Getting The Most Out Of Your Newspaper

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday February 22, 1994

DEBRA PINKERTON

THERE have been significant changes in the curriculum in State schools and textbooks alone can no longer provide teachers and students with the information they need for contemporary issues and personal projects.

Many courses now require senior students to use the print and electronic media to prepare clippings folders for class assessment and exams.

While each school library may have a copy of the Herald available for browsing, many senior students choose to buy their own copy at half-price through the Herald in the Classroom program.

But what do you do when more than 350 Heralds are delivered each week?

For many NSW schools involved in Herald in the Classroom, the key is co-operation between staff, students and the local newsagent. The staff can tell parents and students of the half-price offer and students can nominate which days they need the newspaper each term and pay in advance. Bulk supplies are delivered each day by the local newsagent and an account is issued each month or academic term.

Distribution generally occurs during roll call or home groups each morning

At the Presbyterian Ladies College, Croydon, each Year 11 and 12 roll-class captain collects a parcel of Heralds from a central office and distributes these to students.

According to the school's head English teacher, Deidre Coleman, "Each student benefits by having time to browse through her own copy before taking it to class where it is used in a variety of subject areas. Then she can take it home to clip individual articles."

At Fairvale High School, the head Social Science teacher, Bob Newton, prefers, what he calls, a "self-operating scheme".

Each morning, bundles of Heralds for the different faculties, plus Year 11 and 12, are available from his office and staff and students collect their own copy.

"For subjects in my area - Business Studies, Economics, Legal Studies and General Studies - it is essential to read the Herald to keep up-to-date."

At Cheltenham Girls' High, junior students volunteer to help the co-ordinating teacher and are awarded annual merit certificates for their service.

For information about the Herald in the Classroom and a similar program for The Australian Financial Review, telephone (02) 282 3164 or (02) 282 3166.