NORTHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION FILE CODE: 6010
Northfield, New Jersey
Regulation
EDUCATIONAL GOALS
The goals are divided into two categories. Outcome Goals represent those behaviors and feelings that should be achieved by people. Process goals are statements that describe activities and organizational processes utilized by the school system with the expectation that they contribute to providing a complete educational program.
The Northfield Board of Education, having consulted with teaching staff members, students, parents and other residents of this district, adopts the following educational Outcome Goals.
Outcome Goals
The Northfield School District should help every student in the district to:
A. Acquire problem-solving and decision-making skills:
As the world and the individuals within it constantly change, the ability to reason logically, solve problems and make decisions become increasingly necessary. Being able to find and use information properly is important as more and newer options become available.
B. Acquire the basic skills needed for entering the world of work, continuing one’s education, and functioning well in society:
The skills of reading, computing and communicating orally and in writing are essential for everyone. In order to succeed in life and keep the society functioning, it is important to:
1. Have the ability to get along with other people;
2. Express oneself;
3. Understand the scientific principles which affect our everyday existence;
4. Understand our system of government, and other peoples and cultures; and
5. Develop the skills needed for the world of work.
C. Acquire an understanding of his or her own values, worth and potential;
A positive self-concept and strong feeling of worth are basic for complete and effective functioning. People should be helped to analyze their own strengths, weaknesses, abilities, aptitudes and potential in order to make realistic decisions about the future. A defensible set of values is necessary to interact with those who have similar, differing or opposing systems.
D. Acquire the ability to form satisfying and responsible relationships with a wide range of other people, including but not limited to those with social and cultural characteristics different from his or her own;
As distances between cultures and people decrease, a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society such as ours requires that its members be able to work with many kinds of people in many different situations;
E. Appreciate and be able to express oneself through creative arts and humanities;
As the nature of work changes and the value of leisure time increases, being able to appreciate and express oneself through the creative arts and humanities becomes more important;
F. Achieve a sense of pride in work accomplished;
In our society, each person depends upon work done by others. The work of individuals influences their development and self-concept. Therefore, it is important for the school to cooperate with the home and community in developing a strong sense of pride and accomplishment in work performed;
G. See educational growth, and physical and mental well-being as lifelong needs.
As the amount of information and knowledge grows, it becomes increasingly apparent that only those who continue to learn, in and out of school, can effectively function. The ability to understand and deal with one’s emotions is also important. Furthermore, maintaining one’s physical well-being and practicing good health and safety habits are lifelong responsibilities.
Process Goals
The Northfield School District should:
A. Provide a competent staff and a system that maintains high levels of skills and performance;
Securing competent staff members to provide educational services is essential. Employing enough staff members so that there is an effective ratio between students and staff is also important. Establishing a system of maintaining skills and performance in the light of new research and changing student characteristics is an important component of keeping the educational system effective;
B. Provide a fair system of evaluating students and programs;
Student evaluation policies should be consistent and based upon previously stated criteria understood by students, parents and staff. Evaluating programs and processes during operation and after completion are necessary to insure that the most efficient and effective procedures are utilized;
C. Provide specialized and individualized educational experiences that meet the needs and potential of every student;
Early and continual assessment and analysis are basic to educational planning. Programs that grow from such plans should be designed to meet individual needs. These experiences should include academic, career, recreational, athletic and social activities;
D. Encourage student participation in the process of learning as functioning members in a democratic society;
Students should have opportunities to contribute to decisions concerning the learning process;
E. Establish and maintain a system of effective communication among students, parents, staff and the board of education;
A school system requires procedures that insure that every involved person is aware of the various activities taking place;
F. Utilize the community and its physical and human resources as partners in the process of education;
Education occurs under many conditions and in many locations. Utilizing the community’s facilities for educational activities, and making the school facilities available for community education emphasizes the interdependencies within our community;
G. Provide a system of organized guidance and life career development services for all students, in all grades;
Students need professional guidance as they experience growth in life and career development;
H. Offer programs and resources equally to male and female students;
Program options which can include courses, athletics and skill training should be available to all individuals on the basis of needs, desires and capacities;
I. Provide opportunities for educational enrichment.
Individuals in the community who wish to pursue leisure time and growth activities should have such opportunities available.
Adopted: November 4, 1996
Revised: October 20, 2008