10A | LAREDO MORNING TIMES
THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2008
EDUCATION | Continued from Page 1A
“Everyone assumes all of our
parents are affluent and have all
the money in the world, but that’s
not true,” Vida added. “What is true
is the amount of ownership established by every single one of our
parents. That, I think, is the one
glaring difference between private
schools and public schools. ”
Mandatory parental involvement, where parents are required
to volunteer at their children’s
schools, is one idea Vida will present to her fellow members on the
High School Completion and Success Initiative Council.
The council held its first meeting in Austin on Dec. 7 and is
scheduled to hold its second on
Jan. 25.
Vida will sit at the same table
and review statewide data and
studies with Robert Scott, Texas
commissioner of education; Raymund Paredes, Texas commissioner of higher education; and
Rod Paige, former U.S. Secretary
of Education and superintendent
of Houston Independent School
District, who is now chairman of
Chartwell Education Group.
Others include Christopher
Barbic, head of schools for YES
College Preparatory Schools, a
group of charter schools; Don
McAdams, president of the Center
for Reform of School Systems;
Chris Patterson, research and policy consultant; Cindy RamosDavidson, chief executive officer
of the El Paso Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce; and James Windham, president of the Texas Institute for Education Reform.
In Perry’s Nov. 21 letter to
Scott, who heads the Texas Education Agency, he states that he
submitted Vida’s name, along
with Paige’s and Barbic’s, because
they “bring a wealth of experience
in the field of education.”
From her 37 years as an educator, Vida is convinced that parents are the key factor in preventing dropouts and making a
student and school successful.
“Parenting can be so extremely difficult, and parents looking
for a way out look to the school,”
Vida said.
“So the schools have become
the parents, and parents are walking away Scot free,” she said.
“There has to be something obligatory to get parents involved in
their children’s lives and schools.”
She acknowledges that many
parents have complicated lives,
and some raise their children in a
one- or two-parent household,
sometimes working long hours or
working more than one low-paying job.
But Vida doesn’t accept any of
these reasons as excuses for not
getting involved.
“I don’t buy that,” she said. “Education is a partnership, and you
need parents and the education
system closely involved and focused on the same goals. Otherwise, society is lost.
“We have single parents, but
we require that each parent has to
do some kind of volunteer work,”
Vida said of Laredo’s Catholic
schools. “We let each parent know
they are important to us.”
Examples include cleaning the
campus on weekends, raking
leaves, planting trees and plants,
doing floral arrangements, decorating the chapel, cleaning the
cafeteria, helping with food prepa-
ration, doing clerical work, and
helping staff type or file documents, she said.
Those with financial means
aren’t allowed to write a check
and walk away, either, Vida said.
“Students have to see that their
parents value what we’re trying to
do,” she said. “That’s the perspective I’m bringing to the table.”
While on the committee, Vida
said she wants to figure out why
high school graduates can’t write
well, or compose simple letters.
“Why is that happening? And
why are so many of our kids having to go through remediation
once they get to college?” she
asked.
“If we have kids passing the
TAKS test, but then need remediation, then is there no correlation
between passing the TAKS exam
and being admitted into college?”
she asked. “If agencies are having to retrain (high school) graduates they hire, then we’re doing
something hugely wrong.”
Vida, a 1966 Nixon High School
graduate, began her career as a
fourth-grade teacher at Ochoa Elementary and later spent 25 years
as a professor and administrator
at Laredo State University, now
Texas A&M International University.
She left her post as dean of
TAMIU’s College of Education in
2003 to head the Laredo Catholic
schools.
Vida obtained a doctorate in
education from the University of
Texas at Austin and has three
master’s degrees in related fields.
The second of eight children
born to Ana Maria and the late
Eloy Ramirez, Vida said her parents were “great believers” in education.
Her father was a vocational
teacher who taught auto mechanics at Zapata High School and
earned a GED through the military after serving in World War
II.
“He came back fully convinced
that without education, a person
couldn’t make it in life,” Vida said.
Her mother, who just turned
92, received a degree in nursing
primetime
7:00
EWTN/RE (2)
WOAI
(3)
AZTECA1 (4)
KABB
(5)
7:30
CW
(6)
(19)
AZTECA13(98)
XEFE
(99)
January 17, 2008
8:30
9:00
9:30
10:00
Why We Care
Way, the Truth
Abundant Living Refurbishing
TBA
The Rosary
Human Sexuality
My Name Is Earl The Office (TV14) The Celebrity Apprentice “Mr. Outside (9:01) ER “Atonement” (HDTV) (N)
News (N)
(TV14)
the Box” (TVPG)
(TVPG)
Ventaneando
Bellezas Indomables
Se Busca un Hombre (TV14)
Mientras Haya Vida
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Don’t Forget the Lyrics! (N) (TVPG) News (N)
The Simpsons
(N) (TVPG)
(TVPG)
Without a Trace “One and Only” (HDTV)
(TV14)
Educational Access
KENS/ED (8)
Ugly Betty “Odor in the Court” (HDTV)
KSAT
(9)
(N) (TV14)
KGNS
(10) (8) My Name Is Earl The Office
The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer
KLRN
(11)
(HDTV) (N)
KLDO
(12)(27) Amar sin Límites
Tormenta en el Paraíso
XHBR
(14)
Smallville “Wrath” (TVPG)
KVTV
8:00
A Primera Vista
Dr. Quinn (SS)
Que Risa
from Baylor University “at a time
when most women weren’t educated,” and she was on the surgical staff at the old Mercy Hospital,
Vida said.
“We’re seven sisters and one
brother, and we grew up strong
because of our parents,” Vida said.
“When we get together, there’s
always a fight as to who will be in
control,” she laughed. “My parents taught us that everything is
attainable if you work at it, and if
you really want it.”
Vida and her husband, Frank,
a local customs broker, have three
grown children.
(Tricia Cortez may be reached
at 728-2568 or by e-mail at [email protected])
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation “Go to Without a Trace “Article 32” (HDTV)
Hell” (TV14) (DVS)
(N) (TVPG)
Grey’s Anatomy “Kung Fu Fighting”
(HDTV) (TV14)
The Celebrity Apprentice (TVPG)
Conversations
Texas Monthly
Talks (TVG)
Pasión
Yo Amo a Juan Querendón
Supernatural “Red Sky at Morning”
(TVPG)
Info 7 Noche
Los Simpson
Noticiario al Día
10:30
11:00
11:30
Daily Mass: Our Lady
(10:35) The Tonight Show With Jay
(11:37) Scrubs
Leno (HDTV) (N) (TV14)
(TV14)
Hechos Noche
Buenas Noches Protagonistas
Family Guy (TV14) Seinfeld (TVPG) Everybody Loves
Raymond
George Lopez
(TVPG)
News (N)
News (N)
(10:35) Late Show With David Letter- Late Late Showman (N) (TVPG)
Craig Ferguson
Late Show With David Letterman
Friends (TVPG)
(9:02) Big Shots “Sex Be Not Proud”
(10:35) Inside Edi- (11:05) Nightline Jimmy Kimmel
(HDTV) (N) (TV14)
tion (TVPG)
(TVG)
Live (TV14)
(9:01) ER (N) (TVPG)
News
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno
Late Night
State of Tomorrow La Plaza -- Maria Soundstage (HDTV Part 2 of 2) (N)
Charlie Rose (N) (TVPG)
(TVPG)
Hinojosa
(TVPG)
Amas de Casa Desesperadas
Noticias (TVPG) Noticiero Univ.
La Hora de la Risa
Pasión
Noticiero (TVPG) Noticiero TD
Los Reporteros
The Bernie Mac The Bernie Mac Will & Grace
Will & Grace
Sex and the City Sex and the City
Show (TVPG)
Show (TVPG)
(TV14)
(TVPG)
(TV14)
(TV14)
Los Simpson
Difícil de Creer
Grey
Shark
Las Noticias por Adela
Master Show
Super Agente
sports
ESPN
ESPN2
FSSW
GOLF
(32)
(33)
(55)
(70)
College Basketball
College Basketball Indiana at Minnesota. (Live)
SportsCenter (HDTV) (Live)
NFL Live
Gamenight
College Basketball
Tennis Australian Open -- Early Round -- Day 5. From Melbourne, Australia. (Live)
2007 World Series of Poker
College Basketball Central Arkansas at Texas-San Antonio. (Live)
Sports Beat
Final Score
College Basketball Arizona at Stanford. (Live)
Trevino & Lopez
PGA Tour Golf Bob Hope Chrysler Classic -- Second Round. From Palm Desert, Calif.
19th Hole
Golf Central
family
DISNEY
FAMILY
NICK
TOON
(60)
(48)
(56)
(47)
Model Behavior › (2000, Comedy-Drama)
That’s So Raven That’s So Raven Life With Derek
(6) Mean Girls (2004)
Mean Girls ››› (2004, Comedy) Lindsay Lohan, Tina Fey.
SpongeBob
Drake & Josh
Home Improve. Home Improve. George Lopez
George Lopez
Foster’s Home
Courage-Dog
Grim Advent.
Gym Partner
Ed, Edd n Eddy Naruto (TVPG)
Zack & Cody
Han. Montana
The 700 Club (TVPG)
Fresh Prince
Fresh Prince
Family Guy
Family Guy
Replacements
Whose Line?
Home Improve.
Metalocalypse
Kim Possible
Whose Line?
Home Improve.
Shin Chan
cable variety
A&E
ANIMAL
BRAVO
COMEDY
COURT
DISC
DISCH
E!
FOOD
FUSE
FX
GALA
HGTV
HIST
ION
LIFE
MUN2
NGEO
OXY
SCIFI
SOAP
SPIKE
STYLE
TBS
TELE
TLC
TNT
TRAVEL
TVLAND
TXCN
USA
WE
WGN
(30)
(46)
(67)
(41)
(61)
(45)
(75)
(44)
(29)
(65)
(63)
(26)
(53)
(71)
(23)
(40)
(24)
(72)
(69)
(42)
(74)
(51)
(73)
(68)
(25)
(31)
(43)
(54)
(62)
(28)
(58)
(60)
(7)
The First 48 (HDTV) (TV14)
The First 48 (HDTV) (TV14)
The First 48 (N) (TV14)
American Justice: Nightmare
The First 48 (HDTV) (TV14)
Black Beauty ››› (1994, Adventure) Sean Bean, David Thewlis.
Animal Precinct (N) (TVPG)
Black Beauty ››› (1994, Adventure) Sean Bean, David Thewlis.
Project Runway (TV14)
Make Me a Supermodel
Make Me a Supermodel (N)
Make Me a Supermodel
Project Runway (TV14)
Daily Show
Colbert Report
Futurama
South Park
South Park
Drawn Together Daily Show
Colbert Report
South Park
Drawn Together
Speeders (TV14) Speeders (TV14) Speeders
Speeders (TV14) Forensic Files
Forensic Files
Forensic Files
Hollywood Heat Speeders (TV14) Speeders (TV14)
MythBusters (TVPG)
MythBusters (HDTV) (TVPG)
MythBusters (HDTV) (TVPG)
MythBusters (HDTV) (TVPG)
MythBusters (TVPG)
Amazing American Families
Kids by the Dozen (TVG)
Little People, Big World (TVG)
Amazing American Families
Kids by the Dozen (TVG)
Britney Spears: Fall
Girl Next Door
Girl Next Door
12 Sexiest Vegas Jobs (TV14)
E! News (TVPG) Chelsea Lately
The Daily 10
Girl Next Door
Good Eats
Bobby Flay
Iron Chef America Bobby Flay.
Ace of Cakes Super Bowl cake.
Good Eats
Unwrapped
Iron Chef America Bobby Flay.
No. 1 Countdown “Rock” (TVPG)
No. 1 Countdown (TVPG)
Madonna: Truth or Dare ››› (1991, Documentary)
Videos Rocked
Behind Enemy Lines ›› (2001, Action) Owen Wilson.
Behind Enemy Lines ›› (2001, Action) Owen Wilson.
That ’70s Show That ’70s Show
Chespirito (TVG)
Boxeo en Esta Esquina
Qué Nos Pasa
Las Noticias por Adela
Noticiero Joaquín López
Noticiero TD
Designed to Sell Carter Can (N)
Divine Design
Color Correction House Hunters
House Hunters
Property Virgins Over Your Head Designed to Sell Carter Can
Modern Marvels (TVPG)
Gangland (HDTV) (N) (TV14)
Ancient Discoveries
Earth’s Black Hole (TVPG)
Modern Marvels (TVPG)
Mama’s Family
Mama’s Family
Drew Carey
Drew Carey
Who’s Boss?
Who’s Boss?
Firebrand (N)
Paid Program
Paid Program
Reba (TVPG)
Reba (TVPG)
Two Can Play That Game › (2001, Romance-Comedy)
Will & Grace
Will & Grace
Frasier (TVPG)
Frasier (TVPG)
Vivo “Los Super Reyes” (TVPG)
L’Créme (TVPG)
One Nation Mix (TVPG)
Vivo “Los Super Reyes” (TVPG)
L’Créme (TVPG)
Police Tech “Stolen Cars” (TVPG)
Crash Science (HDTV) (TVG)
Naked Science (HDTV) (TVG)
Police Tech “Stolen Cars” (TVPG)
Crash Science (HDTV) (TVG)
Snapped (TVPG) Snapped (TVPG) Bad Girls Club
Bad Girls Club
Janice Dickinson Modeling
Janice Dickinson Modeling
The Tyra Banks Show (TVPG)
(6) Primal Force › (1999)
King of the Lost World (2005, Adventure) Bruce Boxleitner.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1997, Fantasy) Richard Crenna.
All My Children Today (TVPG)
One Life to Live Today (TVPG)
General Hospital Today (TVPG)
Days of our Lives Today (TV14)
Young & Restless Yesterday
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
TNA iMPACT! (N) (TV14)
TNA Wrestling: Global Impact (N)
MANswers
Whacked Out
Ultimate Style
Shop Like-Star
Extreme Makeover (TV14)
Dr. 90210 Race car driver. (TV14)
Clean House Cluttered home.
Extreme Makeover (TV14)
Friends (TVPG) Friends (TVPG) Spider-Man ››› (2002, Action) Tobey Maguire.
Sex and the City Sex and the City (11:10) Spider-Man (2002)
Madre Luna (TV14)
Victoria
Pecados Ajenos
Noti-Telemndo
Mas Vale Tarde
Decisiones de
Wrecks to Riches (TVG)
American Chopper (N) (TVPG)
American Chopper (TVPG)
American Chopper (TVPG)
American Chopper (TVPG)
NBA Basketball Cleveland Cavaliers at San Antonio Spurs. (HDTV) (Live)
NBA Basketball Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers. (HDTV) (Live)
Anthony Bourdain
Million Dollar Yachts (TVPG)
Deal Hunter
Feasty Boys
Fantastic Houseboats (TVG)
Anthony Bourdain
M*A*S*H (TVPG) M*A*S*H (TVPG) Good Times
Good Times
Good Times
Good Times
M*A*S*H (TVPG) M*A*S*H (TVPG) Andy Griffith
Andy Griffith
(6) TXCN Midday News
TXCN Evening News
TXCN Evening News
Law & Order: SVU
Law & Order: SVU
Law & Order: SVU
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: SVU
Under the Tuscan Sun ››› (2003, Romance) Diane Lane, Sandra Oh.
Under the Tuscan Sun ››› (2003, Romance) Diane Lane, Sandra Oh.
The In Crowd › (2000, Suspense) Lori Heuring, Susan Ward.
WGN News at Nine (N)
Scrubs (TV14)
Scrubs (TV14)
Corner Gas
Becker (TVPG)
movies
AMC
(57)
HBO
(700)
HBO2
(701)
HBOLAT (707)
LMN
(59)
TCM
(420)
TMC
(746)
Death Wish 4: The Crackdown › (1987, Drama) Charles Bronson, Kay Lenz,
Death Wish 4: The Crackdown › (1987, Drama) Charles Bronson, Kay Lenz,
John P. Ryan.
John P. Ryan.
Inside the NFL (TVPG)
Autopsy: Postmortem With Dr. Michael The Wire “Unconfirmed Reports” (TVMA) Real Sex Xtra:
G-String Divas
Baden (TV14)
Pornucopia
(TVMA)
Norbit › (2007, Comedy) Eddie Murphy, Thandie Newton, (8:45) Trust the Man ›› (2005, Romance-Comedy) David Duchovny, Julianne
Countdown to
Cuba Gooding Jr..
Moore, Billy Crudup.
Jones-Trinidad
Inside the NFL (N) (TVG) (SS)
Princesas ››› Candela Peña. (2005)
Real Sex Xtra
G-String Divas
Death Hunt ›› (1981, Action) Charles
Bronson.
Inside the NFL (TVPG)
Alpha Dog ›› (2006, Crime Drama)
Bruce Willis.
Inside the NFL (TVG) (SS)
The Matthew Shepard Story ›› (2002, Docudrama) Stockard Channing, Sam (8:51) A Father for Brittany ›› (1998, Docudrama) Andrew (10:42) Broken Silence (1998, Drama) Ariana Richards,
Waterston, Shane Meier.
McCarthy, Michael Learned.
Susan Blakely, William Bumiller.
Casablanca ›››› (1942, Drama) Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul
From Here to Eternity ››› (1953, Drama) Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift,
(11:15) Notorious ›››› (1946, SusHenreid. (DVS)
Deborah Kerr.
pense) Cary Grant.
A Night at the Roxbury › Will Ferrell. (1998)
Man About Town ›› Ben Affleck. (2006)
Keeping Up With (:45) 5ive Girls Ron Perlman. (2006) Five wayward teens
Jonesers
battle a demonic force at a reformatory.