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^ NORTHWEST HERALD Section B Thursday, August 15,1985 Page 3 Regional School gives migrant children chance to achieve By JoeAgnew Herald staff writer The scene appears to be a typical classroom at Rlngwood School In McHenry County. Teacher Janet Waner Is instructing her kindergarten class in reciting their ABCs, practicing along with them how each letter sounds. Nearby are pictures her students havetlrawn, identifying the different parts of the body. In another classroom, aide Jodi Beutel is asking her students to define what a "nice person" is. Another aide, Wendy Hanson, is giving special attention to a student who will soon be taking a proficiency test. But despite its appearance, this isn't a normal classroom setting. For one, it's summertime, and the kids who normally attend this school are either at camp or playing in nearby parks and pools. The students here are sons and daughters of Mexican/American migrant workers, who have come to the McHenry County area for the summer to work on the nearby farms. > The 168 students were among many who take advantage of the 18-year old Migrant Program, which is funded by the state and administered through the Johnsburg School District. The program runs for eight weeks, from mid-June to the first part of July. Director Hal Thompson, who has been in charge of the program for the past four years, said the program is there to provide continuing education for these children, who -- because of the traveling nature of their parent's work -- regularly experience disruption in their schooling. The program is not just a glorified babysitting service for children while their parents work, Thompson said, but stresses improving proficiency in the functional basic courses such as math and English. "We teach them what they'd learn in a regular program," he said. Pointing to the school's 90 percent average attendance rate, Thomp­ son said many of the students have continued to return' to the program year after year. "I've seen their educational growth," he said. That comment is given further truth by the fact that Thompson knows nearly all of the students by their first names, as he walks through the classrooms. Of the 20 such educational programs operating throughout the state, Thompson said the one in McHenry is one of the largest. To qualify for the program, students must show they come from families who do seasonal migrational farm work. He said most of the students come from a migrant camp in Harvard, with the rest coming from camps scattered around the county. The students are divided Into a total of seven classrooms, each with a teachers and teacher's aide. All Instruction is done in English by the bilingual instructors. They are persons who teach Spanish during the regular school year, or often college students, majoring in elementary education, with Spanish as a minor. Proficiency in both languages not only helps with instruction, Thomp­ son said, but also during periodic visits from parents. As Thompson explained, children of the migrant families must deal with erratic schooling. Although they reside in Texas for a better part of the year, the children are pulled out of school in April, to travel with their families seeking seasonal farm labor. They stay in Illinois some­ times as late as October, never managing to spend an entire school year in one place. Depending on the family's situation, the time spent in school may be even less, he explained. Some may maice additional stops in Arkansas before they come to Illinois, and go to Michigan to pick apples before returning to Texas for the winter. This is further complicated by the fact that, if and when children are enrolled in new school districts, there is usually not enough time to evaluate their educational abilities and needs for proper classroom placement. The Migrant Program's guidelines, however, call for pretesting and post-testing so the student's progress can be accurately measured. Records of the test scores are then forwarded to a national computer­ ized system in Little Rock, Ark., where they can be easily made available for the child's next school. Interest in the program is apparent from the fact that now more migrant parents are already waiting for school recruiters when they come to their camps, said one recruiter, Lucy Martinez. Martinez also serves as a interpreter and provides personal assistance for many of the migrants. Because the program is among many offered by the Illinois Migrant Council, Thompson noted that this "networking" involvement can lead to help in other areas. Under the program, children are also tested for vision, hearing, and given tuberculosis innoculations. Thomspon said they can be provided with additional medical or social assistance if further help is needed. Thompson said he didn't want to sound "dramatic" in interpreting the migrant parent's pleasure with the program, but that "they definitely see the opportunity of a better education, and the better lifestyle it can offer their children." "We don't kid ourselves that we are solving the problem," said Thompson, who teaches music at Johnsburg High School during the regular school year. "We are trying to create a situation that helps parents deal with the problem. We see ourselves as a resource." MCC registration It's time once again to think about getting back to the books. Regis­ tration for both credit and non-credit classes is now in progress at McHenry County College. Registration can be completed in Rm. 140 of the college's Main Hall Building. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:90 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon. Amc Texj Migrants •V Gonzalez serves as a good exam­ ple of how better education can give migrants an improved way of life. He himself is originally from a mi­ grant family. His migrant family worked in the Nebraska area, and came to Illinois every summer to work in a cannery in Mendota. As he became older, he started to realize that he would be doing this the rest of his life unless he could get an education. Gonzalez subsequently enrolled in, and re­ ceived a degree from the Pan Berican University in Edingburg, as. The IMC also receives a $1.7 mil­ lion grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, allow­ ing it to contract with local physi­ cians and dentists. It also funds a urogram where -nurses visit the 20 camps scattered^round the county. Despite the cultural cycle that keeps migrant children joining their parents in the fields, Gonzalez sees •trend, where migrants are becom- year-round residents. He noted jjqe family from Laredo, Texas, *$hich included a daughter with a "high school degree. Gonzalez said Hit was able to get her a job in a harvard bank, where she has >0rked for the past two years. CHe cited this as an example, that ?*&>me can break the habit, if they jji(t their minds to it." ^Gonzalez and his nine full-time Stiff members work throughout the pounty, providing language training 4$d other services to the migrant (Continued from page IB) camps. The council also operates an adult skill training program, in co­ operation with the Johnsburg School District, providing instruction in truck driving, welding, machinery electronics and secretarial science. The program also allows employ­ ers who hire program graduates, "target job tax credit," and "on- the-job training," where the council will provide 50 percent of the work­ er's wages for a set amount of time. He also said the council has devel­ oped a strong relationship with the McHenry County community, in the form of the Regional Advisory Council. The council is composed of professionals and other business people from the surrounding com­ munities of Woodstock, McHenry, far as the condition of migrant camps in McHenry, Gonzalez said they have improved enough over the years to meet minimal standards. "The majority of the camps in McHenry County are in good shape, although some could use improve­ ment," he said. He complained that some have minor violations -- like electrical wiring that is too close to ceilings -- but that they stiir pass inspection. "We have good growers and bad growers, and we want to show them both," Gonzalez said. "If we have a good grower who cares about the people who work for hi|n, we want to let it be known."- PUBLIC NOTICE SAT. THE CRYSTAL LAKE SEWING CENTER will be selling out all New & Demo model Singer Sowing Machines. We are forced to this so we cfin replenish our inventory with the new "Singer Miracle Machines.*' This sale is not for ju'st a few select models, but the entire Singer machine inventory from basic to state of the art TouchTronic models. Our prices will be extre­ mely low to clear inventory fast. Also included for this sell-out are display Singer cabinets, economy console styles to fine furniture mo­ dels. Each machine and cabinet will be clearly tagged with Reg. and Clearance price. Retail customers only. We will not knowingly sell to competitive Dealers. Also we will offer for SALE at INTRODUCTORY SPE­ CIAL PRICES all the new "Singer Miracle Machines" now available. We will accept CASH; BANK CREDIT CARDS; or arrange FINANCE TERMS with low monthly payments. There is absolutely no reason to wait for lower prices There won't be an/....... SALE AT THIS LO­ CATION ONLY. SALE ENDS SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1985. Crystal Sewing Center 28 Crystal Lake Plaza Crystal Lake 815-459-0551 CMcegoland's Largest Singer Store APPROVED DEALER 'ATradsmaf* olTheSinge' Company Herman's WORLD OP SPORTING GOODS SHOE MARATHON BASKETBALL NEW BALANCE 680 Men's Leather Hi-Tops Added ankle support and stability. High traction rubber sole. „ CONVERSE Startech Men's Leather Hi-Tops Reg. 49.99. Sale 39.99. Less $5 mailed rebate final cost 34.99 'AEROBIC LOTTO Jackie Sorenson for women orig. 39.99 Extra support, comfort and flexibility needed for aerobic workouts. TENNIS NIKE Perimeter II Men's Leather Hi-Tops Two color rubber sole Qh with concentric circles J VI for improved traction, mm reg. 39.99 ADIDAS Spin Men's Leather Lo-Tops Flexible leather uppers. "7QQ longwearing stitched J / on rubber sole mm m reg. 34.991 ADIDAS Enforcer Men's 3/4 Hi-Tops Lightweight mesh and leather upper. 3/4 top for added ankle support reg. 29.99 RUNNING all surfaces. BROOKS Apex Trainer for men Durable sole and extra j^ M qq padding. Qreat for £jL ® ̂ reg. 39.99 TIGER Extender for men and women Lightweight nylon/ suede upper, durable carbon rubber sole. rag. 39.99 r CONVERSE Streetstar . for men and women Comfortable padding, P" qq> all surface rubber sole, J light nylon upper. I \J reg. 19.99 , AEROBIC ADIDAS Stan Smith or Lady Smith Full grain leather uppers, "J ̂ 99 stitched on hobnail f rag. 39.99 REEBOK Nflon Phase I for men and women NIKE Baseline for men rubber sole. Lightweight nylon/mesh and leather uppers. Outside heel stabilizer. OQ99 Cool, canvas uppers on a durable, high traction KIDS NIKE Challenge Kid Leather/Canvas Basketball Shoes ADIDAS Stan Smith Jr. Leather Tennis Shoes 94" mm rag. 29.99 NIKE Perimeter II Lesther Basketball Shoes rag. 34.99 5 rubber sole. 99 rag. 19.99 NIKE Strobe for women nvl rubber sole. Comfortable padding % 1999 reg. 27.99 CLEATS 27 99 reg. 32.99 NIKE Typhoon Boys' Vinyl TUrfShoes 149* reg. 16.99 HYDE Nylon/Leather Boys' Turt Shoes 16" reg. 19.99 NIKE Boss Shark Men's Turf Shoes 9799 mm a reg. 32.99 20o„ reg. and orlg. prices MEN'S AND BOYS' CLEATEO SPORT SHOES ADIDAS, PONY and more. In-stock styles only. SPORT SOCKS FOR MEN, WOMEN AND BOYS IN J 3-PR. PACKS Your Choice reg. 4.49 to 4.99 Tube socks for men and boys in white with , assorted stripes. Women's striped socks. WEST DUNDEE: Spring Hill Mall SCHAUMBURG: Woodfield Mall VERNON HILLS: Hawthorn Center Sale now through Sunday WE WELCOME THE AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD