A Flower for Angela Read Online Free
Author: Sandra Leesmith
was. "Have you read the report by the President's task force on education? We are a nation at risk, Mr. de la Cruz."
Angela paused for effect.
"Our traditional schools are not producing students who can think for themselves, or who can comprehend what they read. We have high dropout rates." He couldn't argue with these facts. "And it's largely because we have silent classrooms where the students aren't allowed to think. All day long, they are directed to fill in blanks on meaningless sheets of paper in the form of workbooks and photocopies."
"You're talking about skills, skills necessary to learn the basics."
"But skills taught in that manner have no meaning to the students. They rarely relate them to the real world,” she sighed with dismay. It was obvious he agreed with the "back-to-the-basics" panacea for the ills of the educational system. It was still a popular movement among conservative school boards in the state. The problem was, those methods were the cause of some of the troubles, not the cure , as the research she'd been involved in was proving. You couldn't teach reading through a hierarchy of skills, as if it were an assembly line project.
Well, she'd just have to prove to him that the whole language process she followed was educationally sound. Ricardo de la Cruz was intelligent and—judging from her observation of his actions on the board and on television—open to new ideas. He had a reputation for investigating all sides of an issue. It would be up to her to show him her side. Straightening her shoulders, she continued, "Mr. de la Cruz, I have a proposition I'd like to make."
The challenge in her tone caught his attention. The faint lines radiating from his eyes creased as his gaze narrowed on her.
"You come and observe my class for a whole week, and then you can tell me what effective education is."
"I can tell you now, Miss Stuart, I doubt you'll convince me that competent teaching involves children crawling around on the floor while you sit visiting with your students."
"You have no idea what those students on the floor were doing, or, obviously, what I accomplished,” she protested, feeling an odd mixture of indignation and disappointment. Surely the Ricardo de la Cruz she admired couldn't be this determined to deny her a chance. "As a reporter you should know that first impressions seldom reveal the underlying facts. Investigate the evidence, Mr. de la Cruz, and you'll see what I'm talking about."
Amusement danced in his eyes and Angela took a step back. She'd challenged him on a matter of principle—and he was laughing?
"All right, Miss Stuart, I concede your point. I'll come visit. Perhaps in that time I'll be able to listen to your regular students, not just the selected top."
So that's what he thought. Angela couldn't mask her smile.
"You didn't meet the top today, Mr. de la Cruz. They were at another school where they attend the gifted students program twice a week."
The look of surprise on his face made the day's ordeal worthwhile.
He rocked back on his heels, assessing her carefully. "I have to clear my calendar and check with the station. It should only take a couple of days before I can come back."
"Fine." Angela extended her hand to shake on the agreement. "Why don't you begin next Monday?"
"Monday it is." He took her hand.
She had won the first round.
"Nice to finally meet you, Mr. de la Cruz." She meant that, even though he'd been stubborn about her issue.
"Ricardo, remember.” He winked, totally disarming her.
"Ricardo." She murmured, liking the way the Spanish name rolled across her tongue. She started to withdraw her hand, but he held on. Surprised, she glanced up and their gazes met. Alarmed, she stepped back.
He released his grasp and turned toward the door. "Until Monday.” With a confident wave, he strode out of the room.
CHAPTER 2
RELIEVED, ANGELA SIGHED. She'd wanted to meet Ricardo de la Cruz for months, but never dreamed it would be under
Angela paused for effect.
"Our traditional schools are not producing students who can think for themselves, or who can comprehend what they read. We have high dropout rates." He couldn't argue with these facts. "And it's largely because we have silent classrooms where the students aren't allowed to think. All day long, they are directed to fill in blanks on meaningless sheets of paper in the form of workbooks and photocopies."
"You're talking about skills, skills necessary to learn the basics."
"But skills taught in that manner have no meaning to the students. They rarely relate them to the real world,” she sighed with dismay. It was obvious he agreed with the "back-to-the-basics" panacea for the ills of the educational system. It was still a popular movement among conservative school boards in the state. The problem was, those methods were the cause of some of the troubles, not the cure , as the research she'd been involved in was proving. You couldn't teach reading through a hierarchy of skills, as if it were an assembly line project.
Well, she'd just have to prove to him that the whole language process she followed was educationally sound. Ricardo de la Cruz was intelligent and—judging from her observation of his actions on the board and on television—open to new ideas. He had a reputation for investigating all sides of an issue. It would be up to her to show him her side. Straightening her shoulders, she continued, "Mr. de la Cruz, I have a proposition I'd like to make."
The challenge in her tone caught his attention. The faint lines radiating from his eyes creased as his gaze narrowed on her.
"You come and observe my class for a whole week, and then you can tell me what effective education is."
"I can tell you now, Miss Stuart, I doubt you'll convince me that competent teaching involves children crawling around on the floor while you sit visiting with your students."
"You have no idea what those students on the floor were doing, or, obviously, what I accomplished,” she protested, feeling an odd mixture of indignation and disappointment. Surely the Ricardo de la Cruz she admired couldn't be this determined to deny her a chance. "As a reporter you should know that first impressions seldom reveal the underlying facts. Investigate the evidence, Mr. de la Cruz, and you'll see what I'm talking about."
Amusement danced in his eyes and Angela took a step back. She'd challenged him on a matter of principle—and he was laughing?
"All right, Miss Stuart, I concede your point. I'll come visit. Perhaps in that time I'll be able to listen to your regular students, not just the selected top."
So that's what he thought. Angela couldn't mask her smile.
"You didn't meet the top today, Mr. de la Cruz. They were at another school where they attend the gifted students program twice a week."
The look of surprise on his face made the day's ordeal worthwhile.
He rocked back on his heels, assessing her carefully. "I have to clear my calendar and check with the station. It should only take a couple of days before I can come back."
"Fine." Angela extended her hand to shake on the agreement. "Why don't you begin next Monday?"
"Monday it is." He took her hand.
She had won the first round.
"Nice to finally meet you, Mr. de la Cruz." She meant that, even though he'd been stubborn about her issue.
"Ricardo, remember.” He winked, totally disarming her.
"Ricardo." She murmured, liking the way the Spanish name rolled across her tongue. She started to withdraw her hand, but he held on. Surprised, she glanced up and their gazes met. Alarmed, she stepped back.
He released his grasp and turned toward the door. "Until Monday.” With a confident wave, he strode out of the room.
CHAPTER 2
RELIEVED, ANGELA SIGHED. She'd wanted to meet Ricardo de la Cruz for months, but never dreamed it would be under
Readers choose
Franklin W. Dixon
Juliet Nicolson
Tara Janzen
Iris Johansen
Stephen Coonts
Quintin Jardine
Sandra Owens
Jessa Slade
Diana Wynne Jones