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Education 1990 [OA 8750]
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Education 1990 [OA 8750]
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Records of the White House Office of Speechwriting (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Mark Davis Subject Files
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection: George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Davis, Mark, Files
Subseries:
Subject File, 1989-1991
OA/ID Number:
13869
Folder ID Number:
13869-013
Folder Title:
Education, 1990
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
19
2
6
2
essons
Edward B. Fiske
NYT
In Kentucky, teachers, not legislators, will be
S
S
writing the lesson plans.
h
4/4/10
a
C
I
FRANKFORT, Ky.
When it comes to education, Ken-
31
tucky has rarely made much of a
23
splash. Centre College in Danville
upset mighty Harvard in football in
54
36
1921, and Sherleen Sisney, a Louis-
ville high school teacher, became Na-
58
42
tional Teacher of the Year in 1984.
But by and large the Bluegrass State
92
has been content to paddle the back-
150
32
waters of American public education.
46
Then last Thursday the General As-
96
129
sembly of the Commonwealth of Ken-
28
tucky, in one fell, court-ordered
swoop, enacted the most sweeping
education package ever conceived by
a state legislature.
In doing so the Kentucky lawmak-
ers may well have signaled the
eclipse of one of the most stifling
educational trends of the last decade:
the growing control by state educa-
tion departments over how teachers
and students spend their time. "Let's
hope that the changes in Kentucky
Drawings by Michael Klein
t
are a harbinger of changes to come in
other states," said Frank Newman,
ways to assess whether students are
b
president of the Education Commis-
meeting them.
CO
sion of the States.
No one underestimates the power
The trend toward state control of
that the new state bureaucrcay will
local schools dates to the early 1970's,
wield. It will set the learning agenda
when state legislatures, seeking to
(
for students and award financial bo-
equalize school spending, began sup-
nuses to staff members of schools
plementing education spending to as-
where students exceed specified
sist property-poor districts. As a re-
learning goals. It will also send in out-
sult, states now supply slightly more
side teachers and administrators -
than 50 percent of the money for pub-
already known around here as the
lic schools, up from less than 39 per-
"S.W.A.T. Team" - to take over, and
cent in 1970.
even shut down, chronically failing
Then came the school reform
schools.
movement of the 1980's. Pressured by
But the Kentucky lawmakers have
business leaders and others to im-
made an all-important distinction be-
prove the quality of schools, gover-
tween leadership and control. The de-
nors and state legislators did what
partment may not tell teachers and
politicians usually do in such situa-
principals in successful schools how
tions: They imposed thousands of
to run their classes. "Regulation is
new rules and regulations.
for schools that are failing, not for
In Texas, legislators wrote detailed
ones that are succeeding,' said Jack
lesson plans into state law. Ken-
Foster, secretary of the Governor's
tucky's soon-to-be-repealed regula-
education and culture cabinet.
tions even spell out the precise num-
ber of minutes that teachers must de-
Adopting the new approach will be
vote to each subject each day. Teach-
tricky. Much will depend on the skill
ers have been known to interrupt a
and vision of the person chosen to be
heated literary discussion because
the first commissioner of education.
they haven't done that day's 12
Meanwhile, the assessment process
minutes of health education.
will depend on techniques yet to be
The new system in Kentucky,
developed.
which will be adopted over a five-
The new legislation also has a few
year period starting in January,
internal contradictions. For example,
moves in the opposite direction. By
Dennis Boswell, principal of the Con-
1995, the state' 178 school districts
way Middle School in Louisville,
must surrender control of local
noted that his school is already oper-
school budgets and educational pro-
ating in the decentralized manner
to boards of three teachers,
called for in the new legislation, al-
twoparents and the principal.
though its management team does
All of Kentucky's current education
not fit the prescribed formula. "It
regulations will be repealed, and the
doesn't make any sense to give teach-
1
State Education Department will get
ers and principals the authority to
out of the regulating business. Its role
make their own decisions and then
willibe to set learning goals for each
tell them how to go about doing it," he
subject and grade and to develop
said.
Perhaps the most revealing aspect
of Kentucky's reform effort was the
nature of the political struggle that
36
surrounded it. As one might expect,
6
most of the horse trading revolved
4
around fiscal matters like the new
formulas for distributing state aid to
n
poor school districts.
Conspicuously missing, though,
were concerns on the part of local
school boards that they were being
ti
46
stripped of virtually all their control
n
129
over curriculums, textbooks and
S
other educational decisions. Instead,
ic
75
lobbyists for the Kentucky School
k:
Boards Association concentrated
A
their resources on a futile battle to
al
prevent the enactment of anti-nepo-
re
tism provisions that will bar them
of
from putting their relatives on the
S
school payroll.
th
"It's a metaphor for the way the old
e
system works," Mr. Foster said.
lo
"People care more about controlling
schools than controlling education.'
S(
in
THE WHITE HOUSE
on Education
PRESIDENT TRANSMITS "EDUCATION EXCELLENCE ACT OF 1989" TO HILL
On April 5, President Bush sent a wide-ranging education
reform package to Congress, entitled the "Education Excellence
Act of 1989. This legislation embodies several principles
central to education reform. First, excellence and achievement
in education should be recognized and rewarded. Second, federal
dollars should help those most in need. Third, greater
flexibility and choice in education -- both parental choice in
selecting schools for their children and local school systems'
choice of teachers and principals -- are essential. Finally, the
President supports educational accountability, and is committed
to measuring and rewarding progress toward quality education.
The bill includes seven specific legislative initiatives:
The Presidential Merit Schools program would reward schools
which make substantial progress in raising students' educational
achievement, creating a safe and drug-free school environment,
and reducing the drop-out rate. Public and private elementary
and secondary schools would be eligible for cash awards.
A new Magnet Schools of Excellence program would support the
establishment, expansion, or enhancement of magnet schools.
Magnet schools are an important instrument of choice -- a means
of promoting healthy competition to attract students and create
an incentive for educational innovation.
The Alternative Certification of Teachers and Principals
program would provide incentives for States to develop, expand or
improve flexible certification systems designed to draw into
education talented professionals who have demonstrated their
subject area competence and leadership qualities.
The President's Awards for Excellence in Education would be
given to public and private school teachers in every State who
meet the highest standards of excellence.
Drug-Free Schools Urban Emergency Grants would provide
special assistance for a comprehensive range of services to
selected urban school districts that are disproportionately
affected by drug trafficking and abuse.
A National Science Scholars program would provide
scholarships to high school seniors who have excelled in the
sciences and mathematics.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities would be
provided with additional funding for endowment matching grants,
an effective way to create financial strength and long-term
financial security.
Urging the Congress to take prompt action on the
legislation, the President said, "I believe that greater
educational achievement promotes sustained economic growth,
enhances the Nation's competitive position in world markets,
increases productivity, and leads to higher incomes for everyone.
The Nation must invest in its young people, giving them the
knowledge, skills and values to live productive lives.' "
BUSH OUTLINES INITIATIVE IN SERIES OF EVENTS WITH STUDENTS
Over the last ten days, the President met with education
leaders and students before announcing his legislative proposal.
In a succession of events -- from a visit to local James Madison
High School, to a question-and-answer session with students from
the Close Up Foundation, to an address before the Association of
Community and Junior Colleges -- President Bush reached out to
those on the front lines of educaton reform.
He told students during the Close Up event on March 29,
"These are your schools and they exist to serve you, and you have
the right to demand the best from your teachers and from your
PUBLISHED BY THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS (202) 456-2930
schools. You can expect excellence from your schools and you can
make them work for you. So where school is concerned, it's not a
matter of like it or leave it. It's like it or change it. "
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS LINE UP IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
At the time the White House Wire went to press, key
Congressional leaders in education issues had cosponsored the
"Educational Excellence Act of 1989," including:
The Senate Republican leadership has moved quickly to line
up support for the bill, led by Robert Dole (R-KS) ; Alan Simpson
(R-WY) ; John Chafee (R-RI) ; Don Nickles (R-OK). Democrats David
Boren (D-OK) and Claiborne Pell (D-RI), education subcommittee
chairman of the Labor and Human Resources Committee, have also
cosponsored. The ranking member of the full committee, Orrin
Hatch (R-UT), has joined the principal cosponsor in the Senate,
Nancy Kassebaum (R-KS), who is the education subcommittee's
ranking member. The ranking member of the Appropriations
subcommittee on education, Arlen Specter (R-PA) in cosponsoring
as well. There are a total of 34 Senate cosponsors to date.
In the House, the Republican leadership has marshalled
strong support as well, led by Robert Michel (R-IL) ; Newt
Gingrich (R-GA) ; Jerry Lewis (R-CA) ; Bill McCollom (R-FL) ; and
Mickey Edwards (R-OK). The principal cosponsor, Bill Goodling
(R-PA) is ranking member of the Education and Labor Committee, as
well as of the education subcommittee. Also, Silvio Conte (R-
MA), ranking member of the Appropriations subcommittee on
education is cosponsoring, along with 69 other House cosponsors.
SUPPORT BUILDS ACROSS NATION FOR EDUCATION REFORM
Enthusiastic supporters of the President's goals for
improving education are speaking out all over the country -- from
elected officials, teachers, business leaders and members of the
media. Giving parents and students educational choice, and
promoting excellence in all classrooms are the talk of many
concerned Americans:
"If we are to maintain our position as a leader among the
industrialized nations and if we are to compete successfully
internationally, we must attack the education deficit now. The
Educational Excellence Act and other education initiatives
proposed by President Bush hold solid promise of strengthening
the education structure and fostering improvement throughout our
education system. " -- Secretary of Education Lauro Cavazos
"This is an excellent initiative." -- Senator Claiborne Pell
(D-RI), chairman of the Senate education subcommittee
"To be successful, the new agenda for school reform must be
driven by competition and market discipline the objective
should be clear from the outset: complete restructuring
The
public schools must change if they are to survive." " -- David
Kearns, Chairman and CEO, Xerox Corp.
"We must remember who is ultimately responsible for
children. Now is the time to empower parents Choice is
the
key. " -- Governor Rudy Perpich (D-MN)
"Parental choice can provide the catalyst for educational
reform by introducing a market mechanism to the public
educational system." -- Sy Fliegel, former administrator, East
Harlem District 4
"We propose an idea in the great American tradition: you can
increase excellence by increasing choice." -- National Governors'
Association, Time for Results
"The system needs a complete overhaul, and not just more
tinkering. " -- The Wall Street Journal, March 31, 1989
"We are extremely pleased that the alternate route to
teacher certification, which has worked so well in New Jersey, is
now getting support at the national level. President Bush's
legislative proposal can help other states duplicate New Jersey's
success in bringing thousands of qualified alternate route
teachers into our classrooms." -- Governor Thomas H. Kean (R-NJ)
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