Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1989-01-13

Duration: 00:28:07

Subjects: Theater | Education | SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION

Contributors:

• Lormand, Ken Host
• Sockman, Roger Reporter
• Williams, Shirley Interviewee
• Johnson, Keith Interviewee
• Skelton, Fred Interviewee
• Williams, Robert Interviewee
• Sister Mary Michaeline Interviewee
• Cody, Wilmer Interviewee
• Nick, Renee Interviewee
• Faust, Robert Interviewee
• Latte, Timothy Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from January 13, 1989, features Ken Lormand and Roger Sockman reporting on Louisiana’s educational system. First, Sockman reports on where Louisiana ranks nationally in the areas of average teacher salaries, student test scores, high school graduation rates, and pupil-teacher ratio. He interviews: Shirley Williams, president of the Louisiana Association of Educators (LAE); Keith Johnson, the president of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE); Fred Skelton, president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers (LFT); Robert Williams, NAACP attorney; and Sister Mary Michaeline, superintendent of the Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Schools. Next, Lormand interviews Dr. Wilmer Cody, the state superintendent of education. He discusses: his first seven months in office; the implementation of new high school graduation requirements; the plan to create a report card for every school; the status of the new teacher evaluation system; raising ACT scores; improving the state’s high school dropout rate; the need for teacher pay raises; school funding; the morale of teachers and students; and the new Star Schools project. Lastly, Lormand reports on the Acadiana Arts Council sponsoring a performance of “The Masked Man” by Faustworks at Lafayette High School. He interviews: Renee Nick, Acadiana Arts Council; Robert Faust, Faustworks; and Timothy Latte, Faustworks.