As New Hampshire?s largest city gets bigger, its schools are experiencing some growing pains. Manchester schools struggle with aging buildings, overcrowding, and the challenges of educating a more diverse population. But officials say the ?melting-pot? quality of Manchester schools is also one of their strengths. As part of our series ?Manchester in Focus,? NHPR?s Trish Anderton toured the city?s largest and oldest high school.
IN MANY WAYS, THE HISTORY OF CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL IS TOLD IN ITS BUILDINGS. THE SCHOOL IS MADE UP OF FOUR STRUCTURES CONNECTED BY WALKWAYS AND GROUPED AROUND A COURTYARD. THE OLDEST BUILDING DATES BACK TO THE TURN OF THE CENTURY; AS ENROLLMENTS ROSE, NEW BUILDINGS WERE ADDED. THE MOST RECENT WAS IN 1967. THE SCHOOL WAS DESIGNED TO HOLD 1700 TO 1900 STUDENTS; AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS ACADEMIC YEAR IT HAD MORE THAN 2400.
102 I?m selma nakach hoff head of eng dept here at central hi school.
SELMA NAKACH HOFF HAS TAUGHT ENGLISH HEAR SINCE THE 1970s. CRISP AND PROFESSIONAL IN A LINEN SUIT AND SENSIBLE HEELS, SHE?S GOT THE AIR OF AUTHORITY ONE ACQUIRES FROM YEARS OF DEALING WITH TEENAGERS. AS WE SET OUT ON OUR TOUR, SHE POINTS OUT PLACES WHERE CENTRAL HIGH IS BURSTING AT THE SEAMS.
Right now we?re walking through the james bldg. this is our book room aka workroom, this is a freshman engl class in progress. As you can see class size is pretty lg. We have eng clases of 34, 35. we?re running out of space so we have book rms that are faculty rooms
STATE RULES SAY HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES SHOULD HAVE NO MORE THAN 30 STUDENTS; FEDERAL GUIDELINES CALL FOR 20 STUDENTS OR FEWER. ANOTHER SIGN OF OVERCROWDING IS NEXT DOOR IN THE PRACTICAL ARTS BUILDING. SINCE CLASSROOM SPACE IS AT A PREMIUM, THE AUDITORIUM IS USED AS A STUDY HALL FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE A FREE PERIOD. NAKACH HOFF SAYS AS MANY AS 90 STUDENTS AT A TIME END UP WORKING HERE ? OR TRYING TO.
I think teachers do a marvelous job of keeping them in line, so they?re at least quiet. We hope that means they?re doing constructive work. they can?t sleep or use walkmans. So rather than offer something I guess we?re just saying you can?t do this this and this, so what?s left is this
LIKE MANY SCHOOLS, CENTRAL IS STRUGGLING TO KEEP ITS AGING BUILDINGS IN GOOD CONDITION. THE LOCKERS ARE A CURRENT FOCUS OF COMPLAINTS: THERE AREN?T ENOUGH OF THEM, AND THOSE THAT EXIST CAN?T BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THERE?S NO WAY TO GET REPLACEMENT PARTS. AGING CHAIRS AND DESKS ARE ANOTHER PROBLEM. BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS: THE FAILING HEATING SYSTEM HAS BEEN FIXED, AND EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE LIBRARY GOT NEW WINDOWS.
These are the new windows. Prior to that all the windows up here were pretty bad. // air came through, snow came through, everything came through.
(sounds of students)
BETWEEN CLASSES COLORFUL CROWDS OF STUDENTS POUR INTO THE CENTRAL HIGH COURTYARD. THERE ARE BODY PIERCINGS AND GREEN HAIR, MINISKIRTS AND HIP-HUGGERS. SNIPPETS OF DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND ACCENTS FILL THE AIR. THE COURTYARD IS DOMINATED BY A STATUE OF LINCOLN THAT WON AN AWARD AT THE 1893 WORLD?S FAIR IN CHICAGO. SELMA NAKACH HOFF SAYS THE STATUE IS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS SCHOOL. ABOUT 12-PERCENT OF CENTRAL?S STUDENTS ARE RACIAL MINORITIES. THAT?S THREE TIMES HIGHER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE.
11 154 I think we don?t realize on a day to day basis that lincolns stance on issues is really refelctive of us. He didn?t want to divide but unite. As largest pub hi sch in city and one of largest in state, we have most diverse population in the state. That?s a challenge, and that?s a change I?ve seen over the years.
NAKACH HOFF SPEAKS A SMATTERING OF ARABIC, GERMAN AND FRENCH. 25 YEARS AGO, THAT WAS ENOUGH TO QUALIFY HER AS AN UNOFFICIAL ENGLISH-AS-A-SECOND-LANGUAGE TEACHER.
When I first started they gave me kids from other countries, not that it helped. I don?t sepak spanish and they gave me the spanish kids. Since then we?ve become a little more sophisticated and we have a phenomenal program from 48 langs, from 63 countries and our job is to teach those kids as well. That certainly wasn?t occuring when I first came here.
THE VETERAN TEACHER SAYS THE BOOM IN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS HAS AFFECTED ALL THE OFFERINGS AT CENTRAL.
13 114 its enriched our curriculum.It?s a lot more multicultural now, we?re cognizant of maintaining balance btw classic and contemporary that will appeal to kids and be relevant to their lives.
IN THIS AGE OF WORKING PARENTS AND ONE-PARENT FAMILIES, NAKACH-HOFF SAYS TEACHERS ALSO SPEND A LOT MORE TIME THAN THEY USED TO ON HEALTH AND SOCIAL ISSUES: MAKING SURE KIDS BATHE. TRYING TO FIND OUT WHETHER THEY?RE EATING AND SLEEPING ENOUGH, AND SOMETIMES EVEN HELPING WITH ETIQUETTE. WHEN ONE OF HER ENGLISH CLASSES READ A MANNERS-INTENSIVE HENRY JAMES NOVEL, THE STUDENTS GOT INTO AN ANGUISHED DISCUSSION ABOUT PROPER BEHAVIOR. HEADING BACK ACROSS THE COURTYARD, NAKACH-HOFF SAYS SHE ENDED UP INCORPORATING MANNERS INTO THE CURRICULUM.
They?re barely knowledgeable about fundamental ? appropriate modes of intorduction. // how do you respond to an invitation that says rsvp? What does rsvp mean? If you?re invited to receive a scholarship, and you?re invited to lunch, how do you eat? What do you eat? With what? Honestly, these kids are stymied. They?re panicked!
DESPITE THE CROWDING, THE AGING BUILDINGS, AND THE CONSTANTLY EVOLVING DEMANDS, NAKACH-HOFF SAYS CENTRAL HIGH IS A SUCCESS. AND SHE LOVES HER JOB.
I love the fact that every day when I come it?s a new day, I enjoy the kids tremendously, I love what I teach, and I think in some small measure I make a diff. And I?m not an anomaly. I think the vast majority of teachers here would say same thing.
MAJOR CHANGES ARE IN THE WORKS FOR THE MANCHESTER SCHOOL SYSTEM. LAST YEAR THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTED TO RENEGOTIATE ITS CONTRACTS WITH NEIGHBORING TOWNS SUCH AS HOOKSETT AND CANDIA. THOSE TOWNS PAY TUITION TO SEND THEIR STUDENTS TO MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOLS, BUT THEY DON?T PAY FOR BUILDING RENOVATIONS OR EXPANSIONS. THE CITY HOPES TO REWRITE THE CONTRACTS TO INCLUDE THOSE COSTS. PETER DUFFY, PRESIDENT OF CENTRAL?S PARENT TEACHER AND STUDENT ORGANIZATION, SAYS STICKING WITH THE TUITION STUDENTS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BECAUSE THEY BRING DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES TO THE SCHOOL.
We not only have students coming in from the inner city but from some of the outlying communities as well, and they certainly add a lot to our community at central.
AT THE SAME TIME, MAYOR BOB BAINES HAS LAUNCHED A 60-75 MILLION DOLLAR PLAN TO REPAIR AND EXPAND THE SCHOOLS.
BUT NOT EVERYONE AGREES EXPANSION IS THE ANSWER. FORMER ALDERMAN JOE KELLY LEVASSEUR IS SECRETARY OF THE GROUP MANCHESTER CONCERNED TAXPAYERS.
We probably have too many stus and we should send the tuition stus packing. we cant afford to keep playing host to bedford candia auburn. Therein lies the prob ? were? growing stus, growing schools but not growing tax base.
OTHERS POINT TO RESEARCH SUGGESTING SMALLER SCHOOLS PERFORM BETTER, AND WONDER WHETHER EXPANSION IS THE RIGHT MOVE. MEANWHILE ANOTHER CRITICAL DECISION LOOMS. WITH SUPERINTENDENT NORMAND TANGUAY STEPPING DOWN, MANCHESTER WILL CHOOSE A NEW LEADER FOR ITS SCHOOL SYSTEM THIS SUMMER. THAT PROCESS IS UNDERWAY. FOR NHPR NEWS I?M.
