James Madison High: a school for winners; by instilling a sense of pride in students, teachers and parents, a principal restores a New York high school to its former glory

American Education, Nov, 1984 by Norman Fisher

The challenge to provide every youngster with the opportunity for success

Although we emphasize the importance of student academic achievement, we understand that youngsters must have practical reasons, as well, for doing well in class. In the Center for Administration and Management, students established their own corporation, called Business Leaders of Madison. (We adapted this program from Community School District 22.) The 120 students participating in the program learn the fundamentals of business by going into business themselves. During the school year, the students sell engraved lucite desk clocks, canvas tote bags, credit card calculators and a variety of other items. The Business Leaders keep their own books, establish their own marketing techniques, earn a profit, and determine which items to reorder. This unusual program was highlighted in the New York Daily News of May 9, 1983. Student Sandra Forskin was quoted: "Because of this program, I've taken tons of business classes. I'm learning how to work a word-processor, how to handle balance sheets, and I've developed a good sales pitch. I see myself in ten years sitting behind a big desk giving orders to a male secretary." It is this type of success that schools strive for--where a youngster recognizes the value of her own education.

A program to encourage students graduating from local feeder schools helps them continue to develop their special talents at James Madison High School. A local elementary school has a devoted teacher who established a chess club and competition at the school. Her husband, a teacher at James Madison, enrolled the students in a club to sharpen their chess skills and to compete in chess matches with other schools. The 1982-1983 school year New York State Chess Championship, the North American Chess Championship, and the U.S.A. Chess Championship. You can be certain their success has led to better performance in the classroom. Since the N.Y.C. Board of Education has implement stringent requirements for students to play in any competitive sport, they have to have up and pass all classes or be barred from playing.

Our students have worked harder both on the field and in the classroom. We are proud of our football and soccer teams who have won city-wide recognition. However, we are most proud of the fact that of the 88 seniors on varsity teams, 18 students earned Regents Scholarships, and 79 of the 88 entered college in 1983.

The model of success has encouraged us to develop new programs that--once again--have come about from student interest. Youngsters in our Bio-Medical Program exhibited an interest in sophisticated scientific research. With the support of our superintendent, Mr. Martin Ilivicky, who provided our school and others in his ditrict with additional funding for a research class, as well as with a computer with research and networking capabilities, we encouraged students to select a research project. This enabled four students to enter the National Westinghouse Science Talent Search. These four students were the first applicants in more than a decade from James Madison High School; one student became a National Semi-Finalist with a research project called "The Effects of Ethyl Alcohol on Volvox Carteri (a Bacterium)." Her successful research project could never have been accomplished without the tireless efforts of faculty members and a Brooklyn College advisor.