By Staff
EDUCATIONAL SUMMIT David Potter, commissioner of higher education, answers questions Thursday during a news conference at Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus. Potter and other education leaders were in Meridian to participate in an educational summit. Photo by Kyle Carter/The Meridian Star
By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
Sept. 26, 2003
A group of Mississippi education leaders said Thursday that they care about the success and future of students at Kate Griffin Junior High School and other public schools.
Kate Griffin Principal Phillip Daniels, who has added supplemental classes at his school to help improve scores on standardized tests, said many students believe no one in the community cares about them.
Sutphin and other educators from across the state including community college and higher education leaders spoke at a news conference after a summit of the Mississippi Educational Involvement Initiative.
The summit, one of nine being held across the state through October, was at Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus. Its purpose was to discuss ways to improve education in Mississippi.
Those who participated included David Potter, commissioner of higher education, and Sutphin, who also serves as president of the Commission on the Future of East Mississippi and West Alabama.
Participants also discussed a set of priorities for education in Mississippi. They said all children should start school ready to learn, the state should increase high school graduation rates and the state should boost the quality of teaching and learning.
After the last summit in October, members will present their findings to the Mississippi Legislature.
Ray said one of the biggest problems in Mississippi is that people are indifferent about education. "We are at war with ignorance and we cannot accept that," Ray said.
Participants agreed that Mississippi must make education a top priority in order to ensure future workers, like students at Kate Griffin, will have an adequate education.