Generalization

Monica MacAloney
University of West Alabama
SE 503
Seminar in Behavior
 Generalization

Dothan City Schools (DCS), Morris Slingluff Elementary has recently undergone budget
cuts and therefore off-campus trips have been reduced to only one trip per year. We understand
that you, the parents are concerned that your child(ren) will not be able to work on the
generalization of skills within community settings. During this budget cut, the crisis panel has
three ways for generalization within the school setting. The DCS board tries to supply its
students with all necessary settings for cultural development. Unfortunately, DCS has recently
undergone budget cuts and according to budget cutback this year off-campus trips have been
condensed to only one trip per year. It goes without saying the school administration and staff
worries about this situation and is unwilling to leave everything as it is. That is why DCS has
decided to propose to, you, the parents three options of solving this problem. These are programs
which, you, the parent can vote for and choose the best for our children to help them as well as to
support them in their cultural development. The three programs are: trips at the cost of sponsors,
virtual field trips, and the expense of parents.

Every year our students in Kindergarten, travel to Panama City Beach, Florida to get the
experience of Gulf World, after almost a yearlong of learning and exploring within the school
setting about ocean animals. After budget cuts in DCS, Morris Slingluff could not pay for the
Kindergarten field trip. Kinder parents had hoped to raise $3,000 by January to cover the cost of
the field-trip funding. Program One would consist of local community business owners funding
the trip. This program would allow small business owners to write a check to help fund the
expensive of tickets to Gulf World along with three charted buses. There was an outpouring help
from the local businesses writing checks to help support learning for the Kindergarten students.
Within the community there were several donations drop off points at local business. Also, there
was a jar in the school’s office for students to donate their loose change. With all the donations
within the community there was enough funds to cover the cost of the field trip. Program Two
would consist of a virtual field trip. With this option there will be not out of pocket expensive.
The students will go on a virtual field trip within the classroom setting to learn all there is about
ocean life and the amazing creatures that live within that ecosystem. Program Three will consist
of the parents paying out of pocket. With this program the students still get to experience the trip
without the hassle of raising monies and asking for sponsors.