Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

P ART III: P LANTING U RBAN C HURCHES • 409

5. How old and in what condition are the various educational institutions in the area? 6. What caliber of teachers are employed in the various levels here, and what sort of facilities are provided at institutions within this community? 7. How do students of various grades rank academically with neighboring communities, in the city or town at-large, and nationally? 8. What are the current teacher-student ratios in the schools at present? What is the level of expertise and experience for the average administrators in the various educational institutions? 9. Who are the key individuals in charge of the administration of the schools at the various levels in the community? Who are the members of the school board and what has been their performance of late? 10. What is the current dropout/truancy rate for the various schools? 11. What is the overall character of the schools, that is, their safety, cleanliness, organization, support? What are the best/worst schools in the community? 12. What teacher or parent-teacher organizations exist that are making an impact on the quality of the education provided in the schools? 13. To what degree is equal privileges open to all children and adults of the area? 14. How many of the communities high school graduates go on to college? What kind of colleges or advanced institutions do they attend? 15. What opportunities exist for remedial or continuing education for adults and young people after they leave high school? VI. How Is the Community Organized and Governed Politically? 1. How many of the community are of voting age? What percentage of the community typically participates in local and national referendums and voting? 2. How is the local community organized politically? What are the precincts, districts, or zoning sections set up? 3. How many representative slots does the community have on the city council, state government, and national political bodies? Who is responsible for drawing up these districts?