FILE:  IB

INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS

The LaSalle Parish School Board subscribes to the principles of the National Association of State Boards of Education which considers the following curriculum goals important for comprehensive education:

1. To assure the continuity of a free society based on traditional American ideals, children at all levels of learning should have instruction in the rights and the responsibilities of citizenship and in the ethical and moral bases for citizenship.
   
   

2. The basic skills of reading, writing, and mathematics must receive priority. The effective use of basic skills requires the development of communication and logical thinking skills in students, with the result that they be able to express themselves lucidly, evaluate information factually, and make critical judgments affecting their lives.
   
   

3. Programs for the gifted should ensure that each child be afforded the opportunity to progress according to his/her ability and to achieve his/her full potential.
   
   

4. Appropriate programs should be initiated or expanded to meet the needs of all handicapped children.
   
   

5. Career education, as an integral part of the educational program, should develop respect for work, workers, and employers, motivation to learn by emphasizing the satisfaction in useful and stimulating careers, and awareness of alternative careers.
   
   

6. Vocational and technical education are necessary parts of comprehensive education programs, should train persons to competence in salable skills, and should provide opportunities for retraining as circumstances and interests change.
   
   

7. An understanding of economic principles is essential for every citizen; its correlate, consumer education, is necessary for all students in order to prepare them to be intelligent in the use of goods and services and in personal financial management.
   
   

8. Bilingual education should be encouraged in schools where there are significant numbers on non-English speaking students.
   
   

9. Foreign language courses should lead to conversational fluency.
   
   

10. Early childhood education should start as early in life as proven desirable by research and experience, especially for children with special needs.  It should be family-based where possible.
    
    

11. Environmental education should emphasize the need to avoid misuse of natural resource and preserve the natural quality of life but should be balanced by recognition of mankind's need of natural resources, energy, food, goods, and services.
    
    

12. Inclusion of history, culture, and the arts of all civilizations is necessary to a well­ rounded education and is relevant to world society.
    
    

13. Both comprehensive health services and health education for all students must stress causes, prevention, and cures of major national problem areas such as alcohol and drug abuse and general disease.
    
    

14. To counteract deterioration of the family unit, high school curricula should include courses which emphasize the problems and responsibilities of marriage and parenthood.
    
    

15. Education for conversion to the metric system for citizens of all ages should be initiated in view of imminent changeovers in industry and government.
    
    

16. Educational materials and programs should be free of bias for or against persons on the basis of race, sex, national origin, or religion.

LaSalle Parish School Board