Parents' Association Meeting Report - January 14, 2008
by Anne Ryan & Ken Housinger
University of Chicago President Robert Zimmer spoke at the January 14th Parents' Association meeting. The 13th President of the University, also a Lab parent, characterized the Lab Schools as having a "distinctive and extraordinarily valuable culture." First he discussed the importance of education at UCLS, and the involvement of students, parents and faculty together. He described the Lab families as placing an extraordinarily high value on education.
He also stressed the important role of the community at the Lab Schools. "This is a community of inquiry where students are challenging and challenged", he noted. The economic, racial, international and other types of diversity of the community also play an extremely important role. Zimmer said the diversity of the community brings different perspectives to the table on problems of importance. He acknowledged that there are diversity issues that still need to be addressed, but overall the great diversity creates the distinct character of UCLS.
Zimmer spoke about the enormous value of UCLS as a recruiting tool for the University in attracting quality faculty. "Recruiting faculty is the lifeblood of the University," he said. For this reason children of faculty get prioirty in admission. There are other factors in admissions to UCLS, such as serving the city and the local community, but serving the University is the top priority.
Zimmer also spoke about the University's most recent efforts to increase security on and around campus. Besides appointing a Working Group on Safety and Security co-chaired by Kim Goff-Crews and Rick Rosengarten, a lighting study is underway. Temporary lighting has already been installed in some areas and it will be replaced by permanent lighting in the future. The committee is also sorting through safety suggestions from the Lab and University communities.
Next Zimmer opened the floor to questions from parents, highlighting the upcoming capital campaign and dealing with the increased demand for admissions as top agenda items for UCLS. When asked why the Wall Street Journal ranked the Lab Schools so highly, he credited the great student body and culture of the schools, adding that the Lab environment is very attractive to colleges. As UCLS debates whether to stop offering Advanced Placement classes, he said administrators and faculty would have to decide whether offering AP classes puts the schools in the position of offering the best education to students. Secondly, would ending AP classes still provide appropriate opportunities for students with respect to their college applications?
The demographics of UCLS with respect to the University is changing Zimmer added. Currently about 55% of the students come from families affiliated with the University. That number is much higher in the Lower Schools. With the current limited capacity, the UCLS Board is examining growth issues. Zimmer maintained that the highest admission priority must be given to University faculty and the board must take that into account. He strongly encouraged families to contribute "as is appropriate to their financial situation", contending that all current students are beneficiaries of those who gave in the past. He believes that, as a piece of the community, families should do whatever they can to support the school and make improvements for the future. He also pointed out that in the Wall Street Journal article, the tuition at UCLS was significantly lower than that of the other top schools on the list because the University absorbs many of the costs and provides the infrastructure.
The University also operates three charter schools and is about to open a fourth, with a commitment of up to five. The University is investigating urban issues related to education in the U.S. Zimmer believes that interaction between UCLS and the charter schools is something that should be explored. He says the Laboratory Schools are truly a mature institution and no longer an experiment.
Afterward, PA President Dick Mintel presented Zimmer with a copy of a hand-written letter he received from former University of Chicago President and Nobel Prize winner George Beadle, along with some of his recollections of Beadle for the archives.
As the meeting continued, UCLS Director David Magill talked about the importance of the relationship between the University and the Lab Schools. He has added a liason between the University and the UCLS faculty. Recently University of Chicago Professor Neil Shubin spoke to both kindergarten and high school classes about his most recent discovery, Tiktaalik roseae, dubbed the "missing link" between fish and land animals.
Magill also reported that the elimination of AP classes is only in the discussion stage right now and has not reached a UCLS Board discussion. Input ranging from students to college admissions offices has been solicited. He added that many of the top independent schools have already ceased offering AP classes.
A memo has been sent by Magill to Lab parents about the steps the University is taking to improve safety in and the campus. He said a new speaker system was installed in the school to broadcast school-wide messages in the event of an emergency. The system will be operational within the next two weeks. By April he hopes to have a public recommendation for the capital campaign. He has also arranged for Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind to speak at Lab on the evening of February 25th at a location to be determined.
Lastly, school nurse Martha Baggetto asked parents to please instruct their children to wash their hands frequently since it is flu season and to keep their children at home if they are sick.
The next Parents' Association meeting will take place on Monday February 11th at 7pm in Judd 126. The guest speaker will be Janet Davison Rowley, Blum Riese Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine, Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology and Human Genetics. Rowley is also a graduate of the Laboratory Schools.
University of Chicago President Robert Zimmer spoke at the January 14th Parents' Association meeting. The 13th President of the University, also a Lab parent, characterized the Lab Schools as having a "distinctive and extraordinarily valuable culture." First he discussed the importance of education at UCLS, and the involvement of students, parents and faculty together. He described the Lab families as placing an extraordinarily high value on education.
He also stressed the important role of the community at the Lab Schools. "This is a community of inquiry where students are challenging and challenged", he noted. The economic, racial, international and other types of diversity of the community also play an extremely important role. Zimmer said the diversity of the community brings different perspectives to the table on problems of importance. He acknowledged that there are diversity issues that still need to be addressed, but overall the great diversity creates the distinct character of UCLS.
Zimmer spoke about the enormous value of UCLS as a recruiting tool for the University in attracting quality faculty. "Recruiting faculty is the lifeblood of the University," he said. For this reason children of faculty get prioirty in admission. There are other factors in admissions to UCLS, such as serving the city and the local community, but serving the University is the top priority.
Zimmer also spoke about the University's most recent efforts to increase security on and around campus. Besides appointing a Working Group on Safety and Security co-chaired by Kim Goff-Crews and Rick Rosengarten, a lighting study is underway. Temporary lighting has already been installed in some areas and it will be replaced by permanent lighting in the future. The committee is also sorting through safety suggestions from the Lab and University communities.
Next Zimmer opened the floor to questions from parents, highlighting the upcoming capital campaign and dealing with the increased demand for admissions as top agenda items for UCLS. When asked why the Wall Street Journal ranked the Lab Schools so highly, he credited the great student body and culture of the schools, adding that the Lab environment is very attractive to colleges. As UCLS debates whether to stop offering Advanced Placement classes, he said administrators and faculty would have to decide whether offering AP classes puts the schools in the position of offering the best education to students. Secondly, would ending AP classes still provide appropriate opportunities for students with respect to their college applications?
The demographics of UCLS with respect to the University is changing Zimmer added. Currently about 55% of the students come from families affiliated with the University. That number is much higher in the Lower Schools. With the current limited capacity, the UCLS Board is examining growth issues. Zimmer maintained that the highest admission priority must be given to University faculty and the board must take that into account. He strongly encouraged families to contribute "as is appropriate to their financial situation", contending that all current students are beneficiaries of those who gave in the past. He believes that, as a piece of the community, families should do whatever they can to support the school and make improvements for the future. He also pointed out that in the Wall Street Journal article, the tuition at UCLS was significantly lower than that of the other top schools on the list because the University absorbs many of the costs and provides the infrastructure.
The University also operates three charter schools and is about to open a fourth, with a commitment of up to five. The University is investigating urban issues related to education in the U.S. Zimmer believes that interaction between UCLS and the charter schools is something that should be explored. He says the Laboratory Schools are truly a mature institution and no longer an experiment.
Afterward, PA President Dick Mintel presented Zimmer with a copy of a hand-written letter he received from former University of Chicago President and Nobel Prize winner George Beadle, along with some of his recollections of Beadle for the archives.
As the meeting continued, UCLS Director David Magill talked about the importance of the relationship between the University and the Lab Schools. He has added a liason between the University and the UCLS faculty. Recently University of Chicago Professor Neil Shubin spoke to both kindergarten and high school classes about his most recent discovery, Tiktaalik roseae, dubbed the "missing link" between fish and land animals.
Magill also reported that the elimination of AP classes is only in the discussion stage right now and has not reached a UCLS Board discussion. Input ranging from students to college admissions offices has been solicited. He added that many of the top independent schools have already ceased offering AP classes.A memo has been sent by Magill to Lab parents about the steps the University is taking to improve safety in and the campus. He said a new speaker system was installed in the school to broadcast school-wide messages in the event of an emergency. The system will be operational within the next two weeks. By April he hopes to have a public recommendation for the capital campaign. He has also arranged for Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind to speak at Lab on the evening of February 25th at a location to be determined.
Lastly, school nurse Martha Baggetto asked parents to please instruct their children to wash their hands frequently since it is flu season and to keep their children at home if they are sick.
The next Parents' Association meeting will take place on Monday February 11th at 7pm in Judd 126. The guest speaker will be Janet Davison Rowley, Blum Riese Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine, Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology and Human Genetics. Rowley is also a graduate of the Laboratory Schools.
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