The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 65

THE DAILY OKLAHOMANOKLAHOMA CITY TIMES I Friday, June 14, 1996 l. Educational Excellence Surveyed said tjrawtora: "We cal interest in classroom behavioral standards; "We need to know what our community believes is important to this school district," he said. "We've been a part of this process and we're confident in its ject, jointly funded by the foundation and the school district, will be compiled and made public late this summer, officials say. Ted Metscher, president of the Oklahoma City Federation of Teachers and a task force member, said teachers have a criti intend to take very seriously the results and perceptions this needs assessment Analysis will help US' plan for the future qF? the Oklahoma City7' Public Schools tip helping to establish priorities for budgets ing. them and look at them very honestly." Already, the task force has distributed a questionnaire to all 5,200 school district employees.

Issues include classroom discipline, facility adequacy, teacher performance, administrative staff and others. The project will continue this summer with telephone interviews of 1,000 parents whose children attend Oklahoma City schools. Written surveys will be sent to "a cross-section of Oklahoma City's business community in an effort to gain yet another perspective," a foun dation press release said. Charles C. Hopper, Oklahoma Natural Gas Co.

senior vice president, is chairman of the survey task force. "This process will provide accurate information and a unique opportunity to develop plans for the future educational needs of our community," he said. Research professionals supervised by the task force will collect and analyze the survey data, the press release said. The school board earlier approved hiring a demographic expert for $1,500. Results of the pro i sail Store 40-50 OFF CUSTOM TABLE PADS ASK ABOUT OUR SUMMER SALE SPECIAL GUARD YOUR TABLE AND SAVE! Order with confidence from America's oldest and largest table pad company.

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558 OUTSIDE METRO 1 -800328-7237 EXT. 558 TABLE PAD CO. SINCE 19TI SENTRY, 1990. By Bobby Ross Jr. Staff Writer Thousands of parents, business leaders and school employees will have their say this summer about the Oklahoma City School District.

The Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation, a private group that promotes educational excellence, has formed a task force to lead a massive survey effort. "To my knowledge, it's the first time that the community has been surveyed in a comprehensive way regarding their hopes and needs for public schools," said Ron Bogle, president of the Oklahoma City School Board. "The importance of this can't be overstated." In April, the school board approved Superintendent Marvin Crawford's request for a staff study assessing the district's future enrollment patterns, facility needs and financial demands. Bogle said the district is "fortunate to have the support of the. public school foundation on this project'' "They are doing the bulk of the work, surveying teachers, parents -and others," he said.

When he interviewed for the superintendent's post last spring, Crawford said he told the board "one of the things you must do before you set your goals is a needs assessment of the school community, including patrons, parents, employees and others." "I'm excited that the foundation is helping us, and eagerly anticipating the results," Crawford said. "We intend to take those results and evaluate I -I VV JVT i' UUTLET Stall Photo by Roger Klock Lauren Ratcliff, whose great-grandfather was an Orphan Train rider, reads through a book about the Orphan Trains with her fifth-grade teacher, Cindy Young. Ageratum year-olds is $45. Costs for 7- to 13-year-olds is $60. Members receive a 10 percent discount.

The Children's Art Program is partially funded by the Arts Council of Oklahoma. Enrollment may be handled by phone, at 329-4523, by mail or in person at the center, 444 Flood in Nor-, man. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 10.

a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays; and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Aiyssum Begonia Celosia Coleus Dusty Miller Dianthus Gazania Impatiens: Marigold Petunia Salvia Verbena NORMAN Enrollment is under way for the Children's Summer Art Program at the Firehouse Art Center. The program is organized into five two-week sessions which consist of two art classes and a short "recess." Activities differ by session and by age group, but include ceramics, collage, papier mache, drawing, painting, rain stick making, papermaking and mixed media projects. Sessions will begin Monday, July 8, July 22 and Aug. 5. Fliers and complete class schedules are available at the Norman and Moore public libraries and Fire-house Art Center.

Cost per two-week session for 5- and 6- Periwinkle Zinnia Students Learn About Nation's Orphan Trains MS3 -SI FASHIONABLE FURIMITUR Bid" Butler Pendley Collection it the mm GEL OCISE Fishing For the Perfect Gift For Dad? By Sharon Burns Cindy Young's enthusiasm to share information with her students about the Orphan Train Era in American history (1853-1929) became a reality this past school year. Young is a fifth-grade teacher at Washington Irving Elementary in Edmond. She attended the Oklahoma Orphan Train Reunion in Tulsa last summer. After meeting orphan train riders and their descendants, hearing about their experiences and obtaining material about the history of the era, she returned to school and incorporated the information into the social studies curriculum. "We attended an ma City who asked me to submit the story about my family." Alice Ayler, orphaned at the age of 9, was among the last group of children placed by the New York Children's Aid Society in 1929.

Before being placed in the orphanage, Ayler had lived in a tent with her younger sister and three brothers in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York with only strawberries to eat. Her mother and grandmother would often leave Alice in charge of the younger siblings, sometimes for days. After her mother signed papers relinquishing her children to the New York Children's Aid Society, Ayler's brothers were sent to Arkan Sales Rent to Own Refrigerators, Ranges, and WasherDryers by Gibson and G.E. New and pre-owned Living Room, Dining Room, and Bedroom furniture; Artwork Accessories. Buy, Sell, Rent or Trade We Rent to Own! Unlike any other store located in historic downtown Edmond.

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EDMOND FURNITURE APPLIANCE 720-9333 15 West 1st Downtown Edmond (405) 359-1233 Corona 12 pk s10.99 jsTA (until 6-15-96) sas City, Kan. She was then placed in the Goodhue Home on Staten Island where "young girls were taught to talk, eat and behave like a lady." A year later, she rode the orphan train which stopped in Arkansas City, where she visited with her brothers before continuing on to Marion, Kan. "I was one of the open house at the school with our daughter, Lauren, and noticed a display about the Orphan Train Riders," Tracy Ratcliff said. "Mrs. Young explained that Lauren would be studying about this historical period and asked if we knew about the riders." Lauren's father, Anthony Ratcliff, replied that his father, jr3 Golden Ale mi case urn uuuiur lor families We now have Boulevard Alice Ayler BuIIy Porter (hreweil in Kan-Ha City.

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COLTRANE luckier ones because I know my heritage," Ayler said. "They took away the identity of the younger riders by not allowing contact with the past." Today, much of her time is spent sharing her experiences, educating the public about the orphan trains and trying to locate living orphan train riders or their descendants. "There are two things I'd like to experience before I die," Ayler said. "I would like to identify the 95 children who rode the trains to Oklahoma and have the orphan train riders' history written into history books for children." The Orphan Train Heritage Society of America Inc. is sponsoring a national effort to identify the estimated 150,000 children who rode the orphan trains.

The society's goal is to preserve the stories and biographies of children placed for adoption through the New York Children's Aid Society, the New York Foundling Hospital and the Baldwin Place Mission and Home for Little Wanderers in Boston, Mass. TIP: The Orphan Train Riders Reunion will be June 28-29 at the Grandview Hotel in Tulsa. If you are a descendant or know of someone who experienced this historical event, contact the society, P.O. Box Wayne Ratcliff, had shared stories about her greatgrandfather, Douglas Irving, riding an orphan train west twice as a young child. Douglas was born in 1899 in New York City.

He and his three brothers were orphaned when their mother died about three years after his birth. It is believed the youngest brother was adopted by an aunt and uncle in New York City. Douglas was placed in an orphanage before riding an orphan train to Emporia; with his two older brothers. "My father was one of the more fortunate children placed in the orphanage," Wayne Ratcliff said. "He was adopted by the Davies or Davis family at age 3 and then by the Ratcliff family when he was approximately 5 years old." A farm accident seriously injured his leg, causing him to be returned to the orphanage in New York City, where a metal plate was placed in his leg.

While his leg was healing, his adoptive mother became ill. He was then adopted by the Ratcliff family after riding the orphan train a second time to Emporia. "I did not know about the Orphan Train Society until Lauren's parents attended the open house," Wayne Ratcliff said. "Mrs. Young Edmond 348-4041 Make Father's Day Kickingbird Family Physicians 400 North Bryant Edmond, OK 73034 a stylish one He's always been there lor you.

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72762-6760, contacted Alice Ayler in Oklaho- or call (501) 756-2780. I.