Platform

By Donald S. Havis

Ten statements concerning what I stand for and what I would strive for if elected to the SMUHSD Board of Trustees. If you concur with these statements, I would very much appreciate your vote.

Ten statements concerning what I stand for and what I would strive for if elected to the SMUHSD Board of Trustees. If you concur with these statements, I would very much appreciate your vote.

1. I would bring to the SMUHSD Board an extensive background of forty-five years of successful experience in the field of Education. This experience includes teaching at all levels from kindergarten through the university level, including 21 years as a classroom teacher--12 of those years at the high school level. Also included in the 45 years is 11 years as a public school administrator employed by the San Mateo County Office of Education.
2. I will bring a progressive perspective to the Board--a perspective emphasizing student centered, experiential learning based approach to teaching and learning--a prospective that is opposed to endless drill, fact memorization and fact testing. Critical thinking skills are essential. Students must be encouraged to and given the opportunity to examine all sides of every issue, not simply what the government or one particular text book wants them to know. The proper job of the educator is not to fill a bucket; it is to light a fire.
3. Following the present Board's strong indictment by three separate Grand Jury reports for their lack of fiscal responsibility and oversight of construction contracts, I will be keeping an especially sharp eye on all district plans and contracts to insure that SMUHSD continues on its present path to restoring fiscal responsibility and a sound financial footing.
4. I propose to do what I can to if not completely eliminate, at least severely limit, the presence of U.S. military recruiters on our seven high school campuses. Students may contact military recruiters at their offices off campus. One of the key duties of any Board of Trustees is to protect our youth, not to facilitate their exposure to serious injury or death, having often not been given all the facts.
5. If elected to the SMUHSD Board of Trustees, I plan to campaign from that position through our Congressional Representatives to not simply modify the federal No Child Left Behind Act, but to repeal it. Entirely new federal legislation is needed+legislation that supports public school education rather than legislation which works toward the weakening of public education and the strengthening of private schools, as the NCLB Act does.
6. I will bring trustworthiness and reliability to the Board. I will participate vigorously and conscientiously in all Board meetings and deliberations, and will carefully analyze all educational and financial decisions to assure prudent, educationally and fiscally sound decisions. Being retired allows much more time for extensive research and study of each issue that comes before the board.
7. I plan to pay particular attention to what might be termed the average student. I believe the district needs a renewed emphasis on making sure the average student gets the help he/she needs to pass all the required courses so that he/she can participate in graduation ceremonies. High school graduation must not depend entirely on test-taking performance.
8. I plan to strengthen Science instruction in the district. All students must be familiar with the steps and processes of the scientific method--the time-tested procedures for determining fact from fantasy. In particular, there must be an increased emphasis on the teaching of the "theory of evolution," the very foundation of all the biological sciences. Our schools must remain strictly secular, and students must learn to think critically about non-scientific notions such as the so-called "intelligent design theory." Education should be more about how to think, rather than what to think. In order to become effective citizens of true democracy students must learn how to reason effectively.
9. I will propose the development and the offering of an elective, one-semester course entitled, "Comparative Religions." The course would, at a minimum, cover an explanation of the major religions with a significant number of adherents that are presently being practiced in the world. The course would also discuss the alternative to religion--the scientific, or secular position. Of course, there can be no "religious instruction," but teaching about what the great religious traditions "say" is essential in order to assist students to make intelligent decisions in this strife-torn world.
10. On the subject of homework, I support strictly limiting it to either (a) completing work that was not completed in school, and/or (b) doing self-paced work on projects and assignments which the student has accepted and which have a specific due date. There is very good research to back the claim that the nearly endless practicing of primarily surface-level "rote work" is not beneficial, and often causes undue student and family stress. (See the book, The Homework Myth by Alfie Kohn, 2006, for extensive documentation of this assertion.

I believe that the human brain has evolved to learn easily so long as what is presented to the learner is seen as at least interesting, if not beneficial, relevant, or even exciting. The main job of teachers, parents and administrators is to provide our students with useful tools, stimulating materials, and a welcoming, safe environment for learning to take place, and to help guide that learning. It is more important now than ever before to remind ourselves that democracy cannot long survive without a critical thinking, well-educated public.

Contact Info: Mail: Don Havis P.O. Box 5265 San Mateo, CA 94402 Phone: (650) 375-1745 E-mail: havis@att.net Website: http://www.donhavis.com Campaign contribution checks should be made out to "Don Havis for SMUHSD Board" and mail them to the P.O. Box above.