Vision and Mission of Our Downey Schools
by Lorine Parks
Our Dr. John Garcia gave us a carefully reasoned explanation of the vision and mission of the Downey Unified School District, statements so well thought out that Dr. John spent fifteen minutes on the one-sentence vision statement, and ten minutes more on the single paragraph mission.
First, the Vision: “All students graduate with a 21st Century education that ensures they are college and career ready, globally competitive and citizens of strong character.”
That 21st Century education differs from the 20th Century schooling that you and I received, in that it emphasizes the STEAM core: Science, Technology, Arts, Education and Mathematics. New courses such as Computer Science, Robotics, and Sports Medicine, appear in the Science part. Technology adds real estate principles, foundations in law; languages in American Sign Language; more technical careers include Culinary Science and Law Enforcement. If they don’t appeal as careers, then there is Film and Video, Animation and Graphics and Commercial Photography.
Don’t worry: the traditional subjects are still offered: English, math, history, science, languages and the arts. Dr. John then analyzed the mission Statement for Academic Intellectual Development: Problem solving skills; Higher-level thinking skills; Inquiry skills; Intellectual curiosity; and creativity. Effective study habits reinforce academic success.
That should cover college and careers, vocationally speaking. We are now half-way through analyzing the sentence. To be globally competitive, means knowing computer science and skills, and engineering, and methods of production and selling. In planning today’s curriculum, educators must anticipate the needs of tomorrow.
Counselors make sure students are on the right track.
Downey school students have won awards state-wide and nationally, so DUSD educators must be doing the right thing.
“Citizens of strong character” refers to the Character Counts program to which the DUSD has been committed. The six core values of Character are, TRUSTWORTHINESS-RESPECT-RESPONSIBILITY-FAIRNESS-CARING-CITIZENSHIP. Starting with the K-5 through Middle and High Schools, as the Griffiths School mission states, “students of character often feel better about their school, friends and family. Students of character also see that doing their fair share is a great way to help make things better for everyone.”
This gives an idea of the goals packed in the one-sentence “Vision” statement of the Downey Schools.
As far as physical plant, Dr. John told us how the monies from Proposition O had have been spent, in updating the pools and lockers at Warren and Downey High Schools. Of the Middle Schools, Stauffer is the most “most up to date,” he said.
The DUSD, Dr. John said, aspires to excellence. “We give them the opportunity, he said, “and we tell them, this is what success looks like. We are encouraging kids to be enthusiastic about the vision.” Key words to describe his presentation are, dynamic, energetic and charged.
Dr. John closed by quoting this inspirational poem by Gabriela Mistral,
Nobel Prize-winning poet from Chile:
His Name is Today
We are guilty of many errors and many faults.
But our worst crime is abandoning the children,
Neglecting the fountain of life.
Many of the things we need can wait,
The child cannot wait.
Right now is the time his bones are being formed,
His blood is being made,
And his senses are being developed.
To him we cannot answer ‘tomorrow:’
His name is Today.