U.VA. TO OFFER VIDEOCONFERENCES FOR EDUCATORS

	CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Dec. 27 -- E.D. Hirsch Jr., who gained
prominence among educators with such books as "Cultural Literacy"
and "The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy," will present a
videoconference on "Understanding and Implementing the Core
Knowledge Curriculum" on Thursday, Jan. 25, from 3 to 5 p.m.
	Organized through the University of Virginia's Division of
Continuing Education, the videoconference will examine the core
knowledge curriculum, which U.Va. English professor Hirsch describes
as an avenue for a shared educational experience that may help
eliminate a learning deficit common in many American schools.
During the conference, Constance Jones, principal of the nation's
first core knowledge school, Three Oaks Elementary in Fort Myers,
FL,  will share her thoughts about the innovative program.
	"Preventing Reading Failure" is the title of another
videoconference scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 15, from 3 to 5 p.m.
It will be led by Peter Derwitz, professor of reading education at
U.Va.'s Curry School of Education. The conference will describe the
nationally recognized Book Buddies, a reading tutoring program for
first graders.  Video footage will allow conference participants to
observe several tutoring sessions.
	"Children who fail to learn to read by the end of first
grade face a bleak future of continued school failure," says
Derwitz, director of TEMPO, U.Va.'s outreach program in reading.
	The videoconferences are available to educators around the
state.  School districts can arrange to air the programs, or
individuals can participate in the videoconferences at the seven
regional centers of U.Va.'s continuing education division.  Centers
are located in Charlottesville, Hampton Roads, Lynchburg, Richmond
and Roanoke.  In addition, the Northern Virginia Center is in Falls
Church and the Southwest Virginia Center is in Abingdon.
	Additional conferences on block scheduling and integrated
instruction are slated for March 21 and April 18, respectively.
	The live videoconferences offer audience-presenter
interactions and are available at a cost of $300 each.
	For additional information, contact Dennis Parks in
Charlottesville at (804) 982-5397.
###
December 26, 1995