Hearing Intro   Hearing Papers

California State Assembly Education
Committee Hearing

On February 27, 2002, the American Sports Institute
made a two-hour presentation at a hearing before
the California State Assembly Education Committee at
the State Capitol in Sacramento. In addition to the
Assembly Committee Members, several state Senators
sat in on the hearing.

Given the progress in educational reform that ASI has made since 1989,
Committee Chair Virginia Strom-Martin asked ASI to select experts from
around the country and educators from ASI's educational reform programs
to address the topics of: 1) health; 2) physical education; 3) the positive
aspects of sport culture; and 4) states of consciousness as they relate to:
a) learning preparedness; b) how students learn best; and c) creating
environments where children experience a sense of place and belonging.

One of the anticipated outcomes was to discover ways to better prepare
potential and current educators as they go through the California teacher
training and professional development processes.

Below is a pictorial listing of the expert witnesses and presenters who spoke at
the hearing on behalf of ASI, as well as other photos of the hearing. A special
thanks goes to Ron Greene for taking these photos.

In addition, you can click on the navigation at the top-right of this page to
go to the Papers and Reports section of the ASI Online Library to read the
provocative hearing papers presented by the expert witnesses.

Note: Dr. Saundra Murray Nettles of the University of Maryland's College
of Education was unable to attend the hearing but presented her written
testimony in absentia.

California State Assembly Education Committee Hearing

Most of the ASI contingent in front of the State Capitol.	ASI president Joel Kirsch briefing expert and witness presenters for the hearing.
Expert witnesses George Leonard (l) and Tim Byers go over details before the hearing.	The audience gathers as the overhead messageboard describes the focus of the hearing.
Assembly Education Committee Chair Virginia Strom-Martin opens the hearing. Joining Strom-Martin for the session are (l-r) Senators John Vasconcellos and Tom Torlakson, and Consultant Mavonne Garrity.	Joel Kirsch presents opening remarks for the hearing on behalf of ASI.
Kirsch leads the hearing clap-in ceremony for the audience.	Assemblymembers and Senators participate in the clap-in ceremony.
George Leonard, ASI Director and president of Esalen Institute, gives a historical overview of the school reform movement.	Senior researcher Dr. Barbara McCombs of the University of Denver Research Institute addresses the legislators regarding learner-centered principles.
With Assemblywoman Sally Havice looking on, Senate Education Committee Chair John Vasconcellos and Senator Tom Torlakson ask questions of the expert witnesses.
Dr. David Shernoff, research associate at the University of Wisconsin, addresses the hearing on the subject of flow states and engagement in the classroom.	Dr. Tim Byers, associate director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center, provides sobering data on overweight and obesity, and their impact on diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Assemblywomen (l) Hannah-Beth Jackson and Lynne Leach asking questions related to the expert witness testimonies.

PRESENTERS

Administrators

SANDRE LEIGH Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy	VINCE MATTTHEWS Dewey Academy	EVAN SMITH Coulterville-Greeley School

Middle and High School Teachers

HERB BLANCHARD McAteer HS	VERNA CASTRO Intl Studies Academy	PETE DONOFF White Hill MS	JOHN GOULDING James Logan HS

Elementary School Teachers

GLENN CASTRO Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy	EDITH JORDAN Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy	SUSAN KATZ Gallinas School	GUADALUPE PENA Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy

Students

JAZMIN AVERY Cooley MS	RAMPI GULATI Tamalpais HS (1994 Graduate)	NIKKI LaCROSS Cooley MS	MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ Cooley MS

PASS student Nikki LaCross leads the hearing clap-out ceremony.