The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, September 15, 1981, Image 1
tuesday, September 15, 1981 lincoln, nebraskavol. 107 no. 16 More students in private schools, say officials By D.L Morton Nebraska seems to be following a national trend of an increasing number of students attending private elemen tary and high schools. Most Lincoln private school administrators interviewed report an increase in enrollment. Stan Carlson, of the State Education Department, said Nebraska has about 230 legally recognized private schools. The schools are "approved" by the state. Carlson said this is a "basis level of quality for the school to be considered legal. In addition, 20 to 30 of those schools are accredited, he said. Accreditation means a school offers more courses, has larger libraries and a higher percentage of teachers with a college major in the area they teach than an approved school, he said. Carlson said private education hasn't been growing as fast as it may appear. More applications The list of schools applying for approval or accredita tion was three times larger than normal this year. But he attributed that to the state's prosecution of a non-approved school, Faith Christian School of Louisville. The school has been charged with violating a court injunction forbid ding it from opening again without state approval. Carlson said most of the new schools have four or five students and won't have much effect on public education. Carlson said he felt the schools want to be legal to pro vide academic confidence to parents. The schools also recognize that they can be prosecuted if they do not have state approval, he said. Rev. James D. Dawson, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Lincoln diocese, said Nebraska has 135 Catholic elementary and secondary schools. Lincoln's. Catholic schools increased their enrollment by 69 students to 2,668 this year, he said. Dawson said a U.S. Office of Education report showing that private school students score higher on achievement tests has probably influenced parents to send their child ren to private schools. Many parents feel their children are safer and better disciplined in private schools and receive a religious education that the parents feel is important, he said. Tuition for elementary students ranges from nothing to $150 a year depending on the school, and $350 to $500 for high school, he said. He added that if a student cannot pay the tuition, the student is still welcome and the student's parish will help pay the cost. Catholics approved All Catholic schools in Nebraska are approved or accredited and all teachers are certified, Dawson said. "Private schools strengthen public schools by "provid ing a sort of competition," Dawson said. Robert Den Hartog, assistant superintendent of business affairs for Lincoln Public Schools, said Lincoln public schools are experiencing a predictable decline in students because of population decreases. He said the growth in the number of students attending private schools also is contributing to the decrease. Precise enrollment figures won't be known for several weeks. Den Hartog said he had no objection to private schools providing the religious education that public schools can not. He said he thought comparing public and private schools was unfair because each provides different services to its students after meeting minimum state standards. Continued on Page 3 r ,t j lift ft Vi lit A WqlSk Daily Nebraskan photo Lines for season football tickets were a mite smaller Monday than when ticket sales began two weeks ago. These two students and their shadows were the only standouts in line at one point during the afternoon. Stu dent tickets purchased through the lottery can be picked up through the Penn State-Nebraska game, Sept. 26 at the Athletic Ticket Office. Football tickets held till Penn State game Students who didn't pick up their football tickets last week can still do so up until the second home game of the season, a sales person said Mon day. The deadline to pick up tickets ordered in the spring h'as been posted as Sept. 11, but the tickets will remain in the Athletic Ticket Office until they are claimed by the student, jx ticket sales person said. Meanwhile, the 547 students who were left out of the fall sale due to a ticket shortage have until Wednesday to pick up season tickets. Jean Walcott said that as of noon Monday, 83 of the 147 reserved seats had been claimed, and 68 of the 400 bleacher seats. Walcott added the office will make an effort to sell the reserve seats first, but after today, all priorit ies will be lifted. Joe Selig said the office encourages students to pick up tickets as soon as possible, but they will be held for the student until the morning of the Penn State game. Selig said those students whose names are on the waiting list can pick up tickets today and tomor row. The office is open from 9:00 a jn. through noon and 1:00 through 4:00 pjii. Selig said students who decide not to purchase tickets can get a full refund until the first game. After the first home game and before the second home game, the student will be refunded $19.75. After the second game, no refunds will be issued, Selig said. RHA president outlines goals set at workshop By Roger Aden Setting goals, gaining leadership skills and getting acquainted were the main objectives of the Residence Hall Association's Sunday workshop, according to RHA Presi dent Robin Lynch. The workshop consisted of six mini-sessions, including parliamentary procedure rules, decision-making, group dynamics and communication. Lynch said stating goals now serves as an incentive to RHA members and as a yardstick for students to measure RHA's success. "We forced RHA into making a commitment to the students," she said. "We've set definite goals and deadlines for accomplishing those goals." Report planned "As an added commitment, we'll issue a report in Dec ember or January showing what we've done and what we said we'd do," site said. Goals set at the workshop include: -Publishing a bi-monthly newsletter. It would be distributed to floor representatives and posted on each residence hall floor. The first newsletter is scheduled to be published by the end of September. -Sponsoring a project for a worthwhile charity. Last year, RHA sponsored a dance-a-thon for Easter Seals. Lynch said this year's project will be chosen at a later date. -Examining alcohol and visitation policies in the resi dence halls and preparing alternatives to the present stand ards. After a study on the two issues, a proposal will be put together by mid-November. -Planning of a residence hall conference for all colleges in the state. The conference is scheduled for some time next semester. -Organizing a school display for regional and national conferenpes. Lynch said the display would include a slide show presentation about UNL. Lynch said her personal goal for the year is to bridge communication gaps between students and RHA, and be tween students and UNL's Office of Housing. Questions needed "A lot of the problem is that students don't ask questions," she said. "How are we supposed to know about a problem if they don't ask questions?" In another session, workshop participants were given a presentation on communication by Sara Boatman of the Campus Activities and Programs office. Boatman, along with speech communication graduate student John Cannon and O.J. King, prepared an audit of the communication structure of last year's RHA. "We tried to take a snapshot of what happens within the residence hall relationships," she said. "We went over the entire communicational structure, including students, RHA, hall governments and the housing office." Boatman said the study concluded RHA has marvelous communication channels available because it has contact with students and administrative personnel. But, Boatman said, RHA needs to increase the involve ment of residence hall governments in the information process. Lynch said RHA members are going to try to increase communication with everyone, including residence hall governments. Workshop participants also discussed the role of RHA representatives, making a list of the duties of a representative. gy fiuesday I do, I don't: FWlosophy professor says marriage is no longer an absolute prospect Pige 7 God and Guitars: Chuck Lieurance reviews Bob Dylan's latest album, Shot of Love Page 8 Trial Run: Nebraska football Coach Tom Osborne says all three.of UNL's top quarterbacks may see action Sat urday as he tries to pick the top signal caller. . Page 10