Collection:LPB

Genre: News, Public Affairs

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1984-01-20

Duration: 00:09:22

Subjects: Education | Louisiana. State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education | High school dropouts | High school students | Educational change

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Ekings, Robyn Reporter
• Fourrier, Felician Interviewee
• Steimel, Ed Interviewee
• Bonvillain, Charles Interviewee
• Slacks, Lorraine Interviewee

This segment from the January 20, 1984, episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features Robyn Ekings’ report on the controversy surrounding the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (BESE) plan to implement tougher high school graduation requirements. Ekings reports that the proposed requirements call for more units of English, Math, Science, and Foreign Languages and fewer units of electives. This report touches on the concerns of the opponents of the plan, including the potential for a higher high school dropout rate, the lack of qualified teachers, and the negative impact on students who plan to attend vo-tech schools. Ekings interviews: Brother Felician Fourrier, the president of BESE; Ed Steimel, the president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI); Charles Bonvillain of Vo Tech Supervisors; and Lorraine Slacks, the president of the Louisiana Association of Educators (LAE). Host: Ken Johnson