Pioneer II Students Liked Close Knit Community

(Editor's Note: Last week's youth page contained a letter from a June graduate of Pioneer II High School in which the student related his experiences at the alternative school which has just completed its first year. This week, The News presents results of a survey conducted among several Pioneer II students and former students to determine their feelings about the school.) A mystery has shrouded activities at the Fritz Building during the past nine months in the minds of many. Members of the community - including some students - have wondered out loud about the happenings at Pioneer II High School. Even some school board members have at times raised some questions about the district's experiment in alternative education. In the end, however, the venture was declared a success and Pioneer II will move from the experimental stage into the full-scale alternative education picture when classes resume this fall. Based on an informal phone survey of students and former students of Pioneer II conducted by The News, a success verdict seems to be supported by a majority of those who were directly involved: the students. A dozen students were talked to and many cited the closeness of the Pioneer II school community, a wide variety of classes to choose from and their own individual preferences as justifications for their earlier decisions to drop out of Pioneer I. On the other hand, most of the students interviewed were quick to point out that Pioneer II isn't necessarily the best thing for every student. And, there were negative points raised. Attendance was one; many' students simply didn't go to classes. Some felt that many of their enrolled classmates were unable to handle the freedom which Pioneer II allowed. An apparent disparity uncovered by the survey was that some students felt the school offered them wide curricular choices while others are planning to discontinue their attendance at Pioneer II because they can't get the classes they want. The students were asked whether they planned to go back to Pioneer II this fall and why or why not. They were also asked whether the school lived up to their initial expectations and what they thought were some of the strong and weak points. Graduates were asked whether they would recommend the school to their friends. "I'd recommend it to some of my friends - those that had a fairly clear idea of what they wanted concerning an education for themselves," said one graduate, Elizabeth Conrod, 17-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Conrod of 1024 Church. "It was a hard year. I had to do things for myself , but for me, there were few bad things," she added. Gail Bishop will begin her junior year this September and will continue at Pioneer II. The 16-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kobert Bishop, 1516 Morton, though her first year at the school aided her in learning how to work in groups better. "It helped prepare me for the kind of life I want. Besides, it was more fun than Pioneer I!" Gail remembered her experiences at a relatively small school when she was in seventh grade since she had attended the old University High School. Her desire to recapture that "smallness" was one reason she chose to go to Pioneer II. "I expected to be able to get to know everybody." She plans to be at the Fritz Building the last week of the summer as part of a core group of students taking a special two-week class in group processes. The first week ended June 23. Quentin Morris, Steve Robinson, and Cari Malloy are among some 25 Pioneer II students who have decided to look elsewhere for their education. All will be seniors and they have enrolled to attend what will be the newest in alternative education this f all, Community High School. "I don't think it was a very good school although it was what I had expected: a system where one didn't have to do much work to pass," said Cari, 18, son of Harry Malloy of 1049 Westaire. "You have to know what you want to do and organize your own classes. Community High School wUl show a student what he can do," added Cari, who said he didn't go to class during the second semester at Pioneer II. "The first half of the year was pretty nice," remarked Quentin. "Then things kind of fell through. There wasn't any structure. The good things were the grading and attendance systems, but there weren't enough resource people." He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Morris, 1441 White7''lHHHH Steve said he's going to Community ffigh this f all because the course selection will be wider. "My favorite teacher, Bill Casello, is moving to Community High, too," added Steve, whose special area of interest is science. He also noted that there wouldn't be much in the way of classes for the first seven or eight weeks this fall because of the orientation at Pioneer II which Steve has already been through. Steve thought one of the bad things that happened at Pioneer II was the development of a government with a chairman. "First we had a community, then a chairman. A hunger of power situation broke up the school" Steve, 17, is the son of Mrs. Helen M. Robinson of 524 W. Stadium. "Slightly disorganized" was the description attached by 17-year-old Jonathan Young to Pioneer II. But, he'll be back at the Fritz Building for his senior year in September. "It didn't have quite as many classes as I would have liked, but it is so much better than the regular school," said the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Young, 1309 Fountain. "The atmosphere is really fantastic; it's freer and closer than Pioneer I." Graduate Shelley Clark, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Clark of 3636 W. Huron River Drive, says s h e ' d recommend Pioneer II to her friends, but pointed out that her brother will be going to Community High since he is interested in vocational education. Shelley, 1 8 , said counselors would almost force her to take certain classes at Pioneer I and she liked "the chance to learn on my own." "For me, nothing was really bad," echoed another Pioneer II graduate, Cheryl Murray. "Nobody was around bugging me," said the 18-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Murray of 1336 Ardmoore. Attendance at Pioneer II meant that Dave Lamkin, 16, could work on the family tree which he had wanted to ever since he was in third grade. "I want to try Community High School next year," ded Dave, who will be a senior. "Many kids couldn't accept the freedom at Pioneer II. Kids had so much power. I enjoyed getting outside, taking field trips and studying nature." Dave's parents are Mr. and Mrs. Burton Lamkin - - - of 364 Hazelwood. Paul Remley and Dave Orlin are two students who were sufficiently satisfied with Pioneer II to want to spend their senior years there next school year. "It was a pretty satisfying experience, not only what I learned , but helping the school develop," said Paul, 16-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Fredrick Remley Jr. of 1012 Pomona. "It was less ordered than I had expected it to be at first. After a while I found it just as exciting to try and help shape the school. For some students it didn't work; they couldn't function in a free environment. They didn't know what to do since they were used to being told what to do." Dave said there was a communications problem with the public which resulted in many misconceptions. "It was a really good thing for me - better than the other possibilities," said the son of Prof. and Mrs. Louis Ortin of 1409 Shadford. "It suits my needs," said Ann Ross, 16, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mare Ross of 1056 Martin PI. "I enjoyed the people and learned things." She'll be back at Pioneer II for her junior year.