Herron High Herron High SchoolSchool

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Herron High SchoolHerron High School

110 East 16th Street110 East 16th Street

Indianapolis, IN 46202Indianapolis, IN 46202

Phone: 317-231-0010 Phone: 317-231-0010 Website: Website:

www.herronhighschool.orgwww.herronhighschool.org

School InformationSchool Information

Principal Janet Harmon McNealPrincipal Janet Harmon McNeal

““Herron is a public charter school that Herron is a public charter school that provides a liberal arts, college provides a liberal arts, college preparatory education.”preparatory education.”

Established in 2003 and opened doors Established in 2003 and opened doors to 100 9to 100 9thth graders in 2006 (has since graders in 2006 (has since grown to 442 students)grown to 442 students)

Faculty and StaffFaculty and Staff 54 faculty and staff54 faculty and staff 38 full-time teachers38 full-time teachers Average age of Teachers Average age of Teachers

is 34is 34 Average Salary $47,000Average Salary $47,000 Liberal Arts Education Liberal Arts Education

with a focus on Art with a focus on Art HistoryHistory

Herron offers 22 clubs Herron offers 22 clubs and 9 sports along with and 9 sports along with 4 after-school tutors4 after-school tutors

School DemographicsSchool Demographics

442 Students in Total442 Students in Total 42% Black42% Black 5% Hispanic5% Hispanic <1% Native American<1% Native American 45% White45% White

About 50:50 males and femalesAbout 50:50 males and females

Instructional AspectsInstructional Aspects ““The school's curriculum is structured around The school's curriculum is structured around

an art history timeline and emphasizes the an art history timeline and emphasizes the classic art and literature of many cultures”classic art and literature of many cultures”

Integrate art and the humanities into all Integrate art and the humanities into all subjectssubjects

Required to take Latin to build vocabulary and Required to take Latin to build vocabulary and a class with a focus on using rhetoric in writinga class with a focus on using rhetoric in writing

Goal is to help students approach any subject Goal is to help students approach any subject intelligentlyintelligently

Instructional Aspects Instructional Aspects (cont’d.)(cont’d.)

Students are required to take math Students are required to take math through Pre-Calculusthrough Pre-Calculus

Required to take four years of scienceRequired to take four years of science

Herron also claims to have smaller Herron also claims to have smaller classroom environments which allows classroom environments which allows for more one-on-one interaction for more one-on-one interaction between teachers and studentsbetween teachers and students

CommunityCommunityMarion County Public Charter SchoolsMarion County Public Charter Schools

CommunityCommunity

Marion County Public Charter Marion County Public Charter Schools Schools

Herron High School is a public charter school open to all Herron High School is a public charter school open to all students in the Marion County Area. students in the Marion County Area.

11 High schools (9-12)11 High schools (9-12) 3 Middle and High schools (6- 12)3 Middle and High schools (6- 12) 3 Middle schools (6 -8)3 Middle schools (6 -8) 23 Elementary schools (K – 5)23 Elementary schools (K – 5) 6 Elementary and Middle schools (K -8)6 Elementary and Middle schools (K -8) 7 Elementary, Middle, and High schools (K – 12)7 Elementary, Middle, and High schools (K – 12)

CommunityCommunity Urban residential community of downtown Urban residential community of downtown

IndianapolisIndianapolis

Median age Median age of residents: 45of residents: 45

IncomeIncome:: Median income: 32% around $37,000Median income: 32% around $37,000 Highest income: 10% above $100,00Highest income: 10% above $100,00 Lowest income: 10% below $10,000Lowest income: 10% below $10,000

Languages Languages spoken at home: spoken at home: 87% English87% English8% Spanish8% Spanish5% other 5% other

CommunityCommunity

Population: Population: 876, 144 residents876, 144 residentsDiversityDiversity: 26% African American: 26% African American .2% Native American.2% Native American 2% Asian2% Asian

68% Caucasian 68% Caucasian 2% multi racial2% multi racial3% other 3% other

Home to families with diverse social, Home to families with diverse social, economic and cultural backgroundseconomic and cultural backgrounds

Herron High Herron High School’s Vision School’s Vision

and Achievementsand Achievements

AchievementsAchievements Herron High School is the top ranking of all Herron High School is the top ranking of all

Marion County K-12 schools.Marion County K-12 schools.

#1 ranking of all middle schools and high #1 ranking of all middle schools and high schools statewide. schools statewide. Achieved 'Exemplary Progress.' Achieved 'Exemplary Progress.' 

   Herron is one of only three public Marion Herron is one of only three public Marion

County schools to receive a passing grade from County schools to receive a passing grade from the Department of Education, meeting the the Department of Education, meeting the adequate yearly progress goals established by adequate yearly progress goals established by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

Herron High School’s Herron High School’s VisionVision

Herron High School's liberal arts approach Herron High School's liberal arts approach to education finds its roots in the Latin to education finds its roots in the Latin word word "libertas,""libertas," meaning meaning "freedom.""freedom." Free Greek and Roman citizens needed an Free Greek and Roman citizens needed an education that would equip them to be education that would equip them to be active participants in the Athenian active participants in the Athenian democracy and the Roman republic, and democracy and the Roman republic, and one that would help them realize their full one that would help them realize their full intellectual and human potential. Thus, intellectual and human potential. Thus, began the tradition of preparing well-began the tradition of preparing well-rounded, truly educated citizens. rounded, truly educated citizens.

http://www.herronhighschool.org/mission.jsphttp://www.herronhighschool.org/mission.jsp

Vision (cont’d.)Vision (cont’d.) Herron High School is founded on the belief Herron High School is founded on the belief

that a classical liberal arts education, where that a classical liberal arts education, where students are steeped in great historical students are steeped in great historical thought and production, is the very best thought and production, is the very best preparation for future influence. We will preparation for future influence. We will emphasize the integration of academic emphasize the integration of academic subjects; the teaching of great works of subjects; the teaching of great works of literature through original source documents; literature through original source documents; formal instruction in Latin, logic, and formal instruction in Latin, logic, and rhetoric; and appreciation for the great works rhetoric; and appreciation for the great works of visual, musical, and dramatic art. Students of visual, musical, and dramatic art. Students will be inspired by the great truths and will be inspired by the great truths and beauty of our common roots. beauty of our common roots.

http://www.herronhighschool.org/mission.jsp

Teachers and Teachers and StudentsStudents

StudentsStudents

333 Students333 Students 2008-09 Ethnic Breakdown:2008-09 Ethnic Breakdown:

White 163 White 163 Black 129 Black 129 Hispanic 16 Hispanic 16 Asian 4 Asian 4 Native American 2 Native American 2 Multi-racial 19 Multi-racial 19

Students (cont’d)Students (cont’d)

97.7% attendance rate97.7% attendance rate

25% receive free lunch, 7% reduced, 25% receive free lunch, 7% reduced, and 68% paidand 68% paid

TeachersTeachers

38 Teachers at Herron HS38 Teachers at Herron HS

Average teacher salary- $37,871Average teacher salary- $37,871

Average teacher age- 31Average teacher age- 31

Development Development Attributes and Attributes and

Teaching Teaching PracticesPractices

MethodologyMethodology

Use a timeline approachUse a timeline approach

Have an integrated curriculumHave an integrated curriculum

Formal studying of rhetoricFormal studying of rhetoric

Teacher- Student dialogueTeacher- Student dialogue

Art as a tool for learningArt as a tool for learning

Teaching MethodsTeaching Methods

Focus on providing a liberal arts education Focus on providing a liberal arts education that will help students succeed in collegethat will help students succeed in college

““Through an integrated curriculum and Through an integrated curriculum and classical methodology, Herron High School classical methodology, Herron High School believes that all students can learn to think believes that all students can learn to think logically, express themselves creatively, logically, express themselves creatively, appreciate aesthetics fully, and approach appreciate aesthetics fully, and approach any subject intelligently.”any subject intelligently.”

Teaching Methods Teaching Methods (cont’d.)(cont’d.)

TriviumTrivium GrammarGrammar LogicLogic RhetoricRhetoric

Educator’s RoleEducator’s Role CoachCoach MidwifeMidwife TutorTutor

Educational Educational NeedNeed

Basic KnowledgeBasic Knowledge Thinking, Thinking, Questioning, and Questioning, and ProbingProbing

Self ExpressionSelf Expression

Educational Educational MethodsMethods

Drilling and Drilling and practicing with a practicing with a teacher who teacher who directs, directs, motivates, and motivates, and inspiresinspires

Give and take Give and take discussion discussion between between teachers and teachers and students students

Independent Independent study supported study supported by supervision by supervision and feedbackand feedback

Freshman and Sophomore Freshman and Sophomore Development AttributesDevelopment Attributes

Freshman take math, biology, and Freshman take math, biology, and art, history, and language arts art, history, and language arts classes based off of ancient Africa classes based off of ancient Africa and Egyptand Egypt

Sophomores take math, earth/space Sophomores take math, earth/space science, and art, history, and science, and art, history, and language arts classes based off of language arts classes based off of Ancient Greece and Rome Ancient Greece and Rome

Junior and Senior Junior and Senior Development AttributesDevelopment Attributes

Juniors take math, chemistry, and art, Juniors take math, chemistry, and art, history, and language arts classes history, and language arts classes based off of the Middle Ages, the based off of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the age of explorationRenaissance, and the age of exploration

Seniors take math, physics, and art, Seniors take math, physics, and art, history, and language arts classes history, and language arts classes based of American history, and the based of American history, and the modern worldmodern world

STUDYING THE CLASSICS STUDYING THE CLASSICS

Annotated Annotated Book ListBook List

Starting With the Basics Starting With the Basics Plato’s Plato’s RepublicRepublic 308 B.C. 308 B.C. ““Man...is a tame or Man...is a tame or

civilized animal; never civilized animal; never the less, he requires the less, he requires proper instruction and proper instruction and a fortunate nature, and a fortunate nature, and then of all animals he then of all animals he becomes the most becomes the most divine and most divine and most civilized; but if he be civilized; but if he be insufficiently or ill- insufficiently or ill- educated he is the most educated he is the most savage of earthly savage of earthly creatures.” creatures.”

To Hell and Back Again To Hell and Back Again Dante Alighieri’s Dante Alighieri’s InfernoInferno Part of his Divine Comedy, written Part of his Divine Comedy, written

between 1308-1321.between 1308-1321.

““In the middle of the journey of our In the middle of the journey of our life, life, I found myself again in [or through] a I found myself again in [or through] a dark wood, dark wood, [so dark] that the straight way was [so dark] that the straight way was utterly lost. utterly lost. Alas how hard it is to say what it was Alas how hard it is to say what it was like, like, this savage and sharp and strong this savage and sharp and strong forest, forest, which even in thought renews my which even in thought renews my fear! fear! So bitter was it that death is little So bitter was it that death is little moreso; moreso; but in order to speak of the good that but in order to speak of the good that I found there, I found there, I'll tell of the other things I saw I'll tell of the other things I saw there.” there.”

Book Burner! Book Burner! Ray Bradbury’s Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451Fahrenheit 451 Published in 1953Published in 1953 Is bases off of a futuristic society Is bases off of a futuristic society

where free though and expression where free though and expression through reading is outlawed.through reading is outlawed.

The captain continues by The captain continues by defending the moral aims of the defending the moral aims of the ideal of censorship: "Not everyone ideal of censorship: "Not everyone born free and equal, as the born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone Constitution says, but everyone made equal.  Each man the image made equal.  Each man the image of every other; then all are happy, of every other; then all are happy, for there are no mountains to for there are no mountains to make them cower, to judge make them cower, to judge themselves against." themselves against."

Beatty, explaining the need to Beatty, explaining the need to cremate the dead to make the cremate the dead to make the living loose their memory: "Forget living loose their memory: "Forget them.  Burn all, burn everything.  them.  Burn all, burn everything.  Fire is bright and fire is clean."Fire is bright and fire is clean."

A Portrait of What?A Portrait of What? James Joyce’s James Joyce’s A Portrait of A Portrait of

the Artist as a Young Man the Artist as a Young Man Published in 1916Published in 1916 A coming-of –age story about A coming-of –age story about

Stephen’s journey from child Stephen’s journey from child to university student to full-to university student to full-fledged artist. fledged artist.

Stephen's thoughts about the Stephen's thoughts about the nature of sin, as he hurries nature of sin, as he hurries to a chapel to confess. "Life to a chapel to confess. "Life became a divine gift for became a divine gift for every moment and sensation every moment and sensation of which, were it even the of which, were it even the sight of a single leaf hanging sight of a single leaf hanging on the twig of a tree, his soul on the twig of a tree, his soul should praise and thank the should praise and thank the Giver."Giver."

Злодеяние и наказаниеЗлодеяние и наказание

Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Crime and Punishment Punishment

First published in 1866First published in 1866 A story of Rodion Romanovich A story of Rodion Romanovich

Raskolnikov and his struggles in in Raskolnikov and his struggles in in impoverished St. Petersburg.impoverished St. Petersburg.

Raskolnikov formulates his plan to Raskolnikov formulates his plan to kill a abhorrent pawnbroker for her kill a abhorrent pawnbroker for her money thus solving his financial money thus solving his financial problems while at the same time problems while at the same time (by his justification) ridding the (by his justification) ridding the world of an evil parasite. world of an evil parasite.

"Crime? What crime?" he cried in "Crime? What crime?" he cried in sudden fury. "That I killed a vile sudden fury. "That I killed a vile noxious insect, an old pawnbroker noxious insect, an old pawnbroker woman, of use to no one! . . . Killing woman, of use to no one! . . . Killing her was atonement for forty sins. her was atonement for forty sins. She was sucking the life out of poor She was sucking the life out of poor people. Was that a crime?" people. Was that a crime?"

Herron High School Herron High School Presentation By:Presentation By:Krysten PlahmKrysten PlahmKristyn ShawKristyn Shaw

Kyle BlackKyle BlackChristopher HendersonChristopher Henderson

Sara WatersSara Waters