| Published in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Tuesday, Sunday 10, 2002
Keeping UNI on top while examining
fate of MPLS
By: Thomas J. Switzer
As dean of the UNI
College of Education at UNI, it is my responsibility and obligation
to see that UNI remains one of the premier institutions in the country
for the preparation of teachers and school administrators.
I assess the needs of the College of Education and the university-wide
teacher education programs, then make recommendations to the university
president and provost on necessary directions we should follow to ensure
that prominence. In the best of times and in the worst of times, we
need to be sure that the human and financial resources available to
the university are put to the best use.
Decisions regarding the future directions of Malcolm Price Laboratory
School (MPLS) must be sensitive to the needs of students while responsive
to the needs of the UNI teacher education program. Our goal has always
been to achieve these two ends.
From the outset, the intention has been to engage appropriate parties
in conversations that will likely lead to the creation of professional
development schools with Cedar Falls, Waterloo and potentially other
school districts. I want to emphasize that the announcement I made was
intended to begin those conversations. This announcement was made just
hours after UNI President Robert Koob relayed the same message as a
point of information to the Board of Regents.
The university requires
that any plan emerging from these conversations continues the kinds
of functions the lab school has traditionally pursued.
According to the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education,
"professional development schools are innovative institutions formed
through partnerships between professional education programs and P-12
schools. Their mission is professional preparation of candidates, faculty
development, inquiry directed at the improvement of practice, and enhanced
student learning."
We are excited to examine new possibilities, such as expanding the venue
for our lab school's 10th- through 12th-grade component into the local
communities, just as we did with preschool through the establishment
of the Freeburg Early Childhood Program in Waterloo. We also are excited
about the university's commitment to seek funding from the state to
renovate MPLS.
I want to assure everyone that any changes would continue and enrich
the experiences for our teacher education students, and offer new venues
for curriculum development and outreach.
I regret the impression was given that decisions have been made. Although
we are confident in our ability to create a professional development
school model with Cedar Falls, Waterloo and other school districts,
the conversations are just beginning. The intention is to involve all
appropriate parties in these discussions, and that all required processes
and procedures will be followed.
As dean of the College of Education, I am a strong supporter of MPLS.
I also must ensure that UNI continue its tradition as one of the best
teacher preparation programs in the country. I am confident that the
process we are implementing now will lead us toward a strong and sustainable
laboratory school with both campus-based and community-based components
in support of our teacher education programs. |
