VOL. 6, NO. 15
MAY 14, 1965

Survey Conducted of
Maine Schools
A thoroughgoing review and appraisal of the three township high school programs, the first of its kind in the United States, is being conducted now.

The survey, undertaken with the backing of the board of education, will enlist the services of experts from various universities and in public school administration who will visit the schools and work out recommendations for improvement.

Dr. Wiltse met last week with principals of the three township high schools and representatives of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary schools to determine general methods of making the survey. Assistant Superintendent Ralph J. Frost Jr. and board secretary Harold Markworth also participated.

North Central association is the recognized accrediting body for high schools and colleges in a nineteen state area extending from West Virginia to Arizona. It is the largest of the six accrediting agencies that cover the United States. Under its wing voluntarily are 3,692 high schools and 469 universities including several institutions overseas.

Traditionally, the association accredits schools by examination of their annual reports, which are reviewed by principals from out of state.

Dr. Cawelti told the high school department heads that the association is now moving into a new aspect of accreditation under which faculties will examine all phases of their own school systems, compile reports and offer them to experts for study when they visit schools. The experts will then make recommendations based on their views of the reports, their observation of school operations, and discussions with school officials.
 "The Commission on Secondary Schools has adopted a policy of visiting member schools once every seven years," Dr. Cawelti said. "We now have 584 member schools in Illinois, which means that between 80 and 85 schools will have to be visited each year.

"Maine Township has volunteered to be the guinea pig in this operation. The first survey of this kind started this week with visits to Maine East, West, and South high schools.

"About fifteen experts will compose the committee for each school or 45 persons in all. They examine the report which we shall be working on all winter in our process of self-evaluation. Then the committees will formulate recommendations designed to foster improvement in the existing program."

Dr. Cawelti explained that the instrument to be used by the faculties for self-appraisal is a lengthy questionnaire covering ten sections of inquiry. Major divisions include the school administrative organization, courses of study, student activity program, instructional materials, guidance and health services, philosophy and objectives of the educational program, buildings and equipment, and specific objective and procedures for all departments of instruction."

Teachers in all schools already have in hand an eight page questionnaire for report exclusively concerned with their own training, experience, and orientation.

"I am convinced that the communities we serve will be benefited by the faculty self appraisal followed by recommendations of the school and business executives who will compose our examining committees," Dr. Wiltse said. "This project, which Maine township schools have the honor to be the first to execute, will go forward in a progressive manner and under unifying principles such as we have not yet seen."