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| Local Positions | |
| EDUCATION | ||
| (Revised 1970, 1973, 1976, 1983, 1989, 1992) | ||
| BOARD OF EDUCATION (restudy 1984) | ||
| The League of Women Voters of Westport believes that a Board of Education elected on a nonpartisan basis would be the most effective organization for the Westport community. The League supports a Board of Education that: | ||
| I. reflects broad segments of the community; II. supports efforts to modernize and clarify the budget; III. initiates a process for evaluation of program, personnel and facilities. |
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| Explanation: | ||
| 1. A nonpartisan selection process would allow for candidate selection from the
large pool of unaffiliated voters in Westport, in addition to registered members
of the two political parties. Until this change is effected, the League
encourages individual members to involve themselves in their party’s
candidate-selection process. 2. An overall interest in education, rather than a particular education or vocational background, should be the consideration in choosing candidates. 3. We recommend the adoption of the policy of enlisting citizens’ advisory groups to insure citizen participation in the policy discussion. 4. We recommend that the Board of Education seek ways of achieving wider public involvement in and acquaintance with its proposed policy decisions influencing budget alternatives, with emphasis on improved communication with the public. This might be accomplished though existing publications (i.e., PTA bulletins, news media, club bulletins, etc.) and wider agenda distribution. 5. We recommend that the communication of information to the public be the responsibility of one individual assigned by the Board of Education. 6. We encourage open discussion between the public and the Board of Education in their deliberations and decisions. |
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| The League of Women Voters of Westport believes the members of the Board of Education should continue to broaden their knowledge of educational developments to enable them to fully support the funding of programs and materials necessary for education in Westport. When the Board of Education adopts a budget, it should defend it throughout the budgetary process. | ||
| EDUCATION PHILOSOPHY | ||
| The League of Women Voters of Westport believes our curriculum should prepare all young people for the future. We recommend a broad-based, integrated curriculum that teaches critical and analytical thinking built upon communication skills, as well as on literature, the arts, mathematics, science, history, civics and the global world. It is important to remember that each individual learns at his own pace and in his own style. Therefore, it is recommended that the approaches to learning and to teaching remain sufficiently flexible to accommodate such individual differences. | ||
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