students need to improve.

Goal Statement -

All students will demonstrate effective communication skills as evident by the following standards: A. Communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, for a variety of purposes and audiences. B. Write and orally communicate for: 1. Clear articulation, 2. Analysis, 3. Conceptualization, 4. Synthesis, 5. Summarization of information. In writing the goal statement, the Building Level Team focused on the low areas of the CAT Test and teacher observation to determine our targeted goals for this area.

General Summary -

After reviewing the three years of Kansas State Writing Assessments, Larned High School students either maintained or showed improvement in all areas except conventions. Based on the 1992-1996 CAT Test results: Freshmen show a slight decline in all categories.Sophomores and Juniors show an increase in all categories.
During the past five years Larned High School teachers have seen an improvement among students in their ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, for a variety of purposes and audiences. It was a general consensus of the staff that writing has improved more than the oral side of this issue.

Mathematics:

Selection of Target Area -

It was the general feeling of the staff and community that students at Larned High School need to possess a strong background in certain areas of the mathematical field. Five years ago the faculty of Larned High School evaluated areas of concern for improvement. Improvement in mastery of essential math skills was selected as one of the major target areas for the building. Through the results of the CAT, Kansas Assessments and teacher observations, the Larned High School staff recognized the need for improvement in this area.

Goal Statement -

All students will demonstrate in academic and applied situations a high level of mastery of essential skills as evidenced by the following standards: A. Use mathematics and mathematical principles. B. Apply problem solving skills. C. Use creative, imaginative, and divergent thinking to formulate and solve (problems), and to communicate the results.

In writing the goal statement, the Building Level Team focused on the low areas of the CAT Test and teacher observation to determine our targeted goals for this area.

General Summary -

After reviewing the three years of Kansas State Math assessments, Larned High School students showed a drastic drop in their scores. Based on the 1992-1996 CAT Test results: Freshmen showed a decline in all areas. Sophomores have maintained the same level during the five year period. Juniors showed maintenance or improvement in all areas.

During the past five years Larned High School teachers have seen an improvement among students in their development of essential math skills. It was the general consensus that students showed larger gains in decimal usage than in fractions and that students appeared to be more hesitant to get involved in math activities outside their math classes. The staff felt like student shave become too dependent on calculators.

Caring for Self and Others:

Selection of Target Area -

Because of prejudice, bias, or discrimination the staff at Larned High School recognized that the students were unable to work effectively both independently and/or in groups. Improvement in this area was seen as a high priority for students at Larned High School and became one of the major target areas for the building. Through the results of parental, community, student surveys and teacher observations the staff started to develop interventions for these concerns.

Goal Statement -

All students will demonstrate the necessary characteristics to work effectively both independently and in groups as evidenced by the following standards. A. Work collaboratively in teams. B. Work together without prejudice, bias, or discrimination, using techniques to separate people from problems, focusing on interests not positions, inventing options for mutual gain, and using objective criteria.

The rationale for this goal is based on the interpretation of parental, community and student surveys and teacher observations.

General Summary -

After our initial review of assessments compared to baseline data, it became clear that the students continued to feel that this area was a concern while parents and teachers saw significant improvement. Question #2 on the student survey stated that "students treat each other with respect". In the fall of 1994 there was a .82 discrepancy; in the fall of 1996 there was a 1.0 discrepancy showing a small increase during the past two years. The staff acknowledges this concern and will continue to address this issue. When comparing parent survey from the 1994 and 1996 school years there is evidence of maintenance or improvement in the majority of areas. Even though improvement was shown, improvement is still needed in some areas. The staff will continue to develop interventions for these concerns. During the past five years Larned High School teachers have seen an improvement among students in their ability to demonstrate the necessary characteristics to work effectively both independently and in groups. The staff felt like students were not afraid of being part of a group and working cooperatively was more accepted.