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Presidential Electronic Mail from the Automated Records Management System (ARMS)
Automated Records Management System (ARMS) Email from the Office of Policy Development (OPD) Bucket
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the upcoming conference on the Higher Education
Act (HEA) reauthorization bills
ddLegislators are worried that ED's contractors won't be able to handle the inc
reased volume of loan applications that may result
from ED's decision to offer
better rates. But ED officials say that recent efforts to modernize its DSL con
solidation operation has
prepared it for an onslaught of applicants.
ddLast month, ED established the lower interest rate for loans consolidated thr
ough DSL to take effect July I and run through Oct.
1. Students who got loans a
t higher interest rates now can refinance them with the government (ED, June 25
).
ddIn a July 22 letter to Education Secretary Richard Riley , House Education a
nd the Workforce Committee Chairman Bill
Goodling, R-Pa., wrote that the educat
ion panel is "greatly concerned about the possible effect on borrowers it claim
S to want to
assist."
ddGoodling and other GOP leaders on the House education committee are concerned
that ED loan consolidation may shut down
as it did last summer when the loan V
olume increased.
ddHouse staff say they will decide soon on the feasibility of holding an oversi
ght hearing on ED's loan consolidation.
ddGoodling cites an ED report that found the department's completion rate was a
paltry 58 percent for consolidation applications
between December 1997 and Jun
e 1998.
ddED argues that this statistic is misleading. In fact, for the 49,900 applicat
ions turned in to ED between Dec. 1 and April 30, fewer
than 5 percent remain u
nfinished, ED says.
ddIn a July 28 response, Riley noted that ED has taken a number of steps to exp
and and improve the efficiency of its consolidation
operation, including:
dd* A reengineered process by which borrowers certify their loan balances; * Ve
rifying all information through the National Student
Loan Data System; * Placin
g a number of new management and quality assurance mechanisms into the consolid
ation process; and
* Hiring new consultants and systems engineers to handle any
increased loan volume.
ddED desperately wants Congress to set the interest rate on both Family Educati
on Loan program and direct consolidated loans at
the July 1 rate.
ddBut GOP staffers point out that ED's decision has hardened relations between
the Clinton administration and the committee.
ddAnd according to several House staff members, ED's decision to lower the cons
olidated DSL interest rate on its direct loan
program will have serious repercu
ssions in conference. ddED "lost a lot of its leverage on a number of issues. W
e'll think twice about how we deal with them now," said Vic Klatt, the
House ed
ucation panel's majority education coordinator.
ddWhile Klatt hopes ED will support the final HEA bill and says the committee S
till will listen to ED's concerns, he doesn't anticipate
conferees moving close
r to the department on the consolidation issue.
ddED's assistant secretary for postsecondary education David Longanecker does
n't think the decision on loan consolidation had
nearly as chilling an effect W
ith Congress as House staff does. In an interview, Longanecker said the adminis
tration is currently
developing proposals to either subsidize private lenders o
r reduce their consolidation fees in order to keep the FEL community in
the con
solidation business if the interest rates are reduced.n
Publication#W\
P P# 63. Education Daily"Publication" #:\
P!P#August 4, 1998
Headline#\
P"P# Revised IDEA Quashes School District's Help For
StudentHeadlin
e
#:\
P#P#
by Rob Jennings
ddThe nation's updated special education law has not brought good tidings to on
e upstate New York family.
ddIn a major about-face, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled July 24
, in Russman V. Mills (95-7756), that public school
districts are not required
to provide on-site special ed services to a child whose parents have chosen to
enroll her in private school.
ddTwo years ago, that same court ordered the Watervliet, N.Y., school board to
foot the bill for Colleen Russman, a mentally
retarded student who is now 16 ye
ars old (ED, June 26, 1996). Her parents wanted Watervliet to apply her individ
ualized education
program at a Catholic school.
ddThe three-judge panel now has determined that IDEA, as amended, requires scho
ol districts to provide to private school students
only those services that can
be purchased with a proportionate amount of federal IDEA funds.
dd"School districts have discretion to determine whether to provide such servic
es on-site," the court wrote.
ddThe court also ordered both sides to assume to pay their own legal fees.n
Publication#W\
P$P# 64. Education Daily"Publication" #:\
P%P#August 4, 1998
Headline#\
P&P# Tracking Isn't A Bogeyman, Harvard Professor SaysHeadline #:\
P'P#
by Jonathan Fox
ddTracking students by ability level and prior achievement may not be so bad af
ter all, a controversial new study says.
ddWhile tracking often is blamed for shunting disproportionately large numbers
of poor and minority students into low-octane
classes, the real culprit is infe
rior teaching, says a new study by Tom Loveless, a Harvard University professor
, who advocates a more
demanding tracking system.
ddThe report "raises some serious doubts about what educators think is conventi
onal wisdom," said Chester Finn, president of the
Washington, D.C.-based Fordha
m Foundation, which supported the study. "Poor and minority kids can thrive in
this regimen."
ddBut one anti-tracking advocate said Loveless's thesis amounts to a pipe dream
"The sad reality is the tracking he advocates is not
often found in American
schools," said Kati Haycock, director of the Washington, D.C.-based Education T
rust.
ddContinuous Controversy
ddThe issue of tracking has been a political hot potato for decades, and some S
chools have switched to random groupings of students,
hoping the change will bo
ost overall achievement, while some states are offering incentives to discourag
e the practice.
ddThe argument against tracking is that it dooms minority and poor students to
a life of low-skilled, menial employment.
ddOn the other hand, teachers say heterogeneous groups are impossible to teach
without dumbing down instruction for brighter kids.
ddMeanwhile, parents of students who normally constitute the faster tracks supp
ort tracking because it ensures a better education
for their children.
ddRhetoric aside, Loveless said research "fails to support the indictment" on t
racking, which he charged is part of a "dubious social
agenda."
ddInstead, coursework tailored to ability level stimulates achievement for all
levels, he said, especially in Catholic schools. The
current anti-tracking sent
iment seems to be directed more at past tracking than its current state, Lovele
SS said.
dd"Today, schools rarely assign students to a regiment of college or vocational
courses across subject areas," he said. Instead,
students are assigned to math
or reading tracks, and students do move up and down in the tracks when they ou
tgrow the pace of
instruction, Loveless said.
ddBut one criticism of tracking still seems valid to Loveless: Low tracks rarel
y offer preparation for college, a factor that particularly
hurts poor and mino
rity students disproportionally assigned to bottom-tier tracks.
ddReformers complain of poor students making it through high school relegated t
o general or remedial classes, never advancing tohigher-level classes such as a
Igebra and trigonometry, which are necessary for college admission.
ddThe lack of rigor endemic to these courses proves the system needs a shake-up
, advocates say.
ddToo often, all U.S. high schools do is track, condemning needy students to su
bpar achievement, said acting Deputy Education
Secretary Marhsall Smith at a re
cent educational researchers conference. The Clinton administration wants more
demanding
coursework for all students (ED, April 15).
ddBut Loveless and Finn say the new study is proof that better teaching and hig
her standards are needed, not an end to tracking.
ddPublic schools should look to Catholic schools for ideas on how to accomplish
this, Loveless said.n
Publication#W\
P(P# 65. CongressDaily"Publication" #:\ P)P# 08/03/98Section:
APPROPRIATIONS;
Headline#\
P*P# Clinton Threatens To Veto Labor-HHS Bill In Current
FormHeadli
ne
#:\
P+P#
Accusing House Republicans of putting "politics ahead of people" by failing t
o fully fund a host of his education initiatives,
President Clinton today vowed
to veto the FY99 Labor-HHS appropriations bill if it remains in its current fo
rm. "If a bill that is
proposed by the House Republicans passes, I will veto it
, Clinton said. For the second time in less than a week, Clinton pounded
Repub
licans for not agreeing to funding levels he has proposed for the Summer Jobs i
nitiative, the Head Start program, voluntary
national testing, the America Read
S initiative to hire tutors, after- and before-school programs, plans to place
more computers in
classrooms and to decrease the size of classrooms, and the Hi
gh Hopes mentoring and tutoring program. Addressing a group of
children enrolle
d in a summer jobs program, Clinton also demanded Congress add to the bill his
$180 million proposal to improve
health and safety standards at childcare facil
ities. In addition, he slammed the GOP for seeking to eliminate the Low Income
Home
Energy Assistance program, which provides aid for paying heating and cooli
ng bills.
ddClinton also appeared to indicate a willingness to wage war with Congress thi
S fall across the entire budget battlefront. "So far,
Congress hasn't passed [m
y] budget, or one of its own," Clinton said. "Because of the delay, they may de
cide to send me a bare-bones
budget that fails to expand the critical investmen
ts we need to make from education to summer jobs to school modernization to chi
Id
care. But the last budget of the 20th century should be preparing our nation
for the challenges of the next. I will not accept a budget
that fails to do th
is."
ddHowever, a Republican House Appropriations Committee aide defended the FY99 L
abor-HHS spending bill, arguing that last
year's budget deal forced appropriato
rs to set priorities. "We had to live with the budget agreement that the presid
ent and the Congress
set last year," the aide said. "The funding levels were ti
ght." The aide said the Clinton administration's FY99 budget used $9 billion
fr
om user fees and tobacco legislation to boost discretionary spending - proposal
S that have not been enacted. "Appropriators are
dealing in reality and we have
to mark up our bills based on real numbers," she said. The aide said the Labor
- HHS bill pending in
the House provides a $1.2 billion boost for the National
Institutes of Health. "More and more people are realizing this bill has
pro
vided a huge increase in health [funding]," the aide said.
ddMeanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Lott and House Speaker Gingrich Friday sent
Clinton a letter challenging him to assure the
American people that he is not
committed to a shutdown strategy by vetoing several of the annual funding bills
. "Before the members
of Congress return home for the August recess, we want to
publicly reaffirm our determination to keep open the vital functions of
the fe
deral government at the end of this fiscal year," the two leaders wrote Clinton
.
- by Keith Koffler and David Baumannn
Publication#W\
P,P# 66. Education Daily"Publication" #:\
P-P#August 4, 1998
Headline#\
P.P# House Again Uses D.C. Bill For Pet Education Policies Headline
#:\ P/P#
by William J. Cahir
ddHouse Republicans are dabbling in education policy again for the District of
Columbia.
ddThe House Appropriations Committee last week approved a fiscal 1999 spending
bill for the nation's capital that would:
dd* Limit attorney fee awards in local special education disputes; * Bar the us
e of federal funds for nonresident students attending
school in Washington, D.C
;; and * Direct more than $744,000 in school funds to a regional chapter of the
Boy Scouts.
ddThe bill, which the spending panel endorsed by voice vote on Thursday, would
provide $793.7 million to District schools,
including $640 million from local t
axes, $130 million in federal funds and $22.9 million from other sources.
ddLocally collected tax revenue cannot be spent on schools until funding levels
are approved by Congress. The bill would provide
a 14.3 percent increase over
fiscal 1998, according to the spending panel.
ddLast year, the GOP tried to authorize a $45 million, five-year school choice
program that President Clinton vetoed (ED, May 26).
ddSky High Special Ed Costs
ddln a report accompanying the bill, the Appropriations Committee complains tha
t District schools fail to adequately serve disabledstudents, sparking lawsuits
and exorbitant costs.
ddThe city is proposing to spend $156 million on special ed in 1998-99, nearly
twice what it requested a year earlier. That would
include $71 million for 1,45
I placements in regional private schools, at an average cost of $48,600.
ddTrying to combat such costs, the bill would bar attorney fees for administrat
ive hearings under the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA), whic
h are required before parents may file special ed lawsuits.
ddWhen cases do go to court and parents win, the bill would limit attorney fees
to a rate "prevailing in the community."
ddThe bill takes up the issue of tuition for nonresidents because House aides b
elieve Maryland and Virginia residents are taking
advantage of free child care
in the capital.
ddSchools in Washington provide child care before and after school, and a House
aide complained yesterday that up to 4,000
Maryland and Virginia residents dri
ve into the city each day to enroll children in the program "without paying loc
al taxes or tuition.
ddThe committee's bill also would give $244,078 to the Bethesda, Md.-based Nati
onal Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts for
services to 12,600 students at
39 public schools last year.
ddThese services included "staff, curriculum and support materials," the bill S
ays. The measure also would give the Boy Scouts'
chapter another $500,000 in fi
scal 1999 to expand the program.
ddHouse aides said the Boy Scouts provide ethics and citizenship training.
dd"The city has a huge problem with children of broken families, and this is pr
oviding a critical resource at nominal cost," said a
staffer who requested anon
ymity.n
Publication#W\
POP# 67. The Washington ost"Publication" #:\
PIP# 08/04/98; E
dition: FINAL; Section: Metro; Page B01
Headline#\ P2P# Back to Class Already?Headline #:\ P3P#Subhead#[\ P4P#
Fairfax School Starts Year-Round Schedule
Subhead#:\
P5P# By Victoria Benning
Washington Post Staff Writer
Timber Lane Elementary School in Fairfax County yesterday became the first Was
hington area public school to begin year-round
classes, an experiment that will
be watched carefully by districts across the region as they work to boost stud
ent achievement.
dd"This is an historic occasion and a great day in the commonwealth," Virginia
Secretary of Education Wilbert Bryant told students,
parents and teachers durin
g opening-day ceremonies.
ddTimber Lane's calendar will feature the same 180 days of classes offered by o
ther Virginia districts, as required by state law. But
the school days will be
more spread out over the year, so that the students will attend nine-week sessi
ons followed by three-week
breaks in October, January and April. Students will
not attend school in July.
dProponents of the modified calendar say the shorter summer vacation will help
students retain more of what they learned during
the previous school year, so
teachers won't have to spend as much time in the fall reviewing old material.
ddDuring the breaks, students will have the option of attending two-week classe
S on such subjects as Web page design, outdoor
science and architecture, along
with remedial courses in subjects such as reading and math. Students who enroll
in the courses will
get up to six more weeks of schooling in each academic yea
r than students on a traditional calendar that gives them the summer off.
dd"Our theme is we're building 21st-century schools, and in doing that, one of
the things we have to do is make more time for
learning and make better use of
our time," said Fairfax Superintendent Daniel A. Domenech. "Giving children two
months off at a
clip in the summer is not an effective use of time. All the re
search shows it."
ddWhile many Washington area school districts have considered moving to an exte
nded school-year calendar over the years, they
all decided against it until now
, mostly because of parents' complaints that the change would disrupt family SC
hedules.
ddNationwide, the number of schools with year-round schedules has grown from ab
out 400 schools in 14 states in 1986 to more than
2,700 schools in 41 states to
day.
ddOfficials say most Timber Lane parents support the idea. Only a half-dozen fa
milies have chosen to leave the school because of
the calendar change. Another
half-dozen have expressed reservations to administrators but have chosen to rem
ain. More than two
dozen students from outside the attendance area are on a wai
ting list to get into the school.
dd"It's a way to get the general student population working on a higher level,"
said parent Christine Katcher, who has two children
at the school. "We feel th
at by the time our kids are in the sixth grade, they're going to be a lot more
competitive than those at other
schools."
ddParent Rebekah Clement will have children at three different schools this fal
I, including five at Timber Lane. But the benefits of
the program outweigh any
scheduling inconveniences, she said.
dd"This just seems like such a natural way of doing things," Clement said. "The
re will be more continuity and their downtime will
be shorter."
ddMost students interviewed yesterday were excited about the prospect of year-r
ound school, too, even though they were going back
to class a full month ahead
of friends at other schools.
dd"I was eager to get back," sixth-grader Anna Delgadillo said. "I won't have t
o be bored sitting around the house. Most of my
friends [at other schools] say
they wouldn't like it, but I think it's going to be fun. I'll be learning more
than them."
ddMany educators and officials believe such a change in the school year is long
overdue, pointing out that the traditional school
calendar dates to the 19th c
entury, when children spent July and August harvesting crops.ddThe Fairfax Scho
ol Board, which has struggled with ways to increase instructional time, hopes t
he Timber Lane program is the
first step toward a longer school year. Many teac
hers say that 180 days is too short a time to cover all the material students n
eed to
learn each year. Most other industrialized nations have school years tha
t are two weeks to 10 weeks longer than the U.S. school year.
dd"This will teach us much about how our schools should be shaped for the 21st
century as we try to develop schools and education
environments based on year-r
ound learning," said School Board Chairman Mark H. Emery (At Large).
ddNearly a decade ago, when James Dyke was state education secretary, he called
for "radical educational reform" in the form of
an extended school year. The i
dea did not catch on.
ddDuring the 1970s, Prince William County moved to a "multi-track" year-round S
chedule, with students attending school on
staggered schedules. The change was
needed after rapid growth in the eastern part of the county made it impossible
for the district
to build schools fast enough. The schedule was phased out as c
onstruction caught up with enrollment growth.
ddThe Timber Lane change was made solely to boost academic achievement, Princip
al Donna Lewis said, and it evolved from a
grass-roots movement of the school's
teachers.
ddLewis and other school officials will be keeping track of student achievement
to gauge the program's success, although she
cautioned that higher test scores
are not her main goal.
dd"We're looking for increased learning," Lewis said. "Of course higher test SC
ores would be great and I'll take them, but test scores
don't necessarily drive
increased learning."
ART ph,, LUCIAN PERKINS CAPTION: Students at Timber Lane Elementary School sal
ute the flag during their first assembly
of the new school year, which began y
esterday. CAPTION: Principal Donna Lewis greets her
students, who will attend classes in nine-week sessions.n
Publication#W\
P6P# 68. Austin American Statesmen "Publication" #:\ P7P#August
4, 1998
Headline#\
P8P# Record number of Texas schools given top gradeHeadline #:\
P9
P#Subhead#[\ P:P# 15 percent rated exemplary for TAAS results; less than 1 per
cent
low-performingSubhead#:\ P;P#
By A. Phillips Brooks
American-Statesman Capitol Staff
ddA state report card sent home Monday showed that a record high number of Texa
S public schools got the highest grade and a
record few got the lowest.
ddFifteen percent 1,042 " of the state's 6,654 public school campuses were
rated exemplary as a result of their performance
on the Texas Assessment of Aca
demic Skills exam given last spring. Last year, 683 campuses were rated exempla
ry.
ddLess than 1 percent only 60 schools, including Austin's McCallum High " W
ere rated as low-performing. The previous low
was 67, last year.
ddThe rankings, mandated by lawmakers, have been announced annually since 1993.
dd"We raised the bar for Texas schools again this year," Texas Education Commis
sioner Mike Moses said in announcing the results
at a Fort Worth press conferen
ce. "They not only met the challenge, most exceeded it."
ddBut as Gov. George W. Bush and school officials across Texas touted the impro
ved ratings as proof that Texas public schools
are improving, others questioned
whether the improvement is as indicated by the TAAS scores.
dd"I have some major concerns about the TAAS," said State Board of Education me
mber Richard Neill, R-Fort Worth. "It's not a
true reflection of how students a
re doing."
ddState accountability ratings are based on the state achievement exam that mea
sures basic skills in reading, writing and
mathematics. Students in grades thre
e through eight are required to take the exam, and high school students must pa
SS an exit-level
TAAS to receive their diplomas.
ddBush's re-election campaign includes a plan to use the TAAS test to determine
whether students in grades three, five and eight
are promoted. Third-graders W
ould have to pass the reading section to be promoted. Fifth- and eight-graders
would have to pass all
sections. Robert Schaefer, executive director of FairTes
t in Cambridge, Mass., cautioned against drawing broad conclusions from
a singl
e test. Instead, Schaefer said parents and others should look to what he called
neutral measures, such as the National
Assessment of Educational Progress, giv
en to students in almost all states. The test is given every other year to a ra
ndom sample of
students, allowing a state-by-state comparison. FairTest used th
at and other benchmarks in a 1997 testing survey that included Texas.
ddTexas public schools still show progress when using the NAEP or other assessm
ents, though it is far less dramatic than shown
by TAAS scores.
dd Between 1992 and 1996, the most recent year for NAEP results, the percentage
of Texas fourth-graders achieving at or above
the NAEP's proficiency level in
math rose from 15 percent to 25 percent.
dd In 1996, Texas minority students outscored their peers nationally on the fou
rth-grade NAEP math exam. A significant number
of minority students, however, S
till fell below proficiency levels.
dd The average SAT verbal score for Texas high school students, 494, fell one p
oint in 1997 from the previous year. The average
SAT math score, 501, improved
by one point. Those scores were below the national averages, 505 for verbal and
511 for math.
dd Texas students in 1997 scored slightly below the national average on the Ame
rican College Testing Program exam, or ACT. The average composite score for Texa
S students was 20.2; the national average was 21.
ddScores on college entrance exams are affected by the number of students takin
g the test, Schaefer and others said. Texas scores
are better than they appear,
Schaefer said, considering that 48 percent of high school students in Texas to
ok the exam last year.
ddNeill, the State Board of Education member who cautioned against reading too
much good news into the new results, has called
for a review of the TAAS result
S at the board's September meeting.
ddMoses and Bush said this is the fourth consecutive year public schools have S
hown marked improvement. For the first time, the
statewide report card included
independent charter schools, which are financed by public tax dollars but are
free of many state
regulations. Rankings for 10 of 20 charter schools were rele
ased Monday along with those for regular public schools. Ratings were
mixed for
the charter schools: one received the recognized rating, seven were acceptable
and two were low-performing.
ddAustin area charters were not ranked. The American Institute For Learning, a
dropout recovery charter, is under an alternative
rating system. The Texas Acad
emy of Excellence is not eligible to be rated because it had no grades above se
cond grade last year.
Students begin taking the TAAS in grade three. Seven char
ter schools will be rated later, on Sept. 1, while three others have not been
o
perating long enough to be rated.
ddDistrict and campus ratings are based on student passage rates on the TAAS, d
ropout rates and attendance. The state not only looks
at overall student perfor
mance but at specific student groups " African American, white, Hispanic, Asia
n and economically
disadvantaged.
ddThe state's highest rating, exemplary, requires at least 90 percent of studen
ts to pass all sections of the TAAS, a dropout rate of
no more than 1 percent a
nd attendance of at least 94 percent.
ddIn all, 120 districts and 1,042 campuses were rated exemplary, up from 65 dis
tricts last year and 683 campuses that earned the
highest rating last year.
ddDavid Dunn, a spokesman for the Texas Association of School Boards, said that
while there is some truth to the criticism that
progress may not be as dramati
c as the TAAS projects, improvements have taken place while standards were toug
hened. He noted
that a record number of students this year passed the TAAS: 72
percent.n
Publication#W\
P<P# 69. Ft. Worth Star Telegram "Publication" #:\ P=P#August 4
, 1998
Headline#\
P>P# Pay raises proposed for some teachers Headline #:\
P?P#
By Martha Deller
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
ddFORT WORTH " Rookie teachers in Fort Worth schools could earn some of the hi
ghest salaries in the state, and veteran teachers
could get pay raises of more
than 10 percent under a salary proposal announced yesterday by school officials
ddThe $12.7 million salary package would include pay raises averaging 5.3 perce
nt for 4,500 teachers and 4.5 percent for 4,500 other
full-time employees, incl
uding administrators and support personnel. School board President Gary Manny a
nnounced the pay boosts
at the district's fall convocation as teachers returned
to their classrooms to prepare for the start of school next week.
ddManny said district officials are proposing a 3-cent tax rate increase to pay
for the salary increase. The increase " to $1.485 per
$100 of assessed proper
ty value " would be the first tax increase in four years.
dd"We're probably crazy to do that," Manny said. "But we feel it's necessary to
do what's best for continued growth of students and
teachers. We'll have to co
nvince the public that a tax increase is justified."
ddSuperintendent Thomas Tocco said the salary proposal was linked to the distri
ct's "stellar" academic performance, which was also
announced yesterday at a ne
WS conference with Texas Education Commissioner Mike Moses.
ddTwelve of the district's 112 schools were rated exemplary or recognized based
on state test scores. District officials expect four
more schools to receive t
he top rankings when year-round school scores are released this summer.
ddTocco said district officials slashed the proposed budget several times to ba
lance revenue and expenditures without a tax rate
increase. Finally, he said, h
e decided to recommend the salary package even though it meant a tax rate incre
ase.
dd"You deserve more than only verbal thanks for laboring assiduously in the vin
eyards. You deserve a raise," Tocco told teachers
in a speech telecast from Gre
enbriar Elementary to all schools.
ddThe final budget proposal is $384 million. It projects about $13.9 million mo
re in property taxes next year, finance director Steve
Fortenberry said. About
$7.5 million of the increase comes from higher property values and the rest fro
m the 3-cent tax rate increase,
he said.
ddBut the higher local revenue will be largely offset by a $5.6 million loss of
state aid and a $3.1 million loss in federal revenue,
according to budget proj
ections.
ddThe salary proposal includes $30,050 for a beginning teacher, the highest roo
kie pay in the area and perhaps the state at this point,
officials said. Birdvi
lle recently adopted a $30,000 beginning salary.
ddThe pay plan assures all teachers a raise of at least 5 percent, with the lea
st experienced and most experienced teachers getting
the higher percentage rais
es.
ddTeachers with one to seven years' experience will get raises ranging from 5.1
percent to 6.9 percent, Assistant Superintendent Joe
Ross said. And teachers W
ith more than 31 years' experience will receive raises ranging from 11 percent
to 13 percent, he said.
dd"That's been our plan in compensation the last three years " to give senior
teachers substantial increases," Ross said.
ddThe district is also boosting pay for nonteaching staff on the low end of the
pay scale, including secretaries, clerks, teacherassistants and custodians. So
me of them will receive more than the minimum 4.5 percent salary increase, Fort
enberry said.
ddBus drivers will get the percentage increase in addition to a $1- per-hour in
crease approved last month to fill driver vacancies.
Substitute teachers will r
eceive a $2- per-day increase, to $62 a day.
ddTeacher representatives applauded the salary proposals, which they say were c
lose to what they were seeking.
dd"We asked for 7.5 percent. To receive 5 percent is excellent," said Rubidel P
eoples, president of the Fort Worth Education
Association. "We appreciate the g
ood job the school board and superintendent do on our behalf."
ddJudy Luttrell, ]deputy executive director of United Educators Association, sa
id Fort Worth school officials have set a standard
for other districts to follo
W.
dd"I'm very pleased with what Fort Worth has done. They've done their very best
to be fair across the board," Luttrell said. "They're
trying to tell the upper
end teacher we need you here.
dd"And they have to do that with the beginning end or people won't go into teac
hing."
ddA public hearing on the budget will be held at the board's regular meeting Tu
esday. Trustees likely will adopt the budget and hold
a public hearing on the p
roposed tax rate Aug. 25. The tax rate is set for adoption Sept. 8.n
Publication#W\
P@P# 70. Columbia (SC) tate"Publication" #:\
PAP#August 4, 19
98
Headline#\
PBP# Schools plan what to do in case of shootings Headline #:\
PCP
#
By KAREN E. YORK Staff Writer
ddFire and tornado drills are standard, but it's a sign of the times when teach
ers and principals plan for the possibility of gunfire on
school grounds.
ddRichland County Emergency Preparedness Director Greg Sox told Richland I scho
ol administrators Monday that they can't wait
until something of that magnitude
happens to figure out what to do, especially when children are involved.
dd"It's terrible we have to sit here and talk about this, but it's already happ
ening in several places around the country," he said. "It's
kind of like we're
waiting our turn."
ddSox used a mock shooting scenario involving A.C. Flora High to emphasize the
importance of planning ahead. In the scenario,
two students are shot the mornin
g of the third day of the school year; one of those hypothetical students later
dies.
ddThe Richland I principals and other school officials were asked to consider S
everal logistical questions associated with responding
to such an incident, inc
luding:
ddWhat areas of the school are used for student evacuation?
ddHow are parents notified about the incident?
ddWho communicates with the media?
ddWill students be dismissed for the rest of the day? How will they get home?
ddLocal school districts are already being proactive with peer mediation progra
ms, conflict resolution and anger management
counseling.
dd"The guidance counselors do play a key role in dealing with some of these stu
dents who are frustrated and angry and who don't
feel anybody else is listening
said Richland 1 spokesman Greg Plagens.
ddBut while they work on preventing school violence, administrators must still
plan for the worst.
ddSox decided to meet with Richland County local school leaders in the wake of
last year's shootings at schools in Oregon,
Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Mississippi
and Arkansas.
ddThe incidents also emphasized to Richland 1 Superintendent Don Henderson the
need to plan for the unthinkable.
dd"As a result of what happened across the country last school year, I just did
n't want us to begin school thinking it couldn't happen
here," he said.
ddThe reality is that it has happened here and in other parts of the state. A S
tudent gunned down another student in the halls of
Columbia's Eau Claire High S
chool in 1994. A year later in Barnwell County, a Blackville-Hilda High student
killed a teacher and
seriously wounded another before killing himself.
ddSox will conduct a similar session with administrators in School District 5 o
Lexington and Richland Counties today. He'll meet
with Richland 2 administrat
ors next month.
ddJim Foster, spokesman for the state Department of Education, said students ca
n help prevent violent acts from occurring at their
schools.
dd"If the children are aware of their surroundings and they detect a problem, t
hey need to notify an adult so these situations can be
diffused before they bec
ome dangerous."i
Publication#W\
PDP# 71. Milwaukee Journal "Publication" #:\ PEP#Augus
4, 1998
Headline#\
PFP# Doyle unveils effort to avert pupil violenceHeadline #:\ PGP#
By Daniel Bice
of the Journal Sentinel staff
ddResponding to a spate of high-profile school shootings in other states, state
Attorney General Jim Doyle announced Monday that
his office will sponsor a ser
ies of training sessions next month to try to prevent similar incidents from oc
curring here.
ddDoyle said the sessions will bring together police officers, teachers, school
administrators and student leaders to discuss ways to
make public schools safe
r in Wisconsin.
ddAlthough currently campaigning for a third term, Doyle dismissed any suggesti
on that the initiative is intended to raise his
visibility in the months before
the election. He said "only the most cynical" people would see it as such.
dd"I don't think it's particularly an option for me to say, 'Well, I'm going to
wait until after the election year before taking on what
is a very important p
roject,' " Doyle said during a news conference in Milwaukee.
ddBut Linda Van De Water, Doyle's Republican opponent, said the Democrat was ho
Iding the training sessions to make it appear
that he is interested in fighting
crime. She said he had not shown much interest in the issue until she began em
phasizing it.
dd"It's not until he has an opponent that this comes up," said Van De Water, a
former Waukesha County prosecutor. "Doyle's been
more concerned with big corpor
ations " Microsoft, tobacco, whatever. He hasn't focused on criminal justice."
ddThe sessions will be held next month, with the first one taking place Sept. 1
4 in Milwaukee. Others will be in Madison, Green
Bay, Eau Claire, Wausau, La Cr
osse and Superior.
ddDoyle held the news conference at 27th Street School, which has been a partic
ipant in the Peers in Education Addressing Conflict
Effectively program since 1
996.
ddThe program, sponsored by Doyle's office and the State Bar of Wisconsin, help
S schools develop peer mediation projects to train
students to resolve conflict
S peacefully.
ddIn making the announcement, Doyle cited the recent school shootings in Spring
field, Ore.; Edinboro, Pa.; Jonesboro, Ark.; and
Paducah, Ky.
ddHe said 40 people lost their lives in school shootings during the 1997-'98 SC
hool year. Over the past six years, there have been
226 deaths because of schoo
1 shootings, he said.
ddDoyle said the sessions will examine the best ways to quickly end a violent i
ncident and minimize injuries. Information on some
of the latest legal decision
S on school searches and student privacy will also be provided.
ddHe said schools should provide students with safe ways to report potential pr
oblems to school authorities. School officials
everywhere, he said, need to lea
rn to have "no tolerance for threats of violence" by students.
dd"If you make a joke about a gun, we're not going to treat it as a joke," Doyl
e said. "We're going to treat it as serious. One of the
lessons we've learned
is to treat every statement about violent behavior not as just playful pla
yground chatter but as a serious
matter to be looked at and to be, hopefully, a
voided."n
Publication#W\
PHP# 72. Detroit Free Press"Publication" #:\ PIP#August 4, 199
8
Headline#\
PJP# New leader says Detroit presence is a possibility Headline #:\
PKP#
BY PEGGY WALSH-SARNECKI
Free Press Education Writer
ddOn his first official day on the job, Western Michigan University's new presi
dent, Elson Floyd, said he wants the Kalamazoo
campus to have a greater Detroit
presence.
ddHe also talked about helping public schools face competition from charter sch
ools and said he wants to help students and their
parents get a handle on WMU's
tuition hikes.
ddlt was too soon for Floyd to be specific about plans for a Detroit presence,
but other outstate universities, such as Central
Michigan, offer courses in the
area.
dd"Detroit is too big a market not to have a presence," Floyd said during one o
f his first public forums. About 40 percent of WMU's
26,000 students come from
metro Detroit.
dd"I would be satisfied with a collaborative presence in Detroit," he said, add
ing that he plans to talk about possible ventures with
his counterparts at Wayn
e State University and other local colleges. "I don't envision, at this point i
n time, a satellite campus in
Detroit."
ddFloyd also talked about helping public schools improve, especially when faced
with competition from charter schools. He stopped
short of being specific abou
t making improvements this early in his presidency. WMU is one of the few unive
rsities that has not
chartered schools.
dd"I think we have a responsibility to make sure we have the strongest public S
chools that we can," Floyd said. "The developmentof charter schools, quite fran
kly, came out of people being disillusioned with public schools."
ddHe also wants to avoid any sudden, big tuition increases, although he said it
was impossible to predict whether or how much
tuition would go up next year. W
MU students have faced some of the highest tuition increases in the state for t
wo years in a row.
ddHe described himself as someone who goes to bed at 10 p.m., then rises in the
middle of the night to work. Although his official
starting day was Monday, he
was already on the job full-time Saturday.
ddIn his spare time, he golfs and tries to run every other day. Weekends are re
served, when possible, for family activities. His wife,
Carmento, is an account
S manager for Metropolitan Life Insurance and will continue to work when she mo
ves to Kalamazoo from
North Carolina in mid-August.
ddThe Floyds have two children. Son Kenny will be in ninth grade, and daughter
Jessica will be in the eighth.
ddFloyd, who is black, grew up in Henderson, N.C., and said he still remembers
having to sit in the segregated balcony at the movie
theater. The paved part of
the street in his neighborhood ended at the last white-occupied house.
ddHe said he is thrilled to have the WMU job and aching to get into his preside
ncy. A career university administrator, he came to
WMU from the University of N
orth Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was executive vice chancellor and in cha
rge of business,
finance, human resources and student affairs.
dd"I've trained for this all my life," he said recently. Michigan is a great st
ate in which to be a university president, he said, because
there is no state S
ystem overseeing decisions.
dd"You make your own calls," he said. "Success or failure is really on your sho
ulders and the trustees."
ddFloyd was also a finalist for the presidency of the University of Wisconsin a
t Milwaukee, but the WMU offer came in first and
he liked the university.
ddHe already knows that the big game is against Central Michigan University. An
d the weather doesn't scare him.
dd"It'll be a change," he said, after moving here from North Carolina. "But tha
t's OK."n
Publication#W\ PLP#73. Boston Globe"Publication"#:\ PMP#August 4, 1998
Headline#\
PNP#Communities, school districts to see record increases in
state
aid Headline#:\
POP#
By Associated Press
ddMassachusetts cities and towns and regional school districts will get $368.1
million more from the state this fiscal year over last
year, a 9.7 percent incr
ease that will bring the total aid to nearly $4.2 billion, state officials said
ddThe record-breaking levels of local aid come because the state is nearing the
end of a multiyear program to increase education
funding.
ddThe state is also returning more money from the lottery to cities and towns.
dd"The Legislature made a commitment to more than double state spending on edu
cation over a seven-year period" and to increase
the return of money from the
state lottery, said Senate President Thomas Birmingham, a Chelsea Democrat.
dd"These funds help fulfill a promise made to our public schools and to our ch
ildren," said Acting Governor Paul Cellucci.
ddAs recently as fiscal year 1993, the state was sending back only about $2.5 b
illion in local aid.
ddThe Department of Revenue is in the process of notifying communities of how m
uch aid they will receive.
ddJust seven or eight years ago, municipal officials awaited the arrival of the
state aid figures with dread, said Geoff Beckwith,
executive director of the M
assachusetts Municipal Association.
ddThose were lean years when cities and towns, short on funds, might have to cu
t back on police officers or firefighters or in other
areas.
dd"For those who remember the bad old days, it's an extremely welcome turnarou
nd," Beckwith said.n
Publication#W\
PPP# 74. Richmond Times-Dispatch"Publication" #:\
PQP# 08/03/9
8; Edition: City; Section: Prime Living; Page E-1
Headline#\
PRP# THE OLD COLLEGE TRY SCRAMBLE FOR
TUITION IS EASIER THE EARLIER
YOU START
SAVINGHeadline #:\ PSP#
By Darwin Abrahamson
Do you wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat wondering how you'r
e going to pay for your children's college tuition?
ddYou are not alone.ddCollege costs have risen astronomically over the last 20
years, with no slowdown in sight.
ddAccording to The College Board, "The basic cost of education has been rising
much faster than inflation. For each of the last 20
years, tuition increased 5.
8 percent or more. During the same period, the Consumer Price Index rose less t
han 3.5 percent annually."
ddToday, public colleges cost approximately $8,000 per year. Private schools co
st an average of $19,000 per year, with selective
private schools such as Ivy L
eague colleges costing even more.
ddBy the year 2015, your child's four-year college education will cost on avera
ge $189,200 for public schools and $373,000 for
private schools, according to t
he authors of "Paying for College: Planning for Your Child's College Costs."
ddObviously, good financial planning is essential. Several targeted investment
programs are available, including: (a) prepaid tuition
plans; (b) education IRA
S (EIRAs); (c) Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA), also known as Uniform Transf
ers to Minors Act
(UTMA); (d) your 401(k) plan.
ddA prepaid tuition plan is guaranteed to rise in value at the same rate as col
lege tuition. A family purchases shares that are worth
a year's tuition at a st
ate college. The shares will always be worth a year's tuition, even 10 years la
ter, when rates have probably
doubled. The main benefit of a prepaid tuition pl
an is that it allows the student's guardian to lock in tuition at current rates
ddThe drawbacks to prepaid tuition plans are numerous. In a series called "High
er Education, How High the Price," The Philadelphia
Inquirer cautioned: "Financ
ial advisers warn
prepaying your child's education locks your child into
attending a school he or she
may not get into or want to attend."
ddlf your child isn't admitted to or ultimately decides not to attend one of th
e participating schools, the plan's value is significantly
reduced. In that eve
nt, most plans allow the family to redeem their shares, but at a lower rate of
return.
ddlf your child decides not to attend college altogether, the family will get b
ack only its original contribution, with no interest added
and possibly a cance
llation penalty to pay. As The Inquirer reports, "You will get a refund, but it
might not equal what you would
have made on another investment."
ddWhen starting a prepaid tuition plan, parents may not consider or even be awa
re of its negative impact on eligibility for federal
student aid. If you have a
prepaid tuition plan in place, every dollar saved in prepaid tuition reduces e
ligibility for student financial
aid by a dollar. In contrast, assets saved in
the parents' names reduce aid eligibility by at most 5.6 percent.
ddThe Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 included several provisions relating to colle
ge savings. Among them was the establishment of
EIRA trusts, the purpose of whi
ch is the exclusive payment of higher education expenses for the beneficiary of
the trust.
Contributions to an EIRA can't be excluded from gross income; howev
er, earnings accumulate tax-free and distributions are
tax-exempt.
ddYou may contribute $500 per year, with reductions in the allowable amount for
a single taxpayer earning more than $95,000 per
year and for joint filers earn
ing more than $150,000. This can be an excellent starting point for saving for
your child's education.
For example: Saving $500 annually for 18 years and earn
ing 10 percent interest would accumulate $25,079 in the fund - although
this is
still short of the expected future college education costs.
ddThe main downside to an EIRA is that the "contributions" are not tax-deferred
And if the distributions are not used for educational
expenses, they will be
taxed and subject to an additional 10 percent tax penalty. Also, contributions
to an EIRA and a state prepaid
tuition program are not permitted in the same ta
X year.
ddUGMAs or UTMAs are simple trust accounts that can be set up without complicat
ed legal documents. They offer tax advantages
for the accumulation of unearned
income within the accounts. A custodian named by the donor usually manages the
account until
the child reaches the age of majority - 18 in most states.
ddAll principal and any earnings in the account belong to the minor. Since thes
e accounts are irrevocable gifts, a donor cannot
change his or her mind later i
f the child decides to use the funds for another purpose.
ddlf the money is used for education, colleges consider up to 30 percent of the
money in the trust when calculating financial aid.
If your child might qualify
for financial aid, you may be better off keeping the savings in your own name.
ddBarry Sullivan, a vice president and financial consultant with Merrill Lynch,
counsels: "One of the most common mistakes young
parents make is to avoid buil
ding up their tax-advantaged savings accounts - such as plans - until th
ey've saved a full college
fund."
ddSullivan advises clients to "max out on their 401(k)s" because "retirement sa
vings provide an indirect way of saving for college
while deferring taxes."
ddCheck with your human resources manager at work to see if your 401(k) plan's
rules will allow you to "borrow" plan funds to
pay for your children's college
education and then slowly repay "yourself" - with interest.
ddAnother advantage of maxing out your 401(k) savings: Financial aid officers o
ften exempt retirement savings from calculations
of the parent's worth. So putt
ing money into your 401(k) plan may help your child qualify for financial aid b
y shielding your 401(k)
savings from prying eyes.
ddWhen should you start saving for your children's college education? There is
only one answer: yesterday.
MORE INFO
"Paying for College: A Step-by-Step College Planning Guide," free from T. Ro
we Price. Call (800) 638-5660.
Financial Aid Information Page Web site: http://www.finaid.org A free, com
prehensive, independent guide to student financial
aid created by Mark Kantrowi
tz, author of "The Prentice Hall Guide to Scholarships and Fellowships for Math
and Science Students."
"Planning for College," free general guide from Investment Company Institute
, 1600 M St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.
dd* "Parents' Guide to Paying for College (006046)", available in late September
from The College Board. Call (800) 323-7155.
dd "Paying Less for College," financial information on 1,700 schools from Peter
son's Book Order Department, P.O. Box 2123,
Princeton, N.J. 08543. Call (800) 3
38-3282.
dd*Virginia Prepaid Education Program, P.O. Box 607, Richmond, Va. 23218-0607.
Call (888) 567-0540; TTD: (800) 253-0737;
or e-mail: [email protected].
VIRGINIA'S PLAN
ddThe Virginia Prepaid Education Program, called VPEP, lets you lock in the cur
rent cost of tuition and fees at Virginia public
colleges and universities. Con
tracts are also available for Virginia private and out-of-state schools, which
pay the actual earnings
on the savings less an administrative fee and capped at
the highest tuition charged by a Virginia public college or university.
ddVPEP covers tuition and fees, but not room and board or other expenses. There
's an $85 application fee. Plans include a lump-sum
payment, a five-year plan f
or children who have not yet completed the seventh grade and a monthly installm
ent plan.
ddThe deadline for signing up every year is Feb. 28, and the first payment is d
ue that May 1. Only children who are currently in the
ninth grade or younger ma
y enroll in the program.
ddFor more information, call (888) 567-0540 or e-mail: [email protected].
ART PHOTO, CHARTn
Publication#W\
PTP# 75. Richmond Times-Dispatch"Publication" #:\
PUP# 08/03/9
8; Edition: City; Section: Prime Living; Page E-2
Headline#\
PVP# CONFUSED ABOUT HOW TO PLAN FOR
TUITION? Headline #:\
PWP#
By Ross And Kathryn Petras
College costs have risen astronomically in the last 20 years, and it appears
they will continue to rise.
ddHere are some tips to help ease the confusion:
School type. Have a rough idea of what kind of college your child will att
end so you can estimate what you'll be paying for. The
costs between a state SC
hool and an Ivy League or private college vary dramatically.
ddProject college expenses. Like planning for retirement, you need to have a ge
neral idea of the total. This will tell you how much
to put aside each year to
meet your goal.
ddDivide and conquer. Figure out the number of years between the time you begin
saving for college and the time your child will
enter. Divide the total into t
he number of months left to get the amount you need to invest each month. Consu
It a reputable accountant
or financial planner for a worksheet to pinpoint the
exact figure.
ddStart saving. Even if college is a long way off, the sooner you start saving,
the less outlay you'll have to make. Compounding lets
a small amount grow over
time into a large one. Don't make the mistake of thinking that savings will el
iminate your child's chances
of getting financial aid. It won't.
ddGet the savings habit. Set up a formal savings plan that you'll stick to. If
you're not good at sticking to a budget or schedule, sign
up for automatic payr
oll deductions at work - that way there's no way you can blow it.
ddFree planners. Even if you don't own a mutual fund, many big mutual fund comp
anies will send you a free detailed planner that
lets you plug in numbers and c
ome up with a monthly amount to save. Their hope is that you decide to invest W
ith them. But even
if you don't, they'll send you the planning booklet. T. Rowe
Price has a particularly good one.
ddPossible money sources. Usually, you'll rely on more than one.
ddTypical sources are savings and investments, probably the biggest chunk of co
llege money. Your income is likely to go toward
support such as room and board
and part of the tuition while your child is at school. Also available will be y
our child's income from
jobs or work-study.
ddGrandparents' gifts and inheritances are an increasingly common source that S
upplies money for education and a tax break for
grandparents. Grandparents can
set up trusts or life insurance policies naming your child as a beneficiary.
ddLoans are a tried-and-true way of raising money for college but, unfortunatel
y, one of the most costly since interest payments take
years to pay off. This d
oesn't mean you shouldn't consider loans. Your child can get a student loan - o
r, if necessary, you can take
advantage of other loans to pay off tuition bills
, or even borrow from your 401(k). (Some planners advise against dipping into
r
etirement savings.)
ddFinancial aid is not always easy to get, but it is possible even for middle-c
lass families. Likewise, scholarships aren't always easy
to get, but they're a
great way for your child to get a cheaper - or free -education. Of course, you
should encourage your child to do
well in school and so increase the chances of
scholarships or grants. But do your homework as well: Read up on the different
sources
of funds and explore investment strategies.
ddWorried about money? Once your child nears college age, start shopping around
for the best possible college at the lowest possible
price. Think of lower-cos
t alternatives. Some ideas: Start in community college, then transfer to a four
-year school; work/study
programs; ROTC; and commuter schools.
ddRemember it's worth it. A better-educated child will get a better job and hav
e a better income.n
Publication#
PXP# 76. The Pueblo (Colo) Chieftain' "Publication" #:\ PYP# 08/
03/98
Headline#\
PZP# Magnet School Ready to Open DoorsHeadline #:\ P[P#
By Mary Jean Porter World Reporter
ddSchool District 70 has gained another high school.
ddStarting Aug. 31, Pueblo Technical Academy will open its doors as a technolog
y-science magnet school that is independent of
Pueblo County High, its former p
arent.
ddThe Technical Academy already has its own administration lead teacher Kent
Muckel was reassigned as principal in early June
" and will issue its own repor
t cards and transcripts.
ddStudents no longer will return to County, Rye or Pueblo West high schools for
certain required courses, but will be able to fulfill
all graduation requireme
nts at the academy.
dd"We are no longer affiliated with County High or Rye," said Muckel. "We will
take care of our own attendance and paperwork."
ddThe school will have a four-day week; students will be in classes from 8 a.m.
to 4:10 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Fridays
will be reserved for teacher pre
paration, student catch-up or extra work the school will be open and some tea
chers will be present
" classes at the University of Southern Colorado or Puebl
o Community College, or jobs for the students who have them, Muckel
said.
ddStudents may be excused from the eighth period of the school day to participa
te in athletics at the other District 70 high schools
or in ROTC at County High
, but they won't be allowed to take elective courses at the other high schools,
Muckel said.
ddThe District 70 school board approved the Technical Academy's four-day week i
n June, with the provision it be monitored for
the first semester.
ddThe decision to separate the academy from County High came last spring after
a long series of meetings involving central
administration, the school board, S
taff and, finally, Technical Academy students, said County Principal Dick Amman
dd"There had been problems with scheduling, transportation, program offerings,
conflicts with courses there and at County," he said.
ddAmman is not sorry to lose the Technical Academy.
dd"I think it has merit on its own. With the staff and leadership it has, I loo
k for it to blossom. And students still will participate in
extracurricular act
ivities with kids at County High."
ddVicki Walter, who has been a teacher aide at the Technical Academy since it o
pened in 1994 and who will do her student teaching
in physical science there th
is fall, thinks the changes are good.
dd"I think it gives them more ownership of the program," she said. "It feels mo
re like a neighborhood school.
dd"I think it's going to be good for the kids but hard work."
ddJohn A. Musso, head of technology at the academy, agreed.
dd"It's going to be a full teaching load eight periods in a day," Musso said.
dd"I think it's great since the workload here is a lot compared to all other SC
hools," said Tony Carleo, a junior. "Friday gives us the
chance to get to the W
ork or to get to sports."
ddTony plays baseball and might go out for football and golf so he likes the ei
ghth-hour arrangement.
ddHe's at the Tech Academy because he's interested in computers.
dd"I want to be something like a CIS (computer information systems) technician,
which they offer at USC (University of Southern
Colorado). All the computers t
hey have here and the integration with USC' I'll have a leg up on the other st
udents.
dd"I do well enough in English but I'm much more interested in technology."
ddKristin Walter, another junior, likes the idea of a four-day week because she
'll have Fridays to work on projects.
ddShe said she might miss a few friends at County High.
ddMuckel said the academy is "pretty rigorous. Students do work pretty hard. It
's upper-level technology. Students are expected to
do some homework every nigh
t.
dd"We try to keep very strict discipline; we feel it's very safe. We haven't ha
d too many problems because of the open space (one
huge room)."
ddCore classes at the academy include English and math at each grade level, soc
ial studies and science. Electives include advanced
technology, Spanish, beginn
ing and advanced computer-aided drafting and design, advanced math, field exper
ience and the world
of work.
ddThe school will have food service provided by County High and bus service.
ddThe Technical Academy has five teachers and an aide and, at the present, 103
students.
dd"We still want 20 or more students," Muckel said. "We're taking all levels. I
f they're interested in technology or computers they
can give me a call at home
ddMuckel said he's been promised additional staff if an increased number of stu
dents warrants it.
ddFor more information or registration papers, call Muckel at 564-5928 or Ms. W
alter at 547-9041.
dd"
ddVisit The Pueblo Chieftain Online at http://www.chieftain.com/
dd"n
Publication#W\
P\P# 77. Houston Chronicle"Publication" #:\ P]P# 08/02/98; Edi
tion: 2 STAR; Section: A; Page 10
Headline#\
P^P# Public schools crumbling as tax money hard to findHeadline #:\
P_P#
By DEB RIECHMANN
WASHINGTON - Millions of America's children will return to class this fall in
shabby schools with leaky roofs and toilets, aging
furnaces, cracked foundatio
ns and peeling paint.
ddDeplorable conditions exist in hundreds of the nation's 80,000 public schools
- in rural towns, suburbs and inner cities. They are
literally falling down in
some communities. And with no funds, boilers and windows remain broken, and fi
re code violations are not
corrected.
ddA chimney dropped into a school library in South Dakota last year while stude
nts were away on a long President's Day weekend.
Dry rot, weak foundations and
insulation problems forced officials to condemn an Oregon middle school. Studen
ts now attend class
in trailers set up on the front lawn.
ddComputer wire is simply draped along ceilings at an aging school in lowa as S
tudents wait for a new school to be built.
dd"It's not unheard of to find a school in a state of disrepair, while just dow
n the road there is a state-of-the-art prison," Education
Secretary Richard Ri
ley says.
ddlt's a problem that can only be corrected with money. But tight education bud
gets, rising enrollment and a reluctance among voters
to pass tax hikes and bon
d issues have left districts with little money to repair and refurbish the nati
on's schools.
ddMore than 14 million children - about a quarter of all school children in the
nation - go to school in buildings that need significant
repairs, Riley said i
n a speech at School No. 16 in Paterson, N.J., which was built over 100 years a
go, around the time the first
immigrants arrived at Ellis Island.
dd"The overall situation has become so bad that the American Society of Civil E
ngineers has said that our schools are our nation's
No. 1 infrastructure proble
m," he says.
ddRiley doesn't have to tell the parents and teachers:
d"Thirty-two of our buildings were built before Charles Lindbergh flew the Spi
rit of St. Louis (in 1927)," says Jan Olson, a high
school counselor in Sioux C
ity, lowa, where voters were to vote on Aug. 11 to approve a 1-cent sales tax f
or school construction
and repair. "We have one middle school that was built fo
r 450 students that has 750. There are actually more students in the portables
outside than in the building."
dd"Our one middle school, built before World War I, was condemned by the city t
wo years ago. They found a lot of safety problems
- dry rot, not a proper found
ation, paper insulation," says Martin Jones, a teacher in Lebanon, Ore. "The si
xth-graders were moved
back into modular buildings at the elementary. The seven
th- and eighth-graders are in modular buildings on the front lawn."
dd"My husband and I are very concerned and bothered about the condition of publ
ic schools in Austin, especially those old schools
in old inner city neighborho
ods," says Nina Schenck, a parent in Austin, Texas. "The new schools in the sub
divisions look so pretty
from the street and their playing fields and grounds a
re enviable to us who live in town."
ddMoney to build, repair and refurbish schools comes primarily from local and S
tate taxes, but in 1994, Congress approved grants
totaling $100 million to help
. The money was slashed in 1995, however, to help balance the federal budget.
ddThis year, the Clinton administration announced a school construction initiat
ive where states and school districts would share $5
billion in construction se
ed money that would spur construction worth as much as $20 billion over two yea
rs.
ddThe federal money would help lower the cost of financing the needed repairs.
Not everyone thinks it's a good idea. Some
conservative members of Congress arg
ue that if federal dollars are used, the cost of the repairs will be inflated b
ecause of laws that
would require districts to pay union wages to workers doing
the work.
ddThe proposal, which has not yet cleared Congress, would be a start, but the p
rice tag to patch the nation's schools is $111 billion,
according to the govern
ment's most recent survey on the condition of schools.
ddThe General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress, surveyed 10
,000 schools in 1995 and reported that one-third
serving 14 million students ne
eded extensive repair or replacement of one of more buildings.
ddThe GAO says 38 percent of big-city schools report at least one inadequate bu
ilding, compared with 30 percent of schools in rural
areas and 29 percent in th
e suburbs. An estimated 67 percent of inner-city schools, serving nearly 10 mil
lion students, report the need
to repair or replace plumbing, heating or founda
tions.
dd"The facts of the matter are not in dispute at all. America's schools are in
serious disrepair," says Michael Casserly, director of
the Council of the Great
City Schools, which represents the nation's 50 largest urban school systems.
ddHe suspects politics is holding up the federal initiative as legislators find
ways to stall the president's domestic agenda. Also, some
lawmakers in Congres
S think fixing schools is the responsibility of state and local officials - not
the federal government's.
ddLocal bond issues to help schools were failing around the nation in the 1980s
and early 1990s as people moved out of the cities
and there was a declining co
nfidence in public schools, he says. This trend began to turn around a few year
S ago.
ddLast year alone, the council reports that voters passed bond issues for const
ruction and renovation in several large cities, including
a $2.4 billion one in
Los Angeles - the largest ever passed for a school district in the nation; and
$483 million in San Antonio - the
largest ever passed in Texas.
ddIn San Jose, Calif., voters passed a $42 million bond measure after teachers,
administrators and parents went door to door, made
telephone calls and pushed
hard for the money.
dd"We took charge and ran it through," says David Hernandez, a kindergarten tea
cher who is president of the local chapter of theNational Education Association
dd"My school was one of the first to get a face lift - new lights, new cabinets
, new furniture, paint, new cafeteria, wiring for
technology. I felt like I was
in a totally new environment. It changed the mood and tone. You could see the
pride in the school."
ddEducators are crossing their fingers in San Diego, Calif., hoping for the pas
sage of a $1.5 billion bond measure that will be placed
on the Nov. 3 general e
lection ballot.
dd"Our schools are in desperate need of repair," says Ron Ottinger, president o
f the Board of Education. "Roofs are leaking, pipes
are bursting and many class
rooms cannot accommodate today's computer technology.
dd"We have playground equipment that needs to be replaced to meet safety standa
rds, and we have schools without standard libraries
and science labs. The list
goes on and on."
ART Mug: Richard Rileyn
Publication#W\
P`P# 78. The Washington "Publication" #:\
PaP# 08/02/98; E
dition: FINAL; Section: Sports; Page D10
Headline#\
PbP# To a Degree, Darrell Green Has Filled the Last Hole in
His Lif
eHeadline #:\ PcP#
By Jennifer Frey
ddFor almost as long as he can remember, Darrell Green has been able to get up
in the morning filled with the faith that he is a good
man. He knows he loves a
nd respects his wife, Jewell. He knows he is a good father, a good Christian an
d a responsible member of
the community. He knows he is good at what he does fo
r a living" even now, at age 38, Green commands tremendous respect at
cornerba
ck for the Washington Redskins and, more important, he knows he is good in th
e way that he lives.
ddThat said, there was one thing that nagged at him, one element missing, one a
spect of his life that was incomplete. Green, you
see, never finished college.
He walked out of Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M-Kingsville) in 1983 as a f
irst-round NFL draft
pick, a player the Redskins jumped at with the 28th pick.
He also walked out without getting his degree.
ddNo one ever faulted him for it. No one, that is, except Green. So this past S
pring, he enrolled in a special program at Saint Paul's
College in Lawrencevill
e, Va., paid his tuition, attended his classes some in person, some by corres
pondence' and accumulated
the final credits he needed to be a college-educated
man. And this past Mother's Day, he walked across the stage in Lawrenceville,
his heart filled with pride when he received a bachelor of science degree.
dd"When I graduated," Green said this past week, his face breaking into a smile
at the mere memory, "I finally felt confident that
there was nothing missing.
My son didn't have to look anywhere else for an example to follow. That was a V
ery proud time for me."
ddIn an era when professional athletes increasingly dot the police blotter, whe
n parents often fear rather than hope that their
children will emulate a fa
vorite sports figure, Green went back to college for one simple reason: He want
S to be a good role model.
He wants to be able to stand before anyone most im
portantly his own children and be confident that he sets an example of
which
he can be proud.
dd"It was important to me," Green said, "that I can say to my son, 'Be like Dad
dy,' and I don't have to be insecure. He can see that
I love his mom, I love hi
m, I work hard, I try to reach out to the community, and I have my degree. I'm
not perfect. I just want to
know that if my children say they want to be like t
heir daddy, they won't be going wrong."
ddFifteen years passed between the day Green left Texas A&I and the day he rece
ived his diploma. In that time, he played in three
Super Bowls and seven Pro Bo
wls, and established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the game, with a
guaranteed ticket into
the Hall of Fame. He also met and married Jewell, and t
hey had three children, who are 12, 9 and 7 years old.
ddHis life, though, was far from limited to football and family. Green constant
ly says "I don't want to sound prideful," but it is clear
that he is deeply pro
ud of the work done by the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation, which he founde
d and funds. The charitable
foundation provides financial, education and social
assistance to inner-city children and their families.
ddOne of the centerpieces of that foundation is the Learning Center, out at the
Franklin Commons Housing Complex in Northeast
D.C. Green wants the center to b
e a model for a series of centers throughout the country. Education, Green alwa
ys tells center visitors,
is a key to the future. They are the same words he ha
S long told his children at home.
ddSo Green's incomplete education bothered him. It's not that he felt like a fr
aud when he stood before groups and preached the value
of schooling. And, in 16
years, no one ever called him on it. No reporter, no teacher, no administrator
, and certainly no child ever
asked him, "So, Mr. Green, where did you get your
diploma?"
ddAnd it's not that he kept it a secret, either. The adults he hired at his fou
ndation adults with masters' degrees and advanced
educations were well awar
e that Green had not finished college, and if they were not, they found out qui
ckly, when Green made
a point of leaving the heavily academic areas of his prog
rams to their guidance and discretion.
ddStill, it bothered him.
dd"It was hard for me," he said, "to tell these kids to finish their educations
when I hadn't finished mine."
ddGreen didn't complete a single class his freshman year at Texas A&I. He didn'
t even enroll in any that first spring. Back then, he
was a homesick kid from H
ouston, so miserable that even his love for football could not overcome his des
ire to return home. His
mother sent him off to college with a $20 bill in case
of an emergency, and it wasn't too far into the fall when a member of the Texas
A&I coaching staff caught him at the local bus depot, preparing to turn the mo
ney over for a one-way ticket home.
ddThe coach took the $20 away from Green, and escorted him to practice. It was
only a temporary fix. When he went home for theholidays that winter, Green didn
't come back. He didn't come back for more than a year he drove a delivery tr
uck instead, attended
some night classes at the local high school, tried to fig
ure out what to do with his life. When he finally went back, when he "grew
up a
nd matured," as he puts it, Green became a football legend at Texas A&I and a d
ecent student. But he was too far behind in his
classes to catch up. And when t
he Redskins came calling after his senior season, he left. He left, but he kept
looking back.
ddGreen tried a few times to return to his schooling, but it never seemed to wo
rk out. Finally, Ernie Turner, who works with the
Redskins' players on educatio
nal opportunities, introduced Green to Billy Hawkins, the vice president of aca
demic affairs at Saint
Paul's. Lawrenceville is nearly three hours from Green's
home in Ashburn, but Hawkins convinced him that they could make the
system wor
k.
ddSo Green went back to school. About once a month, he drove down to campus, an
d the other days he met with advisers in
Northern Virginia and did work through
a correspondence program. In the evenings, his kids watched him struggle to fi
nish all his
assigned reading, and his papers, and the work he had left behind
so long ago. His kids were there, too, on May 10 in Lawrenceville,
when Green p
ut on a cap and gown and received the one missing piece in what has clearly bee
n an exemplary life.
dd"My kids saw me walk across that stage, they saw me at night trying to type m
y papers, they see my wife now she's going to
school, finishing up her degree
, too and I like that," Green said. "I like that we're not afraid to say to o
ur kids, `Be like us.'
ART JOEL RICHARDSON CAPTION: Darrell Green has found happiness in pro foo
tball, but he has found fulfillment by
getting his college diploma.n
Publication#W\ PdP# 79. Chicago 'Publication" #:\ PeP#August 3, 1998
Headline#\ PfP# Feds probe suburb teacher pensions Headline #:\ PgP#
BY MARK SKERTIC
SUBURBAN REPORTER
ddA federal grand jury is looking into the investment practices of the pension
system that covers every suburban public school
teacher.
ddRecords from firms investing money for the Illinois Teachers Retirement Syste
m "used by all Illinois public school teachers
outside Chicago "have been subpo
enaed by federal and state investigators.
ddAt least one source has told authorities that key retirement system managers
were given free private jet trips to Key West, Fla.,
and tickets to the Indiana
polis 500 by firms that wanted to invest the teachers' money.
ddRobert Schau, the system's former real estate analyst, told authorities about
what he believed were questionable investment
decisions, including contracts a
warded without bids and deals made on the basis of personal relationships.
dd` It appeared to me the wrong sort of things were driving decisions," he sai
d.
ddAuthorities declined Sunday to discuss the nature of the investigation or say
how long the probe, which began last year, is
expected to continue. State Poli
ce are assisting the FBI and the U.S. attorney's office, said Mark McDonald, sp
okesman for the
Illinois State Police. "We're conducting interviews, examining
records and evidence," he said.
ddThe State Journal-Register in Springfield has reported that the subpoenas hav
e sought investment firm records but have not
required company officials to app
ear and give testimony.
ddAn Illinois auditor general's report last year criticized the system's invest
ment practices. Lawmakers were upset to learn about a
contract the system had W
ith Chicago-based Zimmerman Investment Management Co., which is headed by Thoma
S Zimmerman,
the retirement system's former $106,000-a-year chief investment of
ficer.
ddThe audit found his firm was paid $5.4 million to make investments that lost
$266 million in less than two years. Robert Daniels,
then the system's executiv
e director, said the system lost only $46 million.
ddDaniels retired in January. When he made the announcement in August, Joseph S
pagnolo, chairman of the retirement board and
state school superintendent, said
it had nothing to do with the auditor's report.
ddSchau, a former real estate analyst, was among those intrigued by the auditor
's findings. Too often, some managers ignored their
fiduciary responsibilities,
he said. "There appeared to me many instances when they were putting their ow
n interests before the
investors'," he said.
ddUnder pressure from Zimmerman, who was chief investment officer and acting ex
ecutive director at the time, Schau said he
resigned in 1992 for a "low five-f
igure" severance payoff. But last spring he wrote to a number of state officia
Is, including lawmakers
and the governor, detailing what he felt were questiona
ble motives by some making retirement fund investment decisions.
dd' I've never asked anybody to take my word," said Schau, now an analyst for
the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System.
"Go ahead and dig. There's plen
ty of evidence of all this stuff."
ddThe retirement system includes all full-time, part-time and substitute Illino
is public school employees in positions requiring state
certification. In the 1
997 fiscal year, there were 192,219 active and inactive members and 59,352 rece
iving benefits.
ddThe system's investments had a market value of $18.1 billion as of June 30, 1
997.n
INTERNATL#u\ PhP# INTERNATIONAL #:\ PiP#yq 'ddy
INTERNATL #:\ PjP#Publication#W\ PkP# 80. BBC News"Publication" #:\ PIP#Aug
ust 4, 1998
Headline#\
PmP# Bilingual ban takes effect Headline #:\ PnP#
ddSchools in California are coming to terms with the reality of a controversial
new law ending bilingual education.
ddThe law, resulting from voters' approval in a ballot in June of what is known
as Proposition 227, means the state's public schools
must conduct lessons prim
arily in English - whereas in many of them that is not the pupils' first langua
ge.
ddUnder the law, children with limited English can be put in a one-year immersi
on course. After 30 days, parents can get a waiver
to put their child back in b
ilingual education under limited conditions.
ddBilingual education, which had been practised since the 1960s, had allowed th
em to be taught primarily in their first language
and encouraged to pick up Eng
lish gradually.
ddCritics say the new law is the latest attack on immigrants in California.
ddOthers say that bilingual education simply did not work and resulted in Hispa
nics in particular being condemned to "ethnic
ghettos".
dd'They're resilient'
ddAs elsewhere, most California schools are closed for the summer but in the Lo
S Angeles Unified school district the pressure on
accommodation has led to a ye
ar-round staggering of classes and a new term began on Monday for almost 20,000
children. Less than
half are fluent in English.
ddAt Theresa Hughes Elementary School, where the student population is 99% Lati
no, children in an immersion class began the
day learning English through words
and pictures on the walls, role-playing, puppetry and hearing lessons read alo
ud.
l"Children are very, very resilient," said Victor Chavira, a fourth-grade teac
her at the school.
dd"They will adapt. But how well they adapt remains to be seen. It's a grey are
a."n
Publication#W\
PoP# 81. Daily Texan"Publication" #:\ PpP#August 3, 1998
Headline#\
PqP# Education debates ignore real issuesHeadline #:\ PrP#
By Corey Young
Daily Texan (U. Texas-Austin)
dd(U-WIRE) AUSTIN, Texas " Tuesday Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas NAACP,
will go before the U.S. Department of
Education to complain about the "bias
component" of Texas standardized testing. He and his organization firmly believ
e that these
tests are easier for white children to take and unfairly stigmatiz
e African Americans. Bledsoe's voluminous evidence for this harsh
accusation wa
S captured in a July 29 USA Today article. He says persuasively, "There is defi
nitely a bias component, although its
difficult to show."
ddAlthough Bledsoe's evidence is staggering, a new study by the research group
Public Agenda makes one wonder where, exactly,
the NAACP is coming from. It see
ms only 28 percent of black parents think standardized tests are "culturally bi
ased against blacks."
What's more, the Public Agenda's research found an issue
in education that white and black parents can actually agree on. It seems
73 pe
rcent of black and 77 percent of white parents think their kid's education is t
oo often sacrificed for the sake of racial diversity.
Only 9 percent of blacks
want schools to focus more on diversity. It looks like Bledsoe and the Texas NA
ACP need to do a little more
grass- roots research before marching up to Washin
gton D.C.
ddThe Public Agenda study does more than weaken the position of the NAACP on th
e issue of standardized tests. It reveals a
disturbing trend in the debate over
race and education. The loudest people in this long and painful fight are star
ting to lose contact
with the people they are trying to help and supposedly rep
resent. Countless talk shows and protests present angry and
uncompromising voic
es from both ends of the political spectrum. Jesse Jackson wants to make UT Law
School professor Lino
Graglia a "social pariah." Many conservatives dismiss af
firmative action as pointless educational welfare. What gets lost in the flood
of arguments and attacks are the actual children being argued over. The needs a
nd desires of the students and their parents should
always be held as the start
ing point for discussion of educational concerns.
ddThe Public Agenda research reveals that only a small minority of parents care
about the supposedly insidious plots of standardized
test makers. Most parents
, black and white, just want their children to have the best quality education
possible. And for them, that
does not mean "diversity" or an attack on the TAAS
test. So why is no one listening to their requests? Apparently leaders like BI
edsoe
think they understand the problem better than parents. The educational, a
dministrative, and political elites have turned a deaf ear to
those whom they
represent." And let's admit it, standardized testing conspiracies and multicult
ural sermons are sexier than the
drudgery of actually fixing a flawed education
system. Taking the politics out of education and focusing on the difficult tas
k of real
reform would be a big step for many of the people debating public sch
ool reform and affirmative action.ddAs to where Bledsoe and the NAACP are comin
g from, history clears a few things up. In 1909, when W.E.B. DuBois founded
the
NAACP, his aim was to harness the power of the most influential African Americ
ans in order to effectively protest. The history
of the NAACP is highlighted by
its involvement in the legal system, with prominent lawyers winning important
cases and forcing
the desegregation of schools across America. This, of course,
is to be applauded. The problem is, the NAACP has been elitist from
its beginn
ings. Du Bois called for the "talented tenth" of African Americans to rise up.
But what about the rest? In its beginning, the
NAACP neglected the many poor so
uthern sharecroppers and factory workers who knew nothing of the "talented tent
h" " some
things never change. Today the parents of black school children must
bide their time as the NAACP and others fight a battle that,
if won, will not
help them or any one else, for that matter.
ddYoung is philosophy senior.n
Publication#W\
PsP# 82. Christian Science Monitor' 'Publication" #:\
PtP#August
4, 1998
Headline#\
PuP# Getting Beyond Cramming for Exams Headline #:\
PvP#
Evangeline Wheeler
ddTOWSON, MD. " One afternoon last semester as I prepared to leave my office,
I went through the ritual: with one hand I
switched off the computer on my desk
while with the other I picked up the telephone receiver to check my voice mail
one last time.
I was only mildly surprised to hear two new messages from frant
ic students.
dd"Can I please take the make-up exam tomorrow?" asked a senior in my cognitive
psychology class. "Dr. Wheeler, I lost my study
guide!" exclaimed a sophomore
in statistics.
ddl decided to return their calls later in the evening. I had already stuffed m
y bag with the books and papers I would need for
working at home after dinner.
ddlt was late and I was tired after a long day explaining the concept of sampli
ng distributions to my restless statistics classes. Their
questions were still
reverberating in my head.
dd"Does the size of the sample really matter?" "Are all sampling distributions
the same?" "Will this be on the exam?"
ddlt was this last question that upset me. I saw it as a loaded question becaus
e I knew that behind it lay the fact that my students
hadn't been keeping up wi
th their regular studying. They were going to cram for the final exam.
ddEnd of semester. Everyone was looking forward to summer internships, beach jo
bs, or as some students say, "just chillin." My
students were so anxious and di
stracted during lectures, when a few weeks ago they were animated by interest.
ddThe refrain, "Is this going to be on the exam?" rattled me as a college teach
er, just as cries of, "Are we there, yet?" assault the
sensibilities of patient
parents on long car trips with bored children.
ddl do well remember my student days. I commiserate with their end-of-semester
panic by sharing with them my own experiences
as a college student stressed out
about grades.
ddWho could forget those all-nighters spent writing a term paper or completing
a lab assignment? Although I counsel my students
about the wastefulness of proc
rastinating on their assignments, I also share with them that I did the same th
ing more than once when
I was a student.
ddl am always conflicted at this point. Cramming sometimes works, I did it; yet
I tell my students not to. During an office visit one
student plopped down in
a chair and sighed, "I stayed awake all night to study for your exam!" It worke
d for her; she earned a solid
B+, a significant improvement over the C- she mad
e on the previous exam. I was satisfied that she improved her grade, but I was
disturbed by the cramming.
ddAll the research on memory shows that continued study over time (called "dist
ributed practice" in the academic literature) leads
to more learning than cramm
ing ("massed practice").
ddWith each cycle of
beginning-of-semester-excitement,
midterm doldrums, and end-of-semester panic, I face a personal challenge to he
lp my students succeed.
ddWhen former students rush into my office needing advice on statistics problem
S assigned to them by their current professors, or
others oversleep and stumble
late to class; when they ask, "Will this be on the exam?", I tell them gently
to calm down and to focus.
I remind them that with careful organization and reg
ular study they will survive the panic. Then I reach over to my stack of journa
I
articles and hand them a copy of the scientific study so they can check out t
he research themselves.
dd* Evangeline Wheeler is an assistant professor of psychology at Towson Univer
sity in Towson, Md.n
Publication#W\
PwP# 83. Los Angeles Times' "Publication" #:\ PxP#* 08/04/98; Ed
ition: Home Edition; Section: Metro; Letters Desk; Page B-6
Headline#\
PyP# Lengthening Class TimeHeadline #:\
PzP#
ddAdrienne Mack wrote an essay about 55 minutes being too restrictive for learn
ing (Commentary, July 23). She is right.
ddHowever, she has missed an opportunity that cannot be overlooked. Learning ov
er longer periods cannot be limited to language
arts. We must look deeper into
the real workings of our schools and make radical changes so test scores will g
o up dramatically. The
start and finish times for our schools are based on the
agrarian economy of our past. Those times required children to work in the
earl
y morning and late afternoon to help slop the pigs, harvest eggs and milk the c
ows. They were needed to clean barns and help
cook.
ddIn today's world those needs are no longer in demand. Thus our children are a
vailable to go to school from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.
just as they might do when
they go into the workplace.
ddThe resultant benefits are huge. We could change the length of classes based
on the intricacies of the course material. Math should
be taught for two hours
while teaching penmanship for half an hour is sufficient. History for one hour
and science for 1 1/2. These
are arbitrary times but the idea is should be clea
r.
ddAlong with additional hours of instruction, we need to measure teachers for q
ualification and pay, based on student test results,
not on tenure, how many pa
pers they write or how many extra courses they take.
ddJUDD WENNER
ddLos Angelesn
Publication#W\
P{P# 84. The Wall Street Journal' 'Publication" #:\ P|P# 08/04/9
8
Headline#\
P}P# ESAs Don't Divert Public School FundsHeadline #:\ P}P#
In her July 9 editorial-page commentary "The Next Big Free-Market Thing," Amit
y Shlaes describes my proposed education savings
accounts (ESAs) as "federal vo
uchers." Although I appreciate her attention to this meaningful debate, her des
cription of the
legislation could not be more inaccurate. While I support vouch
ers, Education Savings Accounts are not vouchers. They simply allow
parents, gr
andparents or any scholarship sponsor to save up to $2,000 per year, per child
in after-tax dollars. The buildup of interest
within the account is tax free if
used for the child's educational expenses, such as home computers, tutoring fo
r children with special
needs, uniforms, transportation, SAT prep courses, or t
uition for a private or religious school.
ddVouchers allow a transfer of federal funds; ESAs use private after-tax dollar
s, not government money, to help parents give their
kids the best education pos
sible. The accounts divert no federal funds from public schools and, in fact, W
ould pour billions of new
dollars into American public education. ESAs, most im
portantly, give parents not the federal government the power to make
decisi
ons for their children.
ddSen. Paul D. Coverdell (R., Ga.)
ddWashingtonn
Publication#W\
P}P# 85. Boston lerald"Publication" #:\ P} 08/03/98; Edition
: Al; Section: EDITORIAL; Page 026
Headline#\
P}P# Principals can help ed successHeadline #:\ P}P#
Regarding "Mass. colleges faulted for low teacher scores" (July 24):
ddWe have the means for removing incompetent teachers: principals. Let them eva
luate competency based on first-hand knowledge
of teaching ability. Hold them a
ccountable for student performance. Reject any big-government proposal to have
anonymous
test-making bureaucrats fire anyone who can't define a preposition.
ddBut if we must test, don't use the Massachusetts test. Suppose that a doctor,
after examining you with a newly invented instrument,
said: "You need open-hea
rt surgery. Tomorrow." Would you go ahead without proof that this instrument wo
rks? Well, none has been
offered about the teacher test. I think this test is f
aulty because I know highly literate students who "failed" it. Clarke Fowler,
P
rofessor of Education Salem State College Salem
ddMoakley has rep as preservationist
ddl read with great interest David Eisen's article, "Bridge too far" (July 23).
I was, however, appalled by Eisen's statement that
"preservationists and harbo
r activists are on one side, and the city and U.S. Rep Joe Moakley are on the o
ther."
ddMy preservationist credentials speak for themselves. I have secured over $50
million for many sites in Boston. My Harbor Island
credentials also speak for t
hemselves. During my years in the state Senate, in the 1960s, I filed and won p
assage of one of the first
pieces of anti-ocean dumping legislation. During the
same period I fought for and won passage of legislation to bring the BostonHar
bor Islands under the jurisdiction of the commonwealth of Massachusetts so that
the islands would not be ruined by development.
ddDuring the last Congress, I, along with Congressman Gerry Studds, filed and W
on passage of federal legislation creating the
Boston Harbor Islands National P
ark, bringing federal money into the island system and to make the Harbor Isla
nds more accessible
to the public. Additionally, to date, the Massachusetts del
egation has secured over $600 million for the clean up of Boston Harbor.
ddThe debate over the fate of the Old Northern Avenue Bridge is not a battle fo
r historic preservation, it is a debate over public
safety. According to the c
ity's Public Facilities Department, the estimated cost of making the bridge saf
e for pedestrian traffic, and
in compliance with Coast Guard regulations, would
be approximately $15 million, and, as such, would not be feasible.
ddWithout demonstrated interest of any public or private concern to shoulder th
e heavy burden of repair, maintenance and
preservation of the structure, the so
lution is clear. Public safety dictates the bridge should be taken down. John J
oseph Moakley, U.S.
Representative 9th District
ddStamp poll shows Korea's forgotten
ddThe U.S. Post Office recently concluded a poll asking the public to determine
the most important event of the 1950s, in order to
determine the events to be
put on new stamp designs. Fifteen events were listed as top vote-getters. The
first was the drive-in movie;
the second, television's "I Love Lucy."
ddNumber 15 was the Korean War. This Korean "police action" resulted in over 50
,000 killed and missing Americans. Number 15?
This is truly the "forgotten war.
" Andrew J. Pullo, Member Korean War Veterans Assoc. Boston
ddGM, not Vaughn, causes Sox trouble
ddl agree with Joe Fitzgerald ("`Mr. Nobody' gives up, and the Red Sox lose,"
July 24). Fans should recall this trouble started with
the arrival of Dan Duqu
ette. You can't blame Mo Vaughn. He had his private life and should be left alo
ne when not in uniform. Get
rid of Duquette and get back to baseball. Ed Fitzhe
nry, Dedham
ddGun license helped Capitol slay suspect
ddSupporters of gun ownership have been quick to point out that, in regard to t
he recent tragic Capitol shooting, the gun laws in
Washington, D.C., were ineff
ective. They forget that the suspect didn't purchase the gun illegally and was
n't a criminal until he
entered the Capitol and snapped.
ddGun bans had nothing to do with this incident, since the weapon was indeed p
urchased by a "law-abiding gun owner." This type
of Second Amendment flag-wavin
g makes the rest of us "law-abiding" non- gun owning citizens sick. Robert Murp
hy, Peabodyn
Publication#W\
P}P# 86. Worcester Telegram & Gazette" 'Publication" #:\
P}P# 08
/02/98; Edition: ALL; Section: INSIGHT; Page CI
Headline#\
P}P# Are education schools lost among trends?Headline #:\ P}P#
By JOHN LEO
A reader sent in a list of teacher education courses at the University of Mass
achusetts at Amherst, along with a note: "This explains
why 59 percent of prosp
ective teachers in Massachusetts flunked a basic literacy test."
ddThe courses listed were: "Leadership in Changing Times," "Social Diversity" (
four different sections), "Embracing Diversity,"
"Diversity and Change," "Oppre
ssion and Education," "Intro to Multicultural Education," "Black Identity," "CI
assism," "Racism,"
"Sexism," "Jewish Oppression," "Lesbian||Gay||Bisexual Oppre
ssion," "Oppression of the Disabled," and (get this one) "Erroneous
Beliefs."
ddThe reader was referring to a basic 10th-grade test in language, math and ot
her subjects, given to 1,800 would-be teachers in
Massachusetts.
ddAmong other things, the 59 percent who failed often couldn't spell simple Eng
lish words such as "burned" and "abolished."
ddApparently they went into ed school without knowing much about anything, then
came out the same way. But at least they are
prepared to drill children in sep
aratism, oppression and erroneous beliefs.
ddOur schools of education have been a national scandal for many years, but it'
S odd that they are rarely front-and-center in our
endless debate about failing
schools.
STANDARDS VS. ESTEEM
ddThe right talks about striving and standards, the left talks about equal fund
ing and classroom size, but few talk much about the
breeding grounds for school
failure the trendy, anti-achievement, oppression-obsessed, feel-good, esteem
-ridden, content-free
schools of education.
ddFor an article in City Journal, writer||reporter Heather MacDonald recently V
isited New York's City College, to see how a modern
education school manages to
fill its class time without making the dread professional mistake of having an
y actual content or clear
purpose.
ddShe found the teacher talking about "building a community, rich of talk" and
how ed-school students should "develop the subtext
of what they're doing."
ddEach student wrote for seven minutes on "What excites me about teaching," "Wh
at concerns me about teaching" and "What was
it like to do this writing."
ddAfter the writings were read aloud, the teacher said, "So writing gave you pe
rmission to think on paper about what's there."
ddThen the students split into small groups and talked about their feelings.
dd"It shifted the comfort zone," said one student, already fluent in ed-speak.
Another said: "I felt really comfortable. I had trust
there. "dd" 'Let's talk abou
t that," said the teacher. "We are building trust in this class."
ddBut what they were not doing was talking about anything in the real world, or
about how to teach real lessons to real children.
ddThe credo for education schools, MacDonald says, is "Anything but Knowledge."
dd"Once you dismiss real knowledge as the goal of education," she writes about
the make-work silliness in education classes, "you
have to find something else
to do."
ddThe education schools take for granted that education must be "child-centered
which means that children decide for themselves
what they want to learn.
ddHeavy emphasis is put on feelings and the self.
ddAn actual curriculum, listing things students ought to know, is viewed as cra
mping the human spirit.
ddEd-school students are taught to be suspicious of authority and the notion th
at teachers might be expected to know more than the
children they teach, so the
word "teacher" is in decline.
ddThe fad word is now "facilitator," part guide and part bystander watching the
self-educating child.
ddThe traditional ed-school hostility to achievement currently hides behind the
word "equity" - bright students must be tamped down
so slower learners will no
t feel bad about themselves.
ddSmuggled in along with equality is the notion that performance and learning S
houldn't really count - they elevate some children
at the expense of others. Gr
ades and marks are bad, too, because they characterize and divide children.
ddThe result is that the brighter students get little help and are often the ta
rget of teacher resentment.
ddRita Kramer wrote in her 1991 study of education schools, "Ed School Follies"
: "What happens to those more capable or
motivated students is hardly anyone's
concern."
BEST STUDENTS IGNORED
ddThis lack of concern for achievement now has a racial cast. Asian and white c
hildren are often depicted as somehow out of step
if they work harder and achie
ve more than blacks, Hispanics and other minorities.
ddlnstead of working hard with children to reduce the racial gap, school of edu
cation theory calls for strategies to conceal it under
group projects or simply
to demonstrate that achievement doesn't matter.
ddVarious experiments are under way to let bright college graduates bypass educ
ation schools.
ddConnecticut has a program allowing professionals in other fields to switch in
to teaching from other careers simply by taking an
eight-week summer course and
a test.
ddln New York, the Teach for America program produced a sudden infusion of very
good teachers into public schools, also by
bypassing the ed-school swamp.
ddBut the hidebound education industry is digging in to close these loopholes a
nd protect its closed-shop monopoly.
ddlt makes no sense to force teachers through schools as bad as these.
ddPeople should be able to qualify as teachers simply by passing rigorous tests
in their area of competence. Scrapping the school
of education requirement is
clearly the way to go.
John Leo is a syndicated columnist.
n
Publication#W\
P}P# 87. Harrisburg Patriot-News "Publication" #:\ P# 08/0
2/98; Edition: FINAL; Section: EDITORIAL; Page B14
Headline#\
P}P# Other needs supersede 4-year universityHeadline #:\
P}P#
Pennsylvania needs another institution of higher education like it needs anoth
er law school. Your assertion (Editorial, July 22) that
in higher education `mo
re is better` is ludicrous.
ddDid you ever hear of saturation levels? If memory serves me correctly, Pennsy
Ivania already has more four-year institutions of
higher education than any oth
er state.
ddYour argument on behalf of a Harrisburg University implies that the universit
y-saturated areas of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh
aren't capable of producing th
e computer engineers and high-tech personnel needed in Dauphin County. Or do yo
u feel the
post-graduate relocation of such individuals to central Pennsylvania
would be an inhumane hardship?
ddYour allegation about the turf consciousness of the existing order of higher
education and the damaging effect it has on the
economic and social potential o
f Dauphin County sounds like a George Costanza outburst. But the humor really e
merges when you
contrast the higher education disparity between Harrisburg and
Boston.
ddIn the words of our first lady: `give me a break.' Maybe the commonwealth cou
Id purchase Harvard U. and relocate it to Dauphin
County. The cost of such an e
ndeavor should be no greater than what it costs to build a sports palace in Phi
ladelphia or Pittsburgh.
ddHealth care, day care and mass transit are where the money is needed. We have
a sufficient supply of sports emporiums and
institutions of higher learning.
" Barry Ochs Shippensburgn
Publication#W\ P}P# 88. Greensboro News & Record' "Publication" #:\ P}P# 08/02/
98; Edition: ALL; Section: EDITORIAL; Page F3
Headline#\
P}P# SCHOOL YEAR'S FIRST CHALLENGEHeadline #:\ P}P#Subhead#[\ P}P
# GETTING AND KEEPING GOOD TEACHERS ATTRITION HAS BEEN
HEAVIEST AT "LOW-PERFOR
MING" SCHOOLS, BUT THE
ATTRITION STARTED BEFORE THE DESIGNATION.
Subhead#:\ P}P# By Philip J. Kirk
A new school year is beginning, and some 10,000 new teachers are starting wor
k in classrooms across this state. Another 70,000
teachers are returning to the
ir classrooms for another year. But, in some schools, administrators are strugg
ling to find teachers to staff
every classroom.
ddThe teachers who are starting work had to meet more rigorous standards to ent
er the profession, they are receiving better
orientation to their new jobs and
they will earn more money during their careers.
ddThey also will receive assistance from trained, paid mentors. But, many of th
ese teachers will leave the profession after a few years
for jobs that are less
frustrating and more lucrative.
ddThe challenge for education administrators is to recruit and retain competent
, effective and caring teachers.
ddRural areas traditionally have more of a challenge, but large urban systems,
which pay attractive supplements, also are
experiencing problems in retaining t
eachers and filling vacancies.
ddThe State Board of Education is particularly concerned about the large number
of teachers who are leaving schools that need
experienced teachers - mostly "I
ow-performing" schools.
ddAn analysis of teacher turnover in schools designated low- performing in 1997
showed that teacher turnover in those schools was
three times higher than in o
ther schools statewide.
ddSome might question if the designation of the school as low- performing resul
ted in the higher turnover rate; it is important to
note that this was the rate
before the announcement of school status under the ABCs.
ddln some of the low-performing schools, the turnover rate was 50 percent in on
e year.
ddJust imagine a work situation of 30 co-workers where 15 of them leave in one
year.
ddBesides the extra work of administrators who have to search to replace staff,
there's the emotional upheaval for students, as well
as learning time lost dur
ing the transition.
ddThe higher turnover in these schools during the instructional year is especia
Ily disturbing.
ddlt is likely to mean that students have been taught by substitute teachers wh
ile certified teachers were recruited and hired.
ddAn added difficulty is that the first semester of the year is typically the m
ost difficult time of all to recruit and employ well-
prepared, talented teache
rs because teachers who graduated the year before already have jobs.
ddThis may result in our least experienced teachers or substitute teachers teac
hing students with perhaps the greatest needs at a
critical time during the sch
ool year.
ddStudents taught by a succession of teachers are simply not going to learn as
much as other students.
ddTeachers leaving low-performing and other schools is not just a North Carolin
a problem.
ddSchool systems in the United States will need to hire some 2 million teachers
in the next decade, according to U.S. Department
of Education estimates. In
North Carolina, we'll need an estimated 72,000 new teachers in the next seven y
ears.
ddWe want these teachers to know how to teach so students will want to learn an
d to know their subject matter.
ddThe more our teachers know, the more our students can learn.
ddWe also want these teachers to be committed to continually learning more and
improving their teaching style.
ddGov. Jim Hunt has lead the national effort to study teacher quality.
ddAs chairman of the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future, the
governor was instrumental in the development
of two national teacher quality re
ports that outlined steps to be taken to improve teacher quality and quality te
aching.
ddThe governor also initiated North Carolina's bold Excellent Schools Act in 19
97. This act enjoys bipartisan support from the
Legislature because it is focus
ed on increasing standards for teachers and students while compensating teacher
S for meeting higher
standards.
ddSeveral of the components of the Excellent Schools Act will make a difference
in our attempts to keep teachers from leaving the
profession, including the lo
w-performing schools.
ddThe Excellent Schools Act will move North Carolina's teachers to the national
average in teacher pay in the next three years
through across-the-board raises
and additional pay for advanced certification and degrees and for additional r
esponsibility and work.
ddWhile that will help, a Public School Forum study found that more than 40 per
cent of teachers leave their classrooms before they
complete their fifth year b
ecause of a lack of discipline in the classroom and a lack of support from admi
nistrators, school boards,
and parents, in addition to low pay.
ddParents and citizens have a role to play.
ddWhen asked what would help retain high quality teachers, local school adminis
trators cite parent involvement and community
support and respect for teaching
as key factors.
ddRestoring respect for the teaching profession is one of my personal goals as
chairman of the State Board of Education.
ddAs a new school year begins, I encourage you to call your local school, ask W
hat you can do and then follow through on yourcommitment.
ddOur teachers have a very important job.
ddThey deserve higher pay, better working conditions and the support of the ent
ire community.
ddThat's where you can help in recruiting and retaining excellent teachers in a
II schools in North Carolina.n
Publication#W\ P}P#89. The Washington nes"Publication"#:\ P}P# 08/03/98;
Edition: 2; Section: A;COMMENTARY;EDITORIALS;LETTERS; Page A16
Headline#\
}P#Keeping science education on the cutting edgeHeadline#:\ P}P
#
As president of the world's largest scientific society - the American Chemica
I Society, which represents more than 155,000 chemists
and chemical engineers -
I read "Science aversion looms as serious threat to U.S. economy" (June 19) wi
th initial interest, but
growing concern. This article contains many errors of
fact, implication and omission, thereby putting your readers at a distinct
info
rmational disadvantage. They should know the facts:
ddScientists did set the nation's science education standards. Your article sta
tes that the National Science Education Standards were
written by groups "made
up primarily of educators, not scientists." In fact, they were developed under
the aegis of the National
Academy of Science, whose elected membership constitu
tes the most prestigious scientists, and included members of our society
and ma
ny other learned organizations.
ddWhat's more, scientists participated fully in every stage of the development
of these standards. Science educators were also
involved to ensure the success
of these new standards in the classroom, as well as industrialists, who eventua
Ily employ the products
of our educational system.
ddProviding access to science for all students does not mean dumbing down the c
urriculum. Your article implies that wider access
means watering down the curri
culum, but ignores several facts:
ddFirst, as we approach the millennium, science is a basic subject that needs t
o be taught in a fashion that makes it accessible to all
students. Second, the
standards help all students to think more, rather than less, by emphasizing und
erstanding and applying science
knowledge rather than just memorizing science f
acts. They demand that students think in a scientific fashion and engage in the
kind
of inquiry that engages the working scientist - not an easier task, but a
harder one. Finally, this approach not only shows students
the real excitement
and challenges of doing science, but also helps retain students' interest in S
cience. We cannot teach science to
students who have opted out of the pipeline,
nor can we build jobs and keep our research enterprise vital without training
as many
bright young minds as we can reach while they are still in school.
ddThe standards are moving us closer to the performance level other nations enj
oy in science education. In the article, you briefly
mention the results of the
most recent report from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study
(TIMSS). While it is true
that, in general science literacy and physics, our gr
aduating students did very poorly compared with those of the other countries
pa
rticipating in the study, your article failed to mention that our students in t
he third grade did much better than the world average,
and in the eighth grade
were about at the world average.
ddMany involved with TIMSS are trying to explain why U.S. children perform wors
e on these measures the longer they are in
school, relative to other countries.
Here is one explanation: When comparing science curriculum content around the
world, you can
see that our students, especially as they get older, are exposed
to a curriculum that has been described as "a mile wide and an inch
deep." The
standards, with an emphasis on fewer concepts taught in greater depth, helps t
o address this issue and moves closer to
those nations that outperformed us on
TIMSS.
ddFinally, the article implies that notion that only bad-tasting medicine is go
od for you. I became a chemist because I enjoyed
chemistry in school; to me, it
was fun to learn chemistry. I would not have become a chemist if the subject W
ere dull, irrelevant and
incomprehensible. As a college professor for much of m
y professional life, I can tell you that nothing is more rewarding or fun - for
both teacher and student - than the moment when both realize that learning has
taken place. That's what the standards are attempting
to do: Make sure that mo
re students in more classrooms learn more science than they do now.
ddPAUL H.L. WALTER
ddPresident
ddAmerican Chemical Society
ddWashingtonn
Publication#W\
P}P# 90. Raleigh News & Observer "Publication" #:\
P# 08/03/
98; Edition: Final; Section: Editorial/Opinion; Page A10
Headline#\
P} P# Student courts must be free to punish campus crimeHeadline #:\
P}P#
Your July 29 editorial "Crime under wraps" argued that records of student jud
icial matters should be open to the public. The
editorial ended by stating that
cases of a "criminal" nature should not be heard by "campus courts" at all.
ddlf your suggested policy were followed, universities would be unable to sanct
ion students who engage in underage drinking,
vandalism, fighting, hazing, thef
t of community members' property or breaking into another person's computer rec
ords. Such a policy
would greatly impede the role of universities in educating
students about their civic responsibilities and essentially would not allow
a u
niversity community to set standards that are higher than those of society at I
arge.
ddAs students at UNC-Chapel Hill, we find that being part of a safe, honest uni
versity community is vital to our education. The
community has the responsibili
ty to set high expectations for its members, one of which should certainly be t
o uphold North Carolina
laws. When a fellow student chooses to break the trust
established within our community, as student judicial leaders we take action
to
ensure that integrity is maintained, in addition to whatever action criminal c
ourts may choose to take.
ddFurthermore, when the public learns that a student has broken the law, not on
ly do other members of the university community
look to the university to take
action, but the public does as well. We encourage The N&O to consider the ramif
ications of your
suggestion, not only for universities but also for the communi
ties surrounding them.
ddSabrina K. Presnell
ddStudent Attorney General
ddGerald C. Andrady
ddUndergraduate Honor Court Chair
ddUNC-Chapel Hill
ddChapel Hilln
Publication#W\
P}P# 91. The Sacramento ee"Publication" #:\
P# 08/03/98; Ed
ition: METRO FINAL; Section: EDITORIALS; Page B7
Headline#\ P}P# 'LOOPING' KEEPS KIDS, TEACHERS TOGETHER
FOR MORE THAN 1 YEARHe
adline #:\
P}P#
By Michele Fuetsch
Educators across the country are hailing a teaching strategy as old as the on
e-room schoolhouse but as fast-spreading as a new
Disney video.
ddCalled looping, or multiyear assignments, the strategy keeps a teacher with t
he same group of children for more than one academic
year. Some educators say t
he idea is the most effective, profound innovation to enter American schools in
decades.
ddUnlike smaller classes or all-day kindergarten, which require sizable financi
al investments, looping is an educational reform that
"doesn't cost a penny,"
ays Ted Thibodeau, superintendent of public schools in Attleboro, Mass., where
all first- to eighth-graders
are in a looping program that has them spend two y
ears at a time with teachers. The program is seven years old.
ddEducators who are trying looping credit it with reducing discipline problems
and the number of students held back in a grade while
improving test scores, th
e emotional health of students, the involvement of parents and the academic per
formance of students. In
Attleboro, school officials say that over two years, I
ooping increased the daily attendance rate from 92 percent to 97 percent, while
decreasing the number of students held back by 43 percent and referrals to spe
cial education by 55 percent.
ddLooping, the superintendent says, has earned Attleboro consistently higher SC
ores on state proficiency tests than other districts
with comparable family inc
omes and parental education levels.
ddThose familiar with looping say the secret of success is simple: When a teach
er stays with the same youngsters for two years, they
say, about six weeks of i
nstruction time gets added to a two-year academic cycle. No time is lost at the
start of the second year, they
say, when a new teacher would have to spend tim
e getting to know the names, personalities, strengths and weaknesses of the stu
dents
and their families. There is no need for a teacher to assess what the stu
dents learned in the previous year, because the teacher knows
and can immediate
ly begin to individualize instruction.
ddTeachers at Glendale Elementary School in Bedford, Ohio, say having the same
children for two years increases their performance.
ddKarla Robinson says a looping teacher has a hard time blaming anyone else if
a child fails to do well after two years.
dd"You have to be sure you've done everything you can to help him," Robinson sa
ys.
dd"It's intense," says 20-year teacher Lynn Beveridge. "I find myself working h
arder at this."
ddBedford school officials say that when they evaluated their 3-year-old loopin
g program, they discovered something other educators
have noticed: that parents
overwhelmingly support looping and the teachers.
d"Parents thought it was tremendous, the bond that was established between the
parents and the teacher and the child," said Linda
A. O'Neill, the district's
elementary curriculum supervisor ddStudents whose young lives have been scarred
by poverty or family collapse are the youngsters many educators believe could
benefit most from looping.
dd"The comfort level with the teacher is so important for some kids," says Delo
res Vehar, principal at Oxford Elementary School
in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, "e
specially if a child has been moved around from one place to another."
ddLooping began at Oxford last year with selected classes in which teachers ask
ed to continue on with their classes, Vehar said.
ddAttleboro's Thibodeau agrees that the academic success of looping lies in mor
e than extra instruction time. "We think it's about
relationships more than any
thing else," he says, pointing out, for example, that people don't want to go t
o a new doctor every year.
dd"Significant relationships are where it's at," said James Grant, the New Hamp
shire educator who popularized the term "looping."
"Parents like it," said Gran
t, founder and executive director of the Society for Developmental Education,"
because they want to have
a predictable adult in their children's lives for mor
e than 36 weeks."
ddIndeed, the Journal of the American Medical Association last fall published t
he findings of a longitudinal study on adolescent
health that found the first I
ine of defense against such self-destructive behavior as drugs, alcohol and ear
ly sex was a youth's love
for his or her parents. The second line of defense wa
S a strong attachment to a teacher.
ddGrant acknowledges two pitfalls in looping: personality clashes between a stu
dent and a teacher so that both dread a second year
together, and the tendency
of administrators to overload looping classes with children who have special ne
eds.
ddOne school in Ohio's Mayfield School District dropped its first- and second-g
rade looping program, in part because some teachers
and parents reported doubts
about having the same behavior problems and personality clashes carried over f
rom year to year, said
school board President Janice Marquardt.
ddRobert Lincoln, principal of Tolland Middle School in Tolland, Conn., where S
eventh- and eighth-graders loop with a team of
four teachers, says he solves pe
rsonality clashes by moving the student to another class the second year.
ddIn the first year of his school's 3-year-old program, Lincoln said, 12 of abo
ut 200 students asked to be moved, while only four
asked this year. Lincoln att
ributes the drop in part to the growing cooperation he says looping produces be
tween parents and teachers.
"There's an increased commitment both ways, and that's a very potent factor h
ere," Lincoln said, explaining that it's hard for
students to elude responsibil
ity when the authority figures in their lives are united.
ddLincoln said looping is a hot topic today in middle school circles as educato
rs and others seek ways to connect youths more
securely in relationships with a
dults.
ddThe academic benefits are high too, Lincoln said, pointing out that his first
eighth-graders to complete a two-year cycle with the
same team of teachers sco
red higher on state proficiency tests than any other Tolland eighth-graders had
ever scored before.
Michele Fuetsch is a reporter with the Plain Dealer, in Cleveland. Distributed
by Newhouse News Service.n
Publication#W\
P}P# 92. Investors Business Daily"Publication" #:\ P}P#August
4, 1998
Headline#\
P}P# Education Reform In Black And White Headline #:\
P}P#
Americans spend a lot of time debating race issues. But a new poll from Public
Agenda shows that black parents and white parents
are united on education refor
m. Both groups want public schools to raise their standards and demand the best
from kids.
ddNew York-based polling firm Public Agenda asked 800 black parents and 800 whi
te parents about their views on public schools.
Here are some of the results:
ddGood schools must focus on the basics.
ddMore than nine of 10 black and white parents agree it is absolutely essential
that schools "make sure students master the basics
such as reading, writing a
nd arithmetic."
ddKids must learn and be challenged.
ddMore than eight in 10 black and white parents say it is absolutely essential
that schools "promote kids to the next grade only after
they show they have le
arned what they were supposed to."
ddHaving a choice matters.
ddFully 61% of white parents say they chose their neighborhood based on the qua
lity of its schools. This is de facto school choice
- an option that many lower
-income and minority parents don't have.
ddWhile Democrats oppose any school choice or education reform efforts, black p
arents grow impatient. Fully 60% of black parents
say they would switch their k
ids from public to private schools if money weren't an issue. Such Public Agend
a findings jibe with
the other polls we've seen.
ddLearning begins at home.
ddParents are critical of the schools, but they also think a strong family play
S a bigger part in success than any school can.
ddAlmost two of three black parents think a student from a stable and supportiv
e family who goes to a poor school is more likely
to succeed than a kid from a
troubled family who attends a good school. More than three of four whites paren
ts agree.
ddIn short, what parents want -regardless of race - is higher standards.
ddMore than half of black parents agreed with the statement that when black kid
S aren't doing well in school, "It's a crisis, and must
be addressed quickly.'
, Another 28% think it is a "serious problem."
ddThese views are creating pressure.
dd"Although advocates of voucher programs sometimes point to the power of the
free market and need for competition as persuasive
arguments, this study sugges
ts that most parents come to the issue from a different perspective," write th
e Public Agenda authors. "They are frustrated with public schools, want results
and are desperate to give their children the best possible chance."
dd"We've spent a lot of time on the race issues, and we need to redirect some
of those energies to getting our children a better
education," said one black
parent from Pennsylvania.
ddEven though parents decry the state of schools, their dissatisfaction contain
S some good news. As the interest of parents grows,
the system will be forced t
o change.
ddSchools must be more competitive, responsive, accountable and free to seek to
ugh curricula to challenge students and demand
the best from them.
ddTeacher unions and educators must be part of this solution. Their low expecta
tions of students has hurt all kids.
ddTo better educate our children, schools must change. Parents of all colors sh
ould demand it.n
Publication#W\
P}P# 93. New York mes"Publication" #:\ P}P#August 1, 1998
Headline#\
P}P# Keeping the Census FairHeadline #:\
P}P#
ddln 1990, for the first time in decades, the Bureau of the Census produced a c
ount that was less accurate than the one that preceded
it. Under Congressional
direction, the agency consulted the National Academy of Sciences and came up W
ith a new, more
statistically sophisticated procedure. But Republican leaders
have declared war on the plan. In effect, they are fighting for a census
in wh
ich some Americans count for more than others.
ddChanges in American life style, in which families double up, children shuttle
among relatives and adults move into and out of
relationships make the populat
ion increasingly hard to pin down. The Census Bureau estimates it missed about
8.4 million people
in 1990, most of them residents of rental housing. About 4
.4. million others many of them college students and people who owned
two home
S were counted twice. The results were disturbingly skewed along racial and et
hnic lines. One in 10 black males were
missed by the census, and 1 in 20 Hispa
nics. About half the Americans who never got counted were children.
ddTo keep the same thing from happening in the year 2000 census, officials deci
ded to use statistical sampling techniques to check
the accuracy of the count.
Field workers will be dispatched to 750,000 randomly selected houses to perfor
m a second minicensus.
The two results will be compared, and the bureau will t
ry to reconcile the differences.
ddSampling techniques are the state of the art in statistics, but Republicans c
ontend that they violate the constitutional mandate for
actual enumeration of
the population. The party actually fears that since poor and minority American
S tend to be Democrats,
correcting the census will help the opposition.
ddThe Republicans are attempting to starve the Census Bureau into submission.
The proposed
appropriations bill for the Commerce Department contains funding for census pr
eparations for only the next six months. If the bill
becomes law, next March P
resident Clinton will have a choice of accepting the Republicans demands for a
less accurate count or
allowing preparations for the census to come to a halt.
ddThe President may feel obliged to veto a budget bill that endorses such an un
fair procedure. To avoid that, the House should adopt
a Democratic amendment t
o the Commerce budget that would finance the census for the entire year, and di
rect the bureau to be
prepared to use either counting method. The Republicans
have challenged use of sampling in court, and in the unlikely event the
Supreme
Court decides to take up the issue, the judicary can decide the matter. Other
wise, Congress must stop trying to politicize
the census.n
Publication#W\
P}P# 94. The Washington es"Publication" #:\ 08/03/98;
Edition: 2; Section: A;COMMENTARY;EDITORIALS; Page A16
Headline#\
P}P# The stakes for the economyHeadline #:\ P}P#
As expected, the economy slowed considerably during the second quarter. The an
nual rate of growth for the April-June period
decelerated to 1.4 percent from a
roaring 5.5 percent during the first quarter, according to the Commerce Depart
ment's preliminary
estimate of gross domestic product released Friday.
ddThe slowdown had several causes. Some are surely temporary, but others may be
longer-lasting. The general consensus among
economists is that the General Mot
ors strike, which began June 5 and ended last week, shaved 1 percentage point o
ff the
second-quarter's growth rate. And a sharp, but welcome, decline in the r
ate of inventory investment knocked off another 2 percentage
points. A huge and
disturbing 8 percent decline in exports, reflecting the impact of Asia's econo
mic crisis, and a sharp increase in
imports, also Asia-related, together choppe
d another 2 to 3 points off the second quarter's growth rate. Yet all these del
eterious
effects, which together might have resulted in an actual decline in ou
tput, were offset by substantial increases in other areas.
Consumer spending, f
or example, increased by 5.8 percent, only slightly below the first quarter's r
ate. And private investment
continued to surge, rising by nearly 12 percent, th
anks in large part to a 17.8 percent increase in capital spending by businesses
The U.S. economy is now in its eighth year of expansion, the third longest
since World War II. Despite last quarter's slowdown,
U.S. economic fundamental
S remain strong. The federal budget is now in surplus, the first time that has
happened since 1969. And
future budgets are projected to generate ever-larger S
urpluses. In 1996 and 1997, productivity increased sharply, suggesting that the
recent increases in wages and benefits will not be inflationary. The unemployme
nt rate has been consistently declining since 1992,
reaching 4.9 percent last y
ear, the lowest rate since 1970. And today's 4.5 percent rate is nearly half a
percentage point lower than
1997's. In the face of declining unemployment, mean
while, inflation continues to fall as well. Indeed, as the Commerce Department
also reported last week, an economy-wide inflation index declined once again, r
eaching an annual rate of a miniscule 0.8 percent.
For all practical purposes,
the Federal Reserve has reached its goal of price stability.
ddLast week's news of a slowdown in economic growth and a decline in inflation
suggests that the Federal Reserve will continue
to find no need to raise short-
term interest rates in the near future. And that is very good news, both for th
e U.S. economy and the
global economy. In addition to dampening consumption and
investment, rising interest rates would adversely affect the stock market,
whi
ch has already declined nearly 5 percent in the past two weeks. Whatever one's
views are regarding whether or not the U.S. stock
market is overvalued, the fac
t remains that the bull market has been an important factor behind strong consu
mer spending, which
has been the backbone of the economic expansion. And now wo
uld not be the time for a Fed-induced stock market correction.
ddA double whammy of rising interest rates and falling household wealth, which
would result from a declining stock market, could
very well be enough to tip th
e U.S. economy into a recession, notwithstanding its sound economic fundamental
S. With 13 of Asia's
19 largest economies already mired in recession, the U.S.
market must continue to remain sufficiently strong in order to absorb Asian
exp
orts, regardless of the effects upon the U.S. trade deficit. Despite the centra
I role that Japan ought to play in Asia's recovery, the
likelihood that it is c
apable of meeting its regional responsibilities was dealt a major blow last wee
k. U.S. officials, it was reported,
have concluded that the bad-debt problem fr
om Japan's banking crisis now approaches $1 trillion, almost double Japan's low
- ball
official estimate. Thus, for the sake of the global economy, in both the
short term and long term, it is extremely important for the
U.S. locomotive, f
ueled by strong consumer demand and business investment, to continue surging fo
rward.n
Publication#W\
P} P# 95. Los Angeles Times' "Publication" #:\ P}P#* 08/03/98; Ed
ition: Home Edition; Section: Metro; Editorial Writers Desk; Page B-4
Headline#\
P}P# The Internet and Child SafetyHeadline #:\
P}P#
ddWhat thread links an Illinois preacher, a Virginia pediatrician, a Dutch just
ice minister, a New Jersey kindergarten teacher and
a California Border Patrol
officer? All have been charged with receiving or distributing child pornography
over the Internet in recent
months. The teacher (who has pleaded guilty to por
nography charges), the preacher and the border patrolman were also charged with
soliciting minors over the Internet. These are examples of the growing number
of cases in which the Net has allegedly been used to
commit or facilitate crime
S involving children.
ddHere, for instance, Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard Parks reported recently
that the Police Department has already filed twice
as many Net-related child cr
ime cases this year as it did in 1997.
ddPenalties are sufficiently stiff and laws are generally adequate. State and f
ederal fines and prison terms are hefty. The problem
is that local law enforcem
ent, like the LAPD, is often technically outmatched, with their aged computers,
slow modems and a lack
of access to sophisticated software programs that can p
ull supposedly deleted images out of a computer. That gap figures to grow
wider
now that any pedophile with a few bucks can buy new software programs that pro
mise to erase files" in these cases, child
pornography files"so completely they
can never be recovered.
ddMore ways should be found for police agencies to get better computer hardwar
e and software, through purchase or receiving
donations, to help suppress these
nasty crimes.
ddln the meantime, experts have suggestions for parents: Put the family compute
r in a high-traffic area, like the living room, where
its use can be easily obs
erved; warn youngsters against revealing personal information on the Internet;
warn them to drop out of chat
room talk that turns to body parts or underwear;
insist on knowing your child's cyber friends, and limit hours online.
ddVice President Al Gore said Friday that the federal government will seek to i
mplement safeguards against the collection of
personal information from childre
n who use the Net. That's a smart move. Some Web sites that attract children en
courage them to
post their names and addresses. Preventing these postings would
help limit the opportunities of those who troll for young victims,
a hidden ho
rror of the cyberworld.n
Publication#W\
P}P# 96. The Salt Lake Tribune" Publication" #:\ P}P# 08/02/98S
ection: Opinion; Page AA1
Headline#\
P}P# Give Charter Schools a TryHeadline #:\ P}P#
Aside from radical reform, like strapping per-pupil state education subsidies
to the backs of students and letting the money follow
students to whatever pub
lic or private school they and their parents choose, Utah's most promising educ
ation reform lies in charter
schools.
ddJust recently, a State Board of Education committee approved start-up financi
ng for two charter schools, one geared toward the
arts near St. George and the
other for deaf students in the Salt Lake Valley.
ddlt is about time. Charter schools offer parents, students and teachers a vari
ety of options that could energize and improve learning.
Charter schools have m
ore autonomy from the often hidebound rules of traditional public schools so th
ey better can tailor theircurriculum around student needs.
ddNationally, charter schools are the product of rising parental frustration wi
th public schools, especially those in the nation's inner
cities where large nu
mbers of students seemingly are written off by educators too busy, too demorali
zed or even too lazy to reach
them.
ddThe charter schools movement is popular. They are in 29 states and the Distri
ct of Columbia. Even allies of the traditional public
school system and its tea
cher unions, like President Clinton, back charter schools. The president last y
ear announced $40 million
in grants to help charter schools open, and said he W
ants to see more-than 3,000 of them nationwide by the year 2000. Now there
are
780.
ddPart of the motivation for all this backing, of course, lies in staving off j
ust such a scenario as public education subsidies following
students into priva
te schools. Charter schools are a reasonable compromise between stand pat publi
c education supporters and those
who believe the best way to improve public sch
ooling is to let it compete head-to-head with private schools.
ddNevertheless, charter schools offer considerable educational promise and dese
rve a chance. Their success rests with results
reaching agreed upon performan
ce standards. The freedom and flexibility they have is to better enable them to
reach their students
and achieve agreed-upon results.
ddUtah is to be congratulated for joining the charter school movement. There is
little, if anything, to lose and much to gain.n
Publication#W\
P}P# 97. San Diego Union 'Publication" #:\
P}P#August 4
, 1998
Headline#\ P}P# Too good for the jobHeadline #:\ }P#Subhead#[\ P}P# School
superintendent set high standardsSubhead#:\ P}P#
Any parent with a kid in Escondido's four high schools " or any with kids ab
out to enter one " should don a black armband
tonight when the high school bo
ard announces the resignation of Jane Gawronski as superintendent.
dd In her eight years in the post, Gawronski has demonstrated the kind of lead
ership, competence and principles that most
superintendents can only dream abo
ut. Among other things, she was instrumental in the district's successful effo
rt to pass a $43
million bond in 1996, resulting in badly needed face-lifts for
the four schools as well as the construction of a new high in Valley
Center.
dd She upgraded the summer school program so that more than four times as many
students in the overcrowded district could attend
(and take the courses they
needed), expanded the adult education program to nearly double its size and en
couraged more migrant
students to attend school by adding extra buses.
dd She was the first person from the CIF-San Diego section ever elected preside
nt of the CIF State Federated Council, and last year
was named the top superi
ntendent in the state by the Association of California School Administrators.
dd But, despite all her accomplishments, Gawronski had one major flaw: She was
a strong leader in a city which just about always
elects small-town politician
S to its school boards; politicians who can't stand being upstaged by competen
t administrators. And, as
in a lot of other county school districts, when scho
ol board members find themselves upstaged, they do something about it.
dd It happened in Vista. It happened in Chula Vista, in Coronado and in Escond
ido's elementary district. And now it has happened
in Escondido's high school
district.
dd Oh, everything will be peaches and cream at tonight's meeting. Board members
will fall all over themselves praising Gawronski's
success during the last ei
ght years. But at least three of the five will be laughing to themselves.
dd Make no mistake: Gawronski is being fired. She was just too independent for
the board to tolerate. Some board members didn't
like it when she supported an
advisory panel's recommendations that the nationwide Peer Helpers counseling
program be revised,
when she conducted her fiscal analysis of a charter school
and when she pushed for creation of a new, unified Valley Center/Pauma
Valle
y school district when the new Valley Center high school opened.
dd Never mind that Gawronski was successful in her independence. She always se
emed to overshadow the board, despite her best
efforts to the contrary. She wa
S too good in an arena where only somewhat good was demanded.
dd It would be unfair to hold her successor to the standards that she has set,
and virtually impossible for any successor to equal those
standards.
dd Escondido will miss her badly, particularly since she is departing only beca
use of the spitefulness of the school board.n
Publication#W\
P}P# 98. The (Boulder, Colo.) Daily Camera' 'Publication" #:\
P}
P#August 4, 1998
Headline#\
P}P# Media bias distorts affirmative action debate Headline #:\
P}
P#
ddAstrange thing happened to news coverage of affirmative action in the city of
Houston. When the issue was on the city's ballot
last fall, national news medi
a gave the story lavish attention. Houston Mayor Bob Lanier led a fight to defe
at the Houston Civil
Rights Initiative " a measure challenging the city govern
ment's race and gender hiring policies and contracting set-asides. When
the mea
sure went down to defeat by a 54-46 margin, once again TV, newspapers and magaz
ines played the story big.
ddBut a month ago, when a judge threw out the results of the Houston election a
nd ordered a new vote, the media weren't very
interested. In Texas, the story W
as well covered, but outside the state there was very little media attention, a
nd in some areas, none
at all. The New York Times, for example, gave it six sen
tences on Page 13 in the last edition of a Saturday issue.
ddIn contrast, when the referendum results came in on Nov. 6, the Times trumpet
ed the story on Page One. A long report said, with
some zest, "Houston's voters
have put a suprising brake on a national movement that has often seemed to hav
e the momentum of an
unstoppable freight train." But when the surprising brake
proved faulty, the story seemed surprisingly minor. This seems true of the
thre
e major network news shows, too. A computer search of transcripts turned up no
evidence that they reported the overturning of
the Houston vote.
ddMichelle Malkin, a columnist at The Seattle Times, decided to make an issue o
f the media performance on this story, at least in
her hometown. She wrote a co
lumn criticizing her own paper: In the 10 days between the judge's decison and
her column, The Seattle
Times hadn't printed a story. She had learned about the
judge's ruling from friends in California. No newspaper in Washington state
ca
rried the story, even though an upcoming statewide vote on a measure similar to
Houston's is a hot political issue now.
dd"Given its exhaustive coverage of the Houston election in 1997," Malkin wrote
, "the Times' absolute silence is extraordinary
Sins of omission can be as
damaging to the news media's credibility as sins of commission."
ddTo its credit, The Seattle Times reponded last week with an explanation that
amounted to a semi-apology. Under the headline
"Times Gave Story on Houston Bal
lot Measure Short Shrift," the executive editor of the paper, Michael R. Fanche
r, said the story
had been overlooked in an awkward weekend news cycle. It had
come to The Associated Press from Texas late on a Friday, and the
AP had not in
cluded it on the wire report sent to Washington state.
ddThe Times missed it, Fancher said, because the first version of the judge's r
uling that moved on the AP wire received at the Times
was available for Saturda
y evening papers, but the Times doesn't publish on Saturday evening, and the ed
itors working on the Sunday
paper focused on the Sunday material, not the stori
es in the previous day's package.
ddWell, OK. People make mistakes, and the AP feed to the Northwest was partly r
esponsible for the sloppiness. But what about the
national media? Many have spe
cialists who are supposed to follow issues as important as affirmative action.
For many newspapers,
the story may have fallen into the crack between Saturday
and Sunday papers, but where was the follow-up? A computer search
shows only on
e major non-Texas daily The Washington Times " publishing a full report lat
er in the week. And it didn't take
much news judgment to see that this was an i
important story: A judge canceled the results of the referendum because supporte
rs of
affirmative action preferences had tinkered with the language on the ball
ot to make sure the voting went their way.
ddThis linguistic tampering has failed to survive judicial review in California
, Washington state and now Houston. Judge Sharolyn
Wood said it was unfair to r
emove the original wording, taken from the 1964 Civil Rights Act ("The City of
Houston shall not
discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any
individual or group on the basis of race, sex, ethnicity or national origin
:.
.") and to replace it with language that seemed to state that all affirmative a
ction efforts were being banned, not just clear race and
gender preferences ("S
hall the Charter of the City of Houston be amended to end the use of affirmativ
e action for women and
minorities ").
ddIn admitting its mistake, The Seattle Times acknowledged the issue of press b
ias: "Failing to come back with a complete story
about the Houston ruling feeds
that perception, which critics use for partisan gain."
ddYes, bias is an issue. More and more people now understand that the selection
and treatment of news stories often reflect the social
views of reporters and
editors rather than any non-partisan or allegedly objective standard. Our newsr
oom culture is so strongly
committed to affirmative action that a lot of report
ing on the subject is simply unreliable.
ddThe same is true on other hot-button social issues. Particularly on the two c
oasts, journalism is becoming an upper-class
occupation. It attracts and trains
people who come to share the social views conventional among our elites. These
opinions are
pumped into news coverage, first by osmosis, then through a deter
mination to do good by doing journalism. It's widening the gap
between the medi
a and the rest of us. n
END ATTACHMENT 2
Daily Education News
Tuesday, August 4, 1998
U.S. Department of Education
Office of Public Affairs
Carlin Hertz, Editor 202-401-1576
Visit our online version at intranet/news
This compilation of news reports contains copyrighted materials obtained through licensing agreements
and is intended solely for the use of department employees.
What Follows
NATIONAL
1. Associated Press
Calif. School Bilingual Law Begins
2. The Washington Post
In Calif. Classrooms, A Troubled Transition
3. Los Angeles Times
With Gestures, but Not Chaos, Prop. 227 Begins
4. San Diego Union-Tribune
English-immersion era under way as Prop. 227 reaches the classroom
5. World Today (CNN)
Bilingual Education Dropped from California Curriculum
6. World News Tonight (ABC)
A CLOSER LOOK PROP 227 LEADS TO CONFUSION IN CALIFORNIA
CLASSES
7. World News Tonight (ABC)
A CLOSER LOOK MIAMI IS PROUD OF ITS BILINGUAL PROGRAM
8. All Things Considered (NPR)
California Bilingual Education
9. All Things Considered (NPR)
Colorado Bilingual Education
10. ABCNews.com
In California, Proposition 227 Begins This Week: Back to the Big E for the 3Rs
11. Associated Press
Clinton Warns of Veto To Help Kids
12. Christian Science Monitor
The Challenge for Schools: Connecting Adults With Kids
13. Christian Science Monitor
Tackling the SAT? Test-Prep Help Abounds
14. Christian Science Monitor
Summer and Basic Skills
15. Associated Press
Reno Urges Laws on Kids and Guns
16. Associated Press
MIT Requires Online Applications
17. The New York Times
Students Abroad Find A Wealth of Choices, And Even Bargains
18. The New York Times
Why Johnny's Doing Calculus: The Booming Education Industry
19. The New York Times
Easy Degrees Proliferate on the Web
20. The New York Times
Back To the Blackboard
21. The New York Times
Sonny, We Didn't Have Calculators Back Then (And I Had to Walk)
22. The New York Times
Barbarians at the Schoolhouse Door
23. The New York Times
Alumni Editors Call for Freedom
24. The New York Times
Military Fires a Warning Shot at Law Schools
25. The New York Times
Where the Girls Are: Where Boys Aren't
26. The New York Times
Forging a Worldview: From Crow's Nest to Ivory Tower
27. The New York Times
'So, Like, What Do I Do Now?' Some of the Alternatives
28. The New York Times
After High School, A Call to arms
TRADE
29. Education Week
It's About Teaching And Learning -Not Testing
30. Education Week
What's Wrong With Bilingual Education? Repair It, Don't Replace It
31. Education Week
What's Wrong With Bilingual Education? Is It 'Lingual,' or Is It 'Education'?
32. Education Week
More Parents Want Charters, Ed. Dept. Study Concludes
33. Education Week
Predominantly Black Charters Focus of Debate in N.C.
34. Education Week
N.Y. To Require Accreditation For Ed. Schools
35. Education Week
Senate OKs HEA Bill That Would Streamline Teacher Ed.
36. Education Week
Future Shape of E-Rate Program In State of Flux on Capitol Hill
37. Education Week
Contractor Gets More Time To Write National Test Items
38. Education Week
GOP Report Underscores Two Views on Federal Role
39. Education Week
House Spending Bill Takes Conservative Line
40. Education Week
District Holding Some Notes in Assault Case
41. Education Week
Mayor To Control Cleveland Schools After Judge Ends State Intervention
42. Education Week
Mass. Reacts to More Test Data; Teacher Proposal Outlined
43. LRP Publications
Senate Passes Job Training Conference Report
44. Education Week
Researchers Blame Test Revisions for Falling III. Reading Scores
45. LRP Publications
House, Senate GOP Lawmakers Offer Measure to Abolish E-Rate Agency
46. LRP Publications
Teacher Group Launches Laptop Computer Initiative for Educators
47. Education Week
Georgia, Maryland Beef Up Teacher Education Programs
48. LRP Publications
Study Reveals Threat of School Shootings "Overblown"
49. Education Week
Taxes, Transfer Program on the Table In St. Louis Desegregation Settlement
50. LRP Publications
Clinton Gears Up to Veto GOP Education Agenda
51. Education Week
Barriers to Education Exist Long Before High School Among Latinos, Report Says
52. Education Week
Pirated Software Could Prove Costly To L.A. District
53. Education Week
Waco Gets Tough With Summer School Effort
54. Education Week
Despite National Defeat, NEA and AFT Work Toward Mergers in States
55. Education Week
Schools Gear Up As Bilingual Ed. Law Takes Effect
56. Education Week
Black Parents Want Focus on Academics
57. Education Week
Researcher at Center of Storm Over Vouchers
58. Education Daily
Funding Alert
59. Education Daily
News Briefs
60. Education Daily
Initiative Spurs Math, Science Teaching Via Laptops
61. Education Daily
Job Training Bills Would Allow Joint Voc Ed Plans
62. Education Daily
House Consolidated Loans Spell Trouble In Congress For ED
63. Education Daily
Revised IDEA Quashes School District's Help For Student
64. Education Daily
Tracking Isn't A Bogeyman, Harvard Professor Says
65. CongressDaily
Clinton Threatens To Veto Labor-HHS Bill In Current Form
66. Education Daily
House Again Uses D.C. Bill For Pet Education Policies
LOCAL
67. The Washington Post
Back to Class
Already?
68. Austin American Statesmen
Record number of Texas schools given top grade
69. Ft. Worth Star Telegram
Pay raises proposed for some teachers
70. Columbia (SC) State
Schools plan what to do in case of shootings
71. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Doyle unveils effort to avert pupil violence
72. Detroit Free Press
New leader says Detroit presence is a possibility
73. Boston Globe
Communities, school districts to see record increases in state aid
74. Richmond Times-Dispatch
THE OLD COLLEGE TRY SCRAMBLE FOR TUITION IS EASIER THE EARLIER
YOU START SAVING
75. Richmond Times-Dispatch
CONFUSED ABOUT HOW TO PLAN FOR TUITION?
76. The Pueblo (Colo) Chieftain
Magnet School Ready to Open Doors
77. Houston Chronicle
Public schools crumbling as tax money hard to find
78. The Washington Post
To a Degree, Darrell Green Has Filled the Last Hole in His Life
79. Chicago Sun-Times
Feds probe suburb teacher pensions
INTERNATIONAL
80. BBC News
Bilingual ban takes effect
COMMENTARY
81. Daily Texan
Education debates ignore real issues
82. Christian Science Monitor
Getting Beyond Cramming for Exams
83. Los Angeles Times
Lengthening Class Time
84. The Wall Street Journal
ESAs Don't Divert Public School Funds
85. Boston Herald
Principals can help ed success
86. Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Are education schools lost among trends?
87. Harrisburg Patriot-News
Other needs supersede 4-year university
88. Greensboro News & Record
SCHOOL YEAR'S FIRST CHALLENGE
89. The Washington Times
Keeping science education on the cutting edge
90. Raleigh News & Observer
Student courts must be free to punish campus crime
91. The Sacramento Bee
`LOOPING' KEEPS KIDS, TEACHERS TOGETHER FOR MORE THAN 1 YEAR
EDITORIAL
92. Investors Business Daily
Education Reform In Black And White
93. New York Times
Keeping the Census Fair
94. The Washington Times
The stakes for the economy
95. Los Angeles Times
The Internet and Child Safety
96. The Salt Lake Tribune
Give Charter Schools a Try
97. San Diego Union Tribune
Too good for the job
98. The (Boulder, Colo.) Daily Camera
Media bias distorts affirmative action debate
6
7
8
9
10
NATIONAL
1. Associated Press
08/03/98
Calif. School Bilingual Law Begins
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Thousands of
Critics say the law is the latest strike
percent Latino. "We are bidding
kids headed back to school Monday,
against immigrants in California, where
farewell to a very dear friend, a
giving teachers, students and parents
voters already have stripped illegal
bilingual friend that we believe in. It's
their first look at how California's new
immigrants of health, education and
like mourning, but now the denial phase
bilingual education law will translate in
welfare benefits, and the University of
is over."
the classroom.
California has banned affirmative
Instead, they will try to make the
Voters in June approved Proposition
action.
best of it, she said, vowing that Hughes
227, which virtually eliminated
But some say the initiative was long
Elementary would become one of the
bilingual education classes with its
overdo.
"best Proposition 227 schools" in the
decree that children in the nation's most
"They should have done something
Los Angeles area. The school is located
populous state should be taught
about it years ago," said parent Sylvia
in the small working-class city of
"overwhelmingly" in English.
Velaz, whose 9-year old daughter spoke
Cudahy, southwest of downtown Los
Teacher Isabel Rodriguez was
Spanish and then became fluent in
Angeles.
nervous and frustrated as she looked
English. "I don't think bilingual
In Lucia Espinoza's combination
upon the faces of her 18 first-graders
education works very well. If they're
second- and third-grade class at
starting a new session of year-round
kept in an environment where they're
Hughes, her 13 students sat
school.
speaking Spanish all the time, it won't
cross-legged at her feet as she read a
"They're anxious anyway because it's
do anything."
story to them about a boy who did not
their first day of school, and I was
The law requires that children who
like school and walked to class slowly.
unable to console them in their
have limited English ability be put in a
"Who can show me how you walk
language," Ms. Rodriguez said. "So I
one-year immersion course. After 30
slowly?" Ms. Espinoza asked. A boy
had to use simple, basic words in
days, parents can get a waiver to put
raised his hand and shuffled across the
English to tell them that everything will
their child back in bilingual education
rug in front of his classmates.
be all right."
under limited conditions.
The children did not actually say the
Ms. Rodriguez's feelings of
Most school districts in California
word "slowly," but appeared to grasp its
insecurity, confusion and even anger
do not reopen until September. But the
meaning.
were shared by many teachers in the
schools in Los Angeles Unified began a
An immersion class was active and
Los Angeles Unified School District,
new year-round track Monday, forcing
noisy as children learned English
the nation's second largest, as 19,700
teachers, students and parents to
through words and pictures on the
students started new semesters at 50
struggle early with the question of how
walls, role-playing, puppetry and
schools. A year-round schedule staggers
to make the transition as painless as
hearing lessons read aloud.
the school year for the district's 681,000
possible.
"Children are very, very resilient,"
students to maximize space.
"It's more emotional than hectic,"
said Victor Chavira, a fourth-grade
Of those students who started school
said Esther Castruita, principal at
teacher at Hughes. "They will adapt.
Monday, less than half are fluent in
Theresa Hughes Elementary School,
But how well they adapt remains to be
English.
where the student population is 99
seen. It's a gray area.
2. The Washington Post
08/04/98; Edition: FINAL; Section: A Section; Page A03
In Calif. Classrooms, A Troubled Transition
Students, Teachers Struggle to Adjust On First Day of English-Only
Education
By William Booth
school districts and defiance in others
where schools do not open for another
Washington Post Staff Writer
as teachers struggled to switch from
few weeks, officials were still holding
The sweeping social experiment
Korean, Armenian and Spanish to
out against implementation of
known as bilingual education officially
all-English, all the time, often without
Proposition 227, the voter initiative that
ended today in the state where it began.
the help of textbooks or lesson plans.
passed with overwhelming support on
Confusion reigned in many California
In Oakland and San Francisco,
June 2. The initiative, sponsored by
11
Silicon Valley software entrepreneur
with a year of English language
students are then to be pushed into
Ron Unz, replaced bilingual education
immersion. Except in charter schools,
mainstream all-English classes.
The end of bilingual education in
what to do in Spanish," she said.
injunction to block implementation of
California, the largest state in the union
The termination of bilingual
the initiative statewide. An appeal is
and the one with the largest immigrant
education has produced bitter feelings
pending.
population, is being closely watched by
among many of its advocates, who
In another ruling, U.S. District Judge
other states also facing influxes of
believe that students are well served by
Lourdes Gillespie Baird turned down
immigrant children. Reflecting
first learning reading, writing and core
another challenge by the Mexican
resentment over the spreading
subjects such as math and science in
American Legal Defense and Education
challenge, a bill curtailing funding for
their primary languages, and then being
Fund to block the end of bilingual
bilingual education has been introduced
"transitioned" into all-English classes
education in Los Angeles. MALDEF
in Congress. But in the meantime, the
after several years. Many bilingual
attorneys had argued that the Los
change began today in Los Angeles.
activists have charged that Proposition
Angeles district is unprepared for such
In Maria Elena Crabb's first day with
227 was racist and anti-immigrant.
a massive upheaval. But Baird said that
her new second-grade class at
But opponents of bilingual education
the teachers were quite capable of
Alexandria Avenue Elementary School
describe it as a failed experiment that
teaching English.
here, students who previously were
became bogged down, where students
"You're not giving the teachers the
taught almost exclusively in Spanish
spent years learning Spanish and not
credit they're due," Baird said.
found their teacher introducing herself
English, the language immigrant
But in Los Angeles, half of the
this morning in English. As the
children most need to succeed. In
district's 680,000 students are not fluent
children, in their new blue and white
California, only 7 percent of bilingual
in English. And at Alexandria
uniforms, sat squirming on the floor at
students made that elusive "transition"
Elementary School, the teachers today
her feet, Mrs. Crabb began reading from
each year.
did their best without textbooks or
the storybook about little Madeline:
San Francisco Superintendent
detailed teaching plans.
"In an old house in Paris that was
Waldemar Rojas has said he plans to
Maria Elena Crabb said the problem
covered with vines, lived 12 little girls
continue offering bilingual education,
is not so much teaching her students
in two straight lines."
as the school district is still under a
English, but teaching them other
Some of the children understood
federal court order dating from the
subjects. In math, for example, she must
almost every word (vine was a tough
1970s. That order, the so-called Lau
first teach them the numbers in English,
one), and waved their hands in the air to
decision, began the bilingual age by
and then introduce concepts such as
answer questions. But others seemed
guaranteeing lessons in a language the
addition and subtraction, borrowing and
lost and withdrawn. "You see those
student can understand. Rojas said the
carrying, all in English.
faces?" asked Crabb later. "Total
decision to continue bilingual education
"I think the smart kids will succeed,
blanks."
is not an act of defiance, but adherence
like anything else in life," Crabb said.
In Los Angeles, where a new
to a court order.
"The ones who are slower? They might
semester started today at 50 year-round
In Orange County south of here,
not get it."
schools, the district is replacing
school officials took advantage of a
On the first day of class, as the
bilingual education with two
loophole and have delayed ending
children sounded off their assigned
alternatives. In the first, students are
bilingual education, but only for several
numbered spaces in line, several could
taught exclusively in English. Under the
months. One panicky official in Santa
not utter the magic words in English.
second, students, such as Crabb's
Ana compared ending bilingual
Crabb was not disheartened. She
second-graders, are also taught mostly
education to stopping a speeding train.
coaxed the numbers out of them, and
in English, but their teachers are
Over the last 20 years, California
when they spoke in Spanish, she simply
allowed to occasionally explain
educators created an elaborate
repeated their words in English. Over
concepts and words in Spanish.
bureaucracy for teaching students
and over and over again.
How much Spanish?
whose primary language is not English.
ART PH,,TODD BIGELOW FOR
"Nobody knows," said Alexandria
Foreign-language textbook sales
TWP CAPTION: Above, Maria Elena
Principal Carol Labrow. "As they've
boomed. Bilingual teachers were
Crabb's students show up for their first
explained it to us, before we had a full
coveted and given an extra $5,000 a
day of second grade at Alexandria
cup of Spanish. Now we have a quarter
year. About 1.4 million students in
Avenue
cup. It is a precious resource and I'm
California are not proficient in English,
Elementary School in Los
telling my teachers not to waste it."
and at least half of them have been in
Angeles. Crabb, left, used to teach in
But Labrow promised that no
some kind of bilingual program. But
Spanish and English but now must
students would be punished for
with the passage of Proposition 227,
immerse her students in English. One
speaking their primary languages. "I'm
schools had only 60 days to come up
student, Yolanda Alvarado, right,
not going to have a bunch of
with a new way to teach.
was among many students who needed
kindergarteners out on the playground
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of
help understanding what Crabb was
crying because no one will tell them
Appeals on Friday refused to grant an
saying.
3. Los Angeles Times
* 08/04/98; Edition: Orange County Edition; Section: Metro Desk: Page A-1
12
With Gestures, but Not Chaos, Prop. 227 Begins
By TINA NGUYEN:
defiant flouting of the initiative.
Elementary in East Los Angeles. "My
BETTINA BOXALL
Instead, teachers, parents and
greatest concern is the curriculum. As
The post-bilingual age began in Los
students all seemed in a mood to try to
we see it right now there's no real
Angeles schools Monday with
do what they were now expected to do,
curriculum."
uncertainty, improvisation and a good
however
difficult-or
even
That is exactly why officials at Santa
many hand gestures-but seemingly
distasteful-it might be for them. And
Ana Unified and Anaheim City have
none of the chaos predicted by
many of the youngsters had little
used a technicality to delay
apprehensive educators.
difficulty following their teachers'
implementation
of
English-only
And in Orange County, two of the
English.
programs. To do so, they changed the
school systems with the largest
At Van Nuys Elementary, one could
date when their official school year
enrollments of immigrant children
hear only a sprinkling of Spanish
starts.
continued to offer primary-language
among the students who returned
Proposition 227 was to take effect
instruction. Officials of the Santa Ana
Monday, as the language all but
for all schools that begin after Aug. 2.
Unified and Anaheim City school
disappeared from many classrooms.
But in those two districts, last Friday's
districts said they will continue to do so
Youngsters who once spent their days
teacher training day was used to mark
until administrators craft solid plans for
reading and writing Spanish were
the start of the school calendar.
English-immersion programs.
instead reciting the alphabet and
The two districts, both on year-round
That allowed Santa Ana first-grade
greeting one another in English.
schedules, thus are exempt from
teacher Victoria Boyd to read aloud a
Instructors who had spent years
implementing
English-immersion
Spanish translation of the popular
teaching in Spanish reminded
programs until their next batch of
children's book "The Very Hungry
themselves to speak English, even as
students starts classes. For Santa Ana
Caterpillar" to her pupils at Benjamin
some said they preferred the bilingual
Unified, that will be Sept. 10; and for
Franklin Elementary School.
approach.
Anaheim City, November.
Throughout the story, the youngsters
The majority of Van Nuys classes
Critics called the move an attempt to
sat perfectly still, lis
offered virtually no help in Spanish
skirt the new law.
tening intently and answering
except for bilingual aides who gave
"If a district as large as Los Angeles
questions eagerly. But when Boyd
occasional tips to students. Teachers
Unified can make an attempt to
moved to another story, this one in
tried hard to make their lessons clear by
implement 227, then it is inexcusable
English, eyelids drooped, little bodies
using gestures-one pointed to the floor
that Santa Ana is lagging," said Sheri
fidgeted and attention faded.
when she asked the class to sit down.
Annis, spokeswoman for the Prop. 227
Switching to an "overwhelmingly"
The teachers spoke slowly and clearly
initiative.
English program will be tough, said
and frequently repeated words for the
But teachers say their students' needs
Boyd, who has taught bilingual classes
benefit of their students.
have to be a primary concern.
for 14 years.
When second-grade teacher Beth
With more than 312,000 students
"I don't want the students to feel like
Shwarz told her pupils to write their
classified as having limited English
their primary language is being shoved
names at the bottom of their personal
skills-nearly a quarter of the 1.4
out of the door," she said. "At the same
journals, she repeated the last two
million such students statewide-the
time, I think we can abide by the law
words of her instructions in slow
Los Angeles Unified School District
and meet the needs of the children."
motion: "T-H-E B-O-T-T-O-M."
will play a pivotal rule in determining
Many students in Los Angeles,
At one point, she emphasized,
whether Proposition 227's mandate for
however, seemed to be struggling
"Please, if you have questions, ask me,"
English instruction succeeds or fails.
Monday.
adding in Spanish, "Por favor, si tienen
The district has developed four
There were glazed looks of
preguntas,
preguntenme."
No
instruction options that parents of
incomprehension and worry in some
Textbooks or Lesson Plans
limited-English students can chose
classrooms as teachers and students at
While they improvised their way
from: Immerse the pupils in English;
47 year-round elementary schools
through the first morning, many
instruct them almost entirely in English
started a new semester, making them
teachers wondered how they would fare
with classroom aides and fellow
among the first in the state to return to
in the coming days without a formal
students offering native-language help
class under Proposition 227, the June
lesson plan for teaching English-it
(known as Model A); teach them almost
initiative that essentially eliminated
won't be ready for three more
entirely in English with a certified
bilingual education in California's
weeks-or
the
necessary
bilingual education teacher in class to
public schools.
English-language textbooks, which
help (known as Model B); apply for a
But the morning went surprisingly
won't even be ordered for another
waiver to place the child in a traditional
smoothly at eight schools visited by
month.
bilingual program.
Times reporters. There was no flood of
"I said to my family that I can get
Parents will not have to pick a
requests for waivers to dodge the
through the first day and probably the
method for another month.
English-immersion instruction that is
next few days," said first-grade teacher
now the state mandate. There was no
Rosario Martin at Christopher Dena
Santa Ana Unified officials said they
will allow teachers to spend 80% of the
language. Also available will be a
plan to offer similar options. Their
time teaching in English and the rest of
dual-immersion program that teaches
intensive English-immersion program
the class in the students' primary
students of various language
13
backgrounds both Spanish and English.
initiative and in some cases have vowed
about choosing the all-English model.
Administrators from both Santa Ana
to defy it. As late as Friday, two federal
"I don't speak Spanish at home," she
Unified and Anaheim City said they
courts ruling in separate lawsuits filed
stressed.
intend to comply fully with the new law
by civil rights groups gave the initiative
Her older daughters are now in high
by their respective deadlines. However,
a green light.
school and are taking Spanish as a
the extra time they created by changing
Officials of the Mexican American
second language. That suits her, she
their official start day will help them
Legal Defense and Educational Fund,
said.
develop a well-planned program, they
which vehemently fought Proposition
Predictions of upheaval in
said.
227, said last month that they would
classrooms failed to materialize on
"Rather than spend our time
urge as many parents as possible to
Monday precisely because of the role
lamenting that [Prop. 227] is here, we
apply for waivers to thwart the
that English played under the school
need to make good plans to make the
initiative.
district's old bilingual programs,
program
successful,"
Franklin
It is too soon to tell if such waiver
teachers said.
Elementary Principal Robert McDonald
requests will come pouring in, but there
"I think the public's perception was
said.
was no great demand Monday. Only a
that no English was being taught in
Backers of Proposition 227 let its
handful of parents asked about them at
bilingual programs but that's not so,"
first day of enforcement pass with little
back-to-school meetings with
said Heather Hagen-Smith, as her
fanfare, though businessman Ron K.
administrators at San Pedro Street
first-graders at Canoga Park Elementary
Unz. the oft-quoted sponsor of the
Elementary. Some parents at the
School sang songs about shoes and
initiative, announced a program to help
sessions did express fear, though, that
buses in English to build their
monitor its implementation. The
their children would somehow forget
vocabulary.
"English for the Children Project," will
how to speak Spanish. A few wanted
Still, other teachers expressed
take calls from whistle-blowers on a
assurances that some Spanish would be
concerns about whether students with
toll-free number.
used in the classroom.
limited English abilities will be able to
Unz said the calls would be logged
At Monte Vista Elementary in
adequately develop learning skills in
to help determine which schools or
Highland Park, Sabina Cortez was
English-and whether they will get the
districts should be targeted with
concerned that she would not be able to
help they need at home.
lawsuits for noncompliance. Few
help her child on homework that was
"It's a big concern. I can't tell how
Requests for Waivers
only in English. Like several other
it's going to go," said Canoga Park
The post-bilingual era began in Los
parents, she was leaning toward putting
kindergarten teacher Christina Cuevas.
Angeles and a few other districts
her child in the Model B program, with
"The kids have to be taught in English,
scattered around the state despite the
limited Spanish support.
regardless of what I think."
best efforts of opponents, who went to
But Veronica Estrada, who said she
court to block implementation of the
speaks Spanish perfectly, was firm
4. San Diego Union-Tribune
August 4, 1998
English-immersion era under way as
Prop.
227
reaches the classroom
By Chris Moran and Anna Cearley
Unified School District, that means at
The measure will impact 1.4 million
STAFF WRITERS
least 70 percent of the time.
students with limited English skills
VISTA - Iris Huerta speaks
The voter-approved proposition
statewide.
some English, but her first day of
ended most bilingual education in the
The Vista school board is expected
second grade at Olive Elementary
state's public schools. Instead,
Thursday to adopt a plan giving parents
School promised to test how much.
limited-English-spcaking
students
one of three classroom options for
When asked if she would
receive a one-year crash course in
their limited-English-speaking kids: 70
understand her teacher, the 7-year-old
English backed up by bits of their first
percent English, English only or
just shrugged.
language.
bilingual education (parents could seek
With gestures as the lingua franca,
Because the measure took effect
waivers to keep their children in
two North County school districts
over the weekend, year-round schools
bilingual programs).
yesterday kicked off a new school year
in Vista and Escondido, which started
There's no choice for the first 30
- and a new era in teaching
a new school year yesterday, became
days. Limited-English speakers get the
California's limited-English speakers.
the first in the county to try to live
70 percent option. Then parents are
The passage of Proposition 227 in
under it.
allowed to move their children to other
June means Iris's teachers will speak
Most local schools won't be
classes.
overwhelmingly in English. In Vista
affected until classes resume this fall.
Iczel Posos, a 14-year-old
notices the difference. She gave terse
"because it's mas (more) English."
eighth-grader at Washington Middle
answers to questions during a break,
Asked if that meant she'd learn her
School in Vista, said she already
and said this year is more difficult
second language more quickly, she
14
replied, "Maybe."
there's only one person at the fountain
to take out pencils and paper.
She and her friend Daisy Morales, a
at a time."
Felisha, a native English speaker,
13-year-old seventh-grader, responded
She passed out crayons and rulers,
complied. But Sheila to her left and
quickly to teacher Tim Wright's
and reminded the students not to break
Lissette to her right (the school
questions, particularly when he asked
them or use them as weapons. The
forbade the use of last names) merely
for translations to Spanish.
students started to fill out a work sheet,
continued to look at the teacher.
But when they needed to ask
finding classmates who "like to read"
It wasn't until Childs showed them
something of Wright, more often they
or "walk to school." A picture
by drawing her hand out of a desk and
relied on Spanish.
accompanied each phrase, so they
onto its surface that the Spanish
When Wright began assigning
could figure it out. A few asked
speakers followed the directions.
seats, Daisy blurted out, "Yo quiero
Dearinger in Spanish what the words
Vista Superintendent Dave Cowles
sentarme alla, (I want to sit there),"
meant, and she explained to them in
said the new law did not cause any
pointing to a vacant seat next to a boy.
English until they understood.
unusual disruptions, though it drew
Wright responded, "I get to make
No one had to ask her what the
plenty of media attention to the
that decision."
word "recess" meant. The class let out a
25,000-student district.
Daisy, hoping to appease him with
cheer.
"I think this will be a significant
English, said "Please!"
Marcela Torres, 6, admitted that
change. I hope that this makes for a
At Felicita School in the Escondido
"not everything" was making sense in
quicker transition to (the) English
Union elementary district, teacher
English. Israel Martinez, 7, made a
language," he said.
Tatiana Dearinger went over class
similar assessment, and said he wants to
That would please Maria Rojero.
rules, and the consequences of breaking
learn English.
Her 6-year-old daughter, Karina, started
them, with her second-graders. It was
At Olive Elementary in Vista,
an English immersion program last
all done in English, slowly and with
Denise Childs reached her 30 percent
year.
hand motions.
allotment of Spanish by 11:25 a.m.,
"I don't understand much English,"
"If you need to get a drink of water,
and switched to English for her
Rojero said in Spanish. "but I don't
then you push in your chair and go to
first-graders'
geography
and
want my children to be like me.
get a drink," she said, pointing to the
penmanship.
faucet in the back of the room. "But
Childs told the students in English
5. World Today (CNN)
August 4, 1998
Bilingual Education Dropped from California
Curriculum
JIM MORET, CNN ANCHOR: As
more Spanish.
MCDERMOTT: What does this
thousands of children in Los Angeles
In June, voters passed California
woman want for her child?
head back to school this week, a new
Proposition 227, which dropped
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through
state law is making the return more
bilingual education in favor of English
translator): I want her to learn to speak
stressful than usual for some of them. It
immersion. Now some critics of 227
English, but at the same time, that she
requires children whose first language
saw it as something of a racist slap at
doesn't stop speaking Spanish.
is Spanish to be taught only in English.
Spanish-speaking school children. But
MCDERMOTT: The principal at Los
CNN's Anne McDermott reports.
supporters pointed out that nearly half
Angeles'
Alexandria
Avenue
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
of Los Angeles school children speak
Elementary School says she's not
ANNE MCDERMOTT, CNN
limited English and argued something
completely sold on English immersion
CORRESPONDENT
(voice-over):
had to be done. And they got support
yet, but admits she's discovering the
You're about to see something a little
from a somewhat surprising quarter.
children know more English than she
amazing.
They got support from some
thought they did.
PATRICIA YURICH, IST GRADE
Spanish-speaking parents.
YURICH: What does "plant" mean?
TEACHER: The first word I want you
Alice Callahan, who runs a day care
MCDERMOTT: And Ms. Yurich's
to write on your paper is "cat."
center for poor families, says many of
first graders are learning even more.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Easy.
them believe no English means no way
(on camera): Do you think people
MCDERMOTT: And it was easy,
out.
underestimated the kids?
even though some experts predicted
ALICE
CALLAHAN,
YURICH: I kind of think so. I do.
these Spanish-speaking kids might fail
PROPOSITION 227 SUPPORTER:
Because at an early - at a young age
at English immersion classes. English
The families that come to Las Familias
like this, they're very adaptable, and
immersion: in California schools, that's
work in the garment district sweat
they're so eager to learn.
what's replacing bilingual education,
shops. They sell tamales on corners.
Where did it go?
which some believe became less and
They clean offices downtown. It's not a
less "bi" as time went on and more and
future they want for their children.
MCCDERMOTT: Eager to learn.
Anne McDermott, CNN, Los
Angeles.
15
6. World News Tonight (ABC)
08/03/98Section: NEWS;
A CLOSER LOOK PROP 227 LEADS TO
CONFUSION IN CALIFORNIA CLASSES
By JUDY MULLER
nearly all.
out in terms of money?
CHARLES GIBSON
CATHERINE KENNEY: Buenos
CORA WATKINS: Over $100,000,
CHARLES GIBSON: Tonight, "A
dias, ninos.
was the initial order, English and
Closer Look" at one of the most hotly
JUDY
MULLER:
(voice-over)
Spanish.
debated issues in America - bilingual
Previously, children were instructed in
JUDY MULLER: Will they take
education. Some argue against it, saying
their native language and gradually
them back?
that if children raised in
transitioned into English. Now, they
CORA
WATKINS:
Extremely
non-English-speaking families are
are immediately placed in an English
doubtful.
going to succeed in America, they need
immersion class. But there is a legal
JUDY MULLER: Many educators
to know and learn in English. Others
loophole. After 30 days, parents can
opposed Prop 227, arguing that a
argue that children can learn and
sign a waiver requesting their child be
one-size-fits-all ballot initiative does
flourish in a bilingual environment.
moved to a bilingual program. At
not make for sound educational policy.
In California today, it is the first day
Walnut Park Elementary in East L.A.,
Now that they must comply with the
of classes in what's supposed to be a
the faculty's confusion is typical.
law, a lot of them are wondering who
new era in education. Proposition 227
FACULTY MEMBER: If they do
will police it?
goes into effect - the measure passed
sign the waiver and they do choose for
KEN URBINA, Principal: That's a
by California voters in June that seeks
that bilingual program, will it look just
very good question. We know it will
to end bilingual education once and for
like what we have now? Or will it be
be policed because we know the
all. But will it really do that? ABC's
something different?
proponents of Proposition 227 are
Judy Muller reports on the California
GROUP LEADER: It will still be the
going to be on top of this all the time.
confusion.
same kind of program that we're
JUDY MULLER: (voice-over)
STUDENTS: I pledge allegiance to
running right now. Yeah.
Prop 227 has a provision allowing
the flag.
JUDY MULLER: (voice-over)
parents to sue any teacher who fails to
JUDY MULLER, ABC News:
Backers of Prop 227 worry that too
follow the law.
(voice-over) These children are among
many waivers from parents will result in
RON UNZ: And we think that will
the first in California to get a taste of
bilingual education as it used to be in
put a lot of pressure on school officials
Proposition 227. In the words of the
schools from San Diego to San
to implement the law as they really
law, "nearly all" instruction must now
Francisco. Educators say the 30-day
should anyway.
be in English.
waiver creates a scheduling nightmare,
JUDY MULLER: (voice-over)
CATHERINE KENNEY, Teacher:
because teachers and classes may have
How the children react to these changes
Can everybody say bathtub?
to be reshuffled after the first month of
remains to be seen. Clearly, the voters
STUDENTS: Bathtub.
school.
hope the transition to English.
JUDY MULLER: (voice-over) But
CORA WATKINS, Assistant
STUDENTS WAITING FOR
what does "nearly all" mean exactly?
Principal: It's kind of like being a semi
SWING: Once, doce, trece, catorce
CATHERINE KENNEY: Our
with a flat tire. We're rolling down the
JUDY MULLER: (voice-over)
understanding at the meetings that
road. We started July 1. We're
will be swift.
we've had is that we can have a very
expected to change the tire en route.
LITTLE GIRL NEAR SWING: Get
broad interpretation of that. It could be
JUDY MULLER: (voice-over)
off it.
51 percent, you know, really kind of
Like many schools, Walnut Park may
JUDY
MULLER:
(voice-over)
pushing it.
be stuck with brand new bilingual
Judy Muller, ABC News, Los Angeles.
RON UNZ, Chairman, Proposition
textbooks ordered before the initiative
227: I think it would be 90 percent or a
was passed.
lot more than that. Nearly all means
(on camera) So how much are you
7. World News Tonight (ABC)
08/03/98Section: NEWS;
A CLOSER LOOK MIAMI IS PROUD OF ITS
BILINGUAL PROGRAM
By REBECCA CHASE
CHARLES GIBSON
CHARLES GIBSON: Actually, there's
16
a national movement to cut back
keeps - that makes things hot.
pages are delivered in both languages.
bilingual education. A bill before
REBECCA CHASE: (voice-over)
Trade with Latin America is worth
Congress would set a limit of three
and in Spanish.
billions. Business and civic leaders are
years on the length of time a student
JORGE VACA, 4th GRADER: I
among the strongest supporters of
could be enrolled in a bilingual
think you can learn both languages
bilingual education.
program.
perfectly at the same time. At least
Mayor
ALEX
PENELAS,
But we also go tonight to Florida,
that's what I did.
Miami-Dade County, Florida: Our
where ABC's Rebecca Chase reports
REBECCA CHASE: (voice-over)
economic future depends, to a great
from Miami. In Miami, they're not
In this model program, bilingual
extent, on our ability to compete in this
trying to end bilingual education,
instruction is not considered remedial
international marketplace, and that's
they're proud of it.
education, but essential for everyone -
why it's so important for us in this
REBECCA CHASE, ABC News:
even English-speaking children.
community to have biliterate people.
(voice-over) For three hours a day,
EYDA CALZADILLA, Teacher:
REBECCA CHASE: (voice-over)
children at Coral Way Elementary learn
When they're going to out there in the
That's why earlier this year, the school
in English.
real world, this is what they are going to
board voted to spend more than $2
1st STUDENT: Something that
deal with. They are not going to deal
million to expand bilingual education.
makes hair shorter.
with someone that speaks English 24
Here, the goal is to prepare all students
REBECCA CHASE: (voice-over)
hours a day, every day.
for a future where one language will not
Then for two hours, lessons are in
REBECCA CHASE: (on camera)
be enough. Rebecca Chase, ABC
Spanish.
In Miami, the "real world" is bilingual.
News, Miami.
(Students speaking Spanish)
Fifty percent of the population here is
CHARLES GIBSON: When we
REBECCA CHASE: (voice-over)
Hispanic. Being able to speak both
come back, risking the future. Teens
About a third of the students here enter
English and Spanish is increasingly an
and gambling - results from an
school unable to speak English fluently.
economic necessity.
alarming new study.
But by fourth grade, most are fluent in
(voice-over) Business here is
English
conducted in two languages. Television,
2nd STUDENT: It's like a cup that
radio, newspapers, even the yellow
8. All Things Considered (NPR)
08/03/98Section: News; Domestic;
California Bilingual Education
California's new bilingual education regulations officially take affect today.
A newly-passed voter initiative, Proposition 227, puts strict limits on the
length of time that children in the state's schools may receive assistance in
their native language. Although most schools won't begin classes until
September, year round schools will have to implement the new law today.
By Linda Wertheimer
ballot initiative that limits bilingual
to each other in Spanish. Eighty-five
Washington
instruction to one year. This morning,
percent of the students here come from
DC; Mandalit delBarco, Los Angeles,
NPR's Mandalit delBarco visited a
Spanish-speaking homes. But on this
CA
year-round elementary school in Los
first day of school, their classes were
LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST: In
Angeles as the changeover began.
conducted in English only.
California, thousands of children began
MANDALIT DELBARCO, NPR
CHILDREN SPEAKING
IN
their school year today under the state's
REPORTER: On the playground at
UNISON: One, two, three, four, five,
stringent new regulation for bilingual
Alexandria Elementary, the kids are
six
education.
doing what they always do during
In June, California voters passed a
recess: play ball games, giggle, and talk
DELBARCO: Most of the Central
go. How 'bout - what if we...
a lot of times so they could get it.
American first-graders in Serraya
DELBARCO:
Now that
We'll see what happens. I'll take it
Vasquez's (ph) class can already count
Proposition 227 is the law, Vasquez can
day by day.
in English. But now, when they talk to
no longer use Spanish as the primary
DELBARCO: In the past few
her in Spanish, the former bilingual
language of instruction for teaching
weeks, teachers and school board
teacher responds in English.
concepts.
members in Los Angeles have been
SERRAYA
VASQUEZ,
VASQUEZ: To be honest, yeah.
hurriedly preparing for the change.
BILINGUAL TEACHER:
English.
Yeah. It's been hard. Yeah. They
After 30 years of instructing students in
Try - try it.
don't really quite follow the
their native languages, sometimes their
STUDENT: Twenty.
(unintelligible) in English, you know.
entire school career, bilingual
VASQUEZ: Twenty. There you
You have to kind of, like, repeat things
instruction will be limited to one school
17
year.
between getting into some depth and
DELBARCO:
Aileen says she
Many had predicted chaos. They
whether they're going to learn the
doesn't understand what her teacher is
said there wasn't enough time to write
content at the grade level, or whether
saying. But she hopes that someday
new curriculum, no time to order
this will simply be a year of English
she will.
all-English textbooks.
only for them.
The Oakland, San Francisco, and
Carol Labrow (ph) is the principal of
All of those questions have yet to be
Hayward (ph) school districts have filed
Alexandria Elementary.
answered.
suit challenging Proposition 227. And
CAROL LABROW, PRINCIPAL,
DELBARCO: The Los Angeles
individual parents can seek special
ALEXANDRIA
ELEMENTARY:
School District is the largest in
permits to allow their children to
Well, I don't think there's anything to
California that conducted bilingual
continue in bilingual classes.
panic from our standpoint. School has
classes. Some teachers say it's too
Mandalit delBarco, NPR News, Los
opened; school is operating just fine for
soon to know exactly how the new
Angeles.
these boys and girls.
policy will affect students. But
This is a rush transcript. This copy
The questions will arise as we get
already, school is a bit confusing for
may not be in its final form and may be
further into it. We will need a lot more
six-year-old Aileen (ph).
updated.
support; because there's a lot of
TEACHER: Entiendes (ph), or no?
difference between maintaining a very
SIX-YEAR-OLD AILEEN: No.
superficial kind of level in English and
TEACHER: No, entiendes (ph).
9. All Things Considered (NPR)
08/03/98Section: News; Domestic;
Colorado Bilingual Education
In Denver, the debate over bilingual education has taken a radically different
tack than in California. After complaints by parents, the federal
government may take the city to court for failing to provide adequate bilingual
education. The city program runs for 3 years, but parents want up to 7
years' instruction in kids' native languages.
By Robert Siegel
stools surrounded by sinks and gas
Alfonzo Hackas (ph) is assistant
Washington
burners - a typical high school science
principal at West High School.
DC: Aaron Schacter, Denver, CO
class. Except in this class the students
ALFONZO HACKAS, ASSISTANT
ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST: Even as
are instructed in Spanish.
PRINCIPAL, WEST HIGH SCHOOL:
Prop 227 goes into effect in California,
SOUND
OF
TEACHER
The Denver public schools finally is
the federal office for civil rights is
INSTRUCTING
AMERICAN
making an effort - always has been,
accusing school officials in Denver of
STUDENTS IN SPANISH
but finally has found an understanding
violating the human rights of some
SCHACTER: This is an example of
of what needs to be done so that our
students by giving them insufficient
how school officials in Denver believe
students can be successful in their
bilingual education.
bilingual education should be taught.
second language.
As Colorado Public Radio's Aaron
It's part of a three- step approach.
I believe here at West High School
Schacter reports, this is the first time
Content is given in a native language,
we do have the ideal program.
the federal government has threatened
most often Spanish.
PAM MARTINEZ (PH), PADRES
to sue a school district because its
When a student is ready, he moves
UNITOS (PH) CO-CHAIRMAN:
bilingual education program is not
on to transitional level courses called
Denver's failing on every front.
adequate.
sheltered English with classes taught
SCHACTER: Pam Martinez, who
AARON
SCHACTER,
NPR
mostly in English. And, as language
co-chairs the advocacy group, Padres
REPORTER: In this Biology I class
skills get better, the child is
Unitos - Parents United - calls
at West High School in Denver, ninth
mainstreamed. School officials expect
Denver public school officials and
and tenth graders sit perched atop metal
the process to take three years.
people like Hackas delusional.
MARTINEZ: Denver has never
become truly proficient in English.
which kids should be in bilingual
ever implemented bilingual education
The current flap began about four
education, or when a child was ready to
or anything - any form - of teaching
years ago when Padres Unitos presented
get out. Again, Pam Martinez.
non-English speaking students in an
the federal office of civil rights with
MARTINEZ: Kids get put in there
effective and serious manner.
more than 20 pages of alleged
who maybe shouldn't be. And kids get
SCHACTER: Martinez is especially
violations by the Denver public schools.
stuck in there. And kids get exited
dubious of the district's plan to move
The Othen did its own investigation,
who are not ready for mainstream. Our
kids out of bilingual education within
finding even more infractions.
studies show when that happens, they
three years. She claims it takes about
Among them: they charged that
can't succeed in the classroom. They
five to seven years for students to
Denver had no way of identifying
drop out. And we call that being
18
pushed out.
federal government's mandate, making
read and learn English.
SCHACTER: And Martinez says
it the only one facing the possibility of
Nearly all the students in this class
not a thing has changed since the suit
a lawsuit or having federal funds
have been in the United States for less
was filed. Denver school officials
revoked.
than four months. Most come from
acknowledge the problems. Denver
Teachers and principlas say the game
Mexico or South America.
school board member Rita Montaro
of chicken going on between Denver
Some of the students are barely
(ph) says as late as two years ago,
and the feds is overshadowing the real
literate in their first languages. Lin
students were taught by unqualified
problem: taking kids who don't speak
Yang says her class points to the
teachers equipped with meager
English and helping them to succeed.
difficulties of teaching bilingual
supplies.
LU LIN YANG (PH), DENVER
education.
RITA MONTARO (PH), DENVER
PUBLIC SCHOOL BILINGUAL
LIN YANG: You're not going to
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER:
INSTRUCTOR:
OK,
everybody:
have the highly educated professional
Absolutely, this district has not served
Rarely.
people moving to the states. You're
the children in the way that they should
STUDENTS (in unison): Rarely.
going to have lower-class, the people
have. Has the district done something to
LU LIN YANG: Rarely.
that can't make it in their own country
rectify it? Absolutely. And all you
STUDENTS (in unison): Rarely.
that are very poor. They're going to
have to do is take the plan and look at
LU LIN YANG: OK. Different.
come whichever way they can to the
it.
STUDENTS (in unison): Different.
United States to make a better life.
SCHACTER: But in the last two
LU LIN YANG: What else did you
And then they bring their familiy.
years, Montaro says, Denver has spent
guys have problems with? Currently.
SCHACTER: While people like
more than a hundred thousand dollars
STUDENTS (in unison): Currently.
Lin Yang scramble to teach kids from
on books and supplies. And she says
LU LIN YANG: Straight.
other countries, the city, federal
qualified bilingual education teachers
STUDENTS (in unison): Straight.
government, and parents are squabbling
have been hired.
LU LIN YANG: Thin.
over what a bilingual program should
MONTARO: You have teachers
STUDENTS (in unison): Thin.
look like and how long kids should be
who are trained to be able to recognize
LU LIN YANG: Not tin. Thin.
in it.
problems and issues that a kid of
STUDENTS (in unison): Thin.
No one appears to know the answer;
another language may have because
LU LIN YANG: Thin.
but in Denver, both school officials and
teachers otherwise didn't know how to
STUDENTS (in unison): Thin.
the federal office for civil rights claim
recognize those problems, don't have
LU LIN YANG: Through your
to have the right idea. The Department
any background in bilingual education,
tongue. Thin.
of Justice is reviewing the case and is
or the issues that are associated with a
STUDENTS (in unison): Thin.
expected to decide later this year if it
child of another language.
LU LIN YANG: OK. That's
will take Denver public schools to
SCHACTER: Schools in the
better. OK, you have to remember.
court.
mile-high city aren't the only ones the
SCHACTER: In Lu Lin Yang's
For NPR News, I'm Aaron Schacter
Office for Civil Rights claims is
(ph) English classroom at West High
in Denver.
flouting federal law. Dozens of school
School, the kids all have workbooks,
districts are investigated every year.
the walls are covered with posters of
The difference, though, is that Denver
Hispanic achievers, movie stars, authors
is the only district refusing to accept the
and performers, encouraging students to
10. ABCNews.com
August 3, 1998
In California, Proposition 227 Begins This Week: Back
to the Big E for the 3Rs
By Rebecca Leung
imperative
question:
How
will
Teachers Association. "They're lost,"
ABCNEWS.com
Proposition 227 be applied in
agrees Jim Sweeney, superintendent of
Aug. 3 - A California initiative
classrooms?
the Sacramento City Unified School
banning bilingual education formally
"Some teachers are definitely pulling
District.
takes effect this week, and teachers are
their hair out," says Dale Martin, a
"I can't remember anything like this."
struggling to answer an increasingly
spokeswoman for the California
Proposition 227, sponsored by
require as many as 1.4 million students
that the plan was put together too
software millionaire Ron Unz,
with limited English-speaking ability to
hastily and lacked adequate teacher
eliminates bilingual education
be placed in a one-year
training and a fully developed
instruction with its decree that all
English-immersion course without
curriculum. But a federal judge denied
children should be taught
instruction in their native tongues.
them an injunction that would have
"overwhelmingly" in English.
'Considerable Disruption' Civil
prevented the English-only measure
The measure, which was approved in
rights groups tried Friday to block
from taking effect today. Meanwhile
June by 61 percent of the voters, will
implementation with a lawsuit charging
in Los Angeles, a district judge refused
19
to block the nation's second-largest
state court to force the state Board of
programs could be exempted this way.
school district from proceeding with a
Education to grant them exemptions
But supporters of Proposition 227
new teaching plan aimed at complying
under the proposition's waiver clause.
say they will be forced to seek legal
with Proposition 227. The ruling clears
Oakland officials argue that they are
recourse if districts try to circumvent
the way for the Los Angeles Unified
bound to provide primary language
the law.
School District to educate its 312,000
instruction under an agreement with the
"We may have to end up taking a lot
students with limited English
Office of Civil Rights.
of these districts to court," Unz said. He
proficiency without the benefit of
San Francisco officials sent parents a
cited a provision in Proposition 227
teaching them in their native languages.
letter declaring that-under a 1970s
that allows parents to sue if teachers or
"There's no question it will cause a
federal consent decree-the district will
other officials "willfully and
considerable amount of disruption,"
continue to offer "a variety of
repeatedly" refuse to comply with the
said U.S. District Judge Lourdes Baird.
programs"
for
English-language
new law.
"But as far as the magnitude of the
learners as well as English immersion.
But, although teachers know that the
change, the methodology is basically
And two Orange County districts have
passage of the measure will means big
going to be the same."
asked state Schools Superintendent
changes in their classrooms, they're still
From Compliance to Defiance
Delaine Eastin to spare their "dual
not sure how much. "Nobody knows,
School districts such as Sacramento
immersion" programs by using her
and that's the scary part," said bilingual
plan to follow the new rules, although
authority to waive most education laws
teacher Mary Rose Ortega, a 21-year
some administrators believe a year
for alternative and magnet schools.
veteran of the Los Angeles School
would have been a more realistic
These programs would allow both
District. "It's all in the air what's going
timetable. But other districts are
English and Spanish speakers to learn
to happen."
fighting the change.
some core subjects in their non-native
The Associated Press contributed to
The Oakland, Hayward and Berkeley
language. The request, still pending, has
this report.
school districts took their challenge to
given rise to speculation that other
11. Associated Press
08/03/98
Clinton Warns of Veto To Help Kids
By SONYA ROSS Associated Press
Elizabeth Morra called the veto threat
political reform issues," Clinton wrote.
CHEVERLY, Md. (AP) - Accusing
"unfortunate," and said Republicans
"A partisan minority continues to resist
Congress of trying to put young
were simply "prioritizing spending" and
change. The members of the House
Americans' futures "in the back seat,"
trying to stay within the balanced
have a chance to change that pattern."
President Clinton said Monday he will
budget agreements
The young workers Clinton met
veto any federal budget that lacks
White House spokesman Barry Toiv
Monday were taking part in the federal
money for a summer jobs program and
said the president is "looking forward to
summer jobs effort through the Summer
the education proposals that he wants.
a pretty good fight" with Congress over
Academic Enhancement and Career
The president looked out at a
spending on education and job training,
Exploration Program run by the Private
roomful of summer workers at Prince
even if it leads to a veto.
Industry Council. A spending bill the
George's Hospital Center and said that
"He's hoping that the Congress will
House may consider this week would
he, like them, had worked during his
see the light early rather than late," Toiv
eliminate the $871 million jobs
breaks from school in jobs funded by
said. "They have deliberately passed a
program and provide less than the
the federal government - and today he is
bill that they know is unacceptable. So
president wants for Head Start, tutoring
in the White House.
they're the ones creating this issue."
efforts and some other school programs.
"I hope when the history books are
Clinton also sent a letter to House
Head Start is an early childhood
written it will look like a pretty good
Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., urging
education program for the poor.
investment that was made in a young
that the House approve a campaign
"The House Republican plan puts
man from a modest family in a small
reform bill proposed by Reps.
politics ahead of people and puts your
town a long time ago," Clinton said.
Christopher Shays, R-Conn., and
future in the back seat. That is wrong,"
"You, too, will do great things. And in
Martin Meehan, D-Mass.
Clinton said. "If a bill like the one that
part, it will be because your country has
"It would show the American people
is proposed by the House Republicans
believed in you and invested in you."
that it is possible to make bipartisan
passes, I will veto it."
House Appropriations spokeswoman
progress on this most difficult of
House leaders have said they are
Morra, the house Appropriations
efforts, which Clinton also has
working to provide funds for such
spokeswoman, called Clinton's veto
advocated.
programs in a way they believe to be
threat "unfortunate," saying GOP
"He spent $9 billion more
most effective. House Education
lawmakers tried hard to set spending
assuming we'd have tobacco legislation
Committee Chairman Bill Goodling,
priorities within the boundaries of the
and user fees that never materialized,"
R-Pa., has promised to propose
balanced budget agreement. She said
Morra said. "Both Republicans and
legislation that would consolidate 31
they felt it better to ensure a $1.2 billion
Democrats wanted that increase for
education programs and send $800
increase in funding to the National
NIH. It was really about prioritizing
million directly to public schools.
Institutes of Health for medical research
spending."
20
The summer jobs program provides
national park and working as a
said. "I had another choice. I didn't
work for up to 530,000 youths in
counselor at a camp for disadvantaged
have to sit around acting silly all the
communities around the country. The
youth.
time like so many of my friends. I had
Clinton administration argued that
Terence Newton, a 15-year-old who
people who were pushing me to go
without it, three out of four young
is working this summer as a patient
further."
people now enrolled in the program
escort at the hospital, said he now
Among those pushers was Clinton.
would be unemployed during the
understands the demands of work, from
He suggested that next summer Terence
summer.
adhering to dress codes to taking his
should be given a job with Prince
He said the program reminded him
duties seriously.
George's County Executive Wayne
of two summers during his college
"There are many things I could be
Curry, Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen
years, when he had jobs in his
doing on days like this, things that
Kennedy Townsend - or even at the
hometown helping to maintain a
would lead to nothing good," Terence
White House.
12. Christian Science Monitor
August 4, 1998
The Challenge for Schools: Connecting Adults With
Kids
Gail Russell Chaddock,
access to empty bedrooms, drugs, car
added.
Staff writer
keys, and liquor. A friend's rape
A rise in high-risk behavior
of The Christian Science Monitor
prompts her to rethink sneaking around
For now, many trends are headed in
RESTON, VA. - The students
and boozy nights. Brandon, a Boy
the wrong direction. High-risk behavior
heading back to school this month will
Scout, resents coming home to an
for kids is up in the 1990s, and it's
be among the most tested, measured,
empty house and worrying over money
moving into ever-younger grades,
and analyzed in the history of American
after his father's job loss. He turns to
according to a study released by the
education. They could also be the most
pushing drugs and tagging underpasses
National Center for Education Statistics
alone.
as a graffiti artist. Charles's parents are
last month.
As a result, many kids are making
successful black professionals, but their
The percentage of students reporting
dangerous choices involving illegal
achievements can't shield him either
illicit drug use, for example, increased
drugs, alcohol, sex, and violence - and
from racist slurs or the trash-talking
substantially between 1992 and
their parents rarely have a clue what is
"ghetto boys" at his high school. Joan
1996 - up to 26 percent for
going on.
attempts suicide, and Jonathan
12th-graders,
23
percent
for
That is the conclusion of Patricia
succeeds.
10th-graders, and 15 percent for
Hersch, whose recent book, "A Tribe
It's a tough world these kids
8th-graders. More than 1 in 3
Apart" (Ballantine), takes a close look
describe, and more threatening than its
10th-graders reported that they had
at the daily lives of eight teens in the
tree-lined streets would suggest. The
been threatened or injured at school
picture-book suburb of
message that comes through speaks to
during the previous year, according to a
Reston, Va. "Kids have been
what is becoming the heart of the
recent survey by the Washington-based
growing up without a substantial adult
education debate in the United States:
National Education Goals Panel.
presence in their lives for years, and
how to reconnect with children.
Adding to a sense of urgency in this
we're only beginning to see the
"I am troubled by the fact that so
debate are recent schoolyard killings in
consequences," she says.
many young people in America are
Springfield, Ore., Edinboro, Pa.,
The book is not another exercise in
growing up disconnected. They are
Jonesboro, Ark., West Paducah, Ky.,
parent-bashing. Nor does it plunk all
growing up almost alone," said
and Pearl, Miss.
the blame on the schools. But both
Education Secretary Richard Riley at
As schools gear up to reopen this
parents and educators will find much to
the Safe and Drug Free Schools
month, many districts are adding metal
ponder in the stark and riveting
Conference in Washington last June.
detectors, more police, safety audits,
accounts these kids give of their lives.
One of the most extensive surveys
and early-warning guides for teachers to
In the end, caring teachers and parents
ever done on drug use, sexuality,
ensure safer schools. But the
make a difference.
violence, and suicide concludes that
cornerstone of this effort must be
We meet Jessica Jones (not her real
young people who feel connected to
reestablishing ties with students,
name) at 13. Her parents are loving and
their parents and schools are less likely
educators say.
attentive, but friends' parents offer
to engage in high-risk behavior, he
"We must commit ourselves to one
Secretary Riley.
everywhere, and I began listening to
very basic idea: that every child in
A work-at-home mother, Ms. Hersch
what they talked about in the car," she
America in a school has a positive and
says she began to develop ideas for "A
says.
caring relationship with at least one
Tribe Apart" when she realized that she
One conversation particularly moved
adult. This simply has to be the new
was one of the few adults in the
her: "I once asked a 15-year-old girl
standard we set for our nation's schools
neighborhood when kids came home
what she did after school, and she said,
and communities," says Education
from school. "I ended up driving kids
'I go home. I have a snack, talk on the
21
telephone to my friends, do some
The vacuum surrounding kids has
such a looming block of time, he says.
chores I guess you could say
gotten deeper and more extensive," she
Making time to listen
sometimes it's really lonely.'
adds.
In Alexandria, Va., Riley and
She began research for the book by
Her study does not claim to be
Attorney General Janet Reno met
spending a year observing classes every
scientific. The children's accounts are
recently with students about safety at
day at a local middle school. She
not tested for accuracy, and the parents
T.C. Williams High School. Students
contacted the parents of 60 kids for
and teachers who come under the
spoke of the need to listen. "I have lots
permission to talk to their children. ("I
severest criticism are not afforded equal
of friends who get into trouble in
worried about how easily some parents
time.
school, and I ask them. 'What did your
granted permission - some didn't even
In Reston, Stuart Gibson is urging
parents say?' and they tell me that they
want to meet me," she says.)
colleagues on the Fairfax County
were too busy or didn't care," says
Eventually, she narrowed the focus to
School Board to take the Hersch book
Mohamed El-Hassan, whose family
eight, and spent three years talking to
and these issues seriously. "The
moved from Sudan five years ago.
them.
message of this book is
"Some parents work two or three
"Many parents start to think that it's
counterintuitive: We always thought
jobs, and they really don't have any
OK to leave a good kid at home for a
that when our kids got older. they
choice," he adds. "But I can talk to my
while at about age 10, as long as you
needed less attention, less care. But as
dad about anything, even though he
say 'Don't go out of the house after
kids have more choices, parents need to
works two jobs."
school until we get home.' But nobody
exercise more responsibility that they
Many credited the school's crisis
has considered what it means to have
make good choices," he says.
coordinator, Barbara Finney, with
eight years of huge blocks of time
There are practical steps schools can
helping them. "If kids see that you don't
without meaningful adult interaction,"
take to close down that window of
have time for them, they move on or
says Hersch, who raised three sons in
isolation, such as a later start to the
just put you in the category of all the
Reston. "Things are worse now for my
school day so that stretches from 2:20
other adults who didn't have time for
younger son than for my older sons:
p.m. until parents return from work isn't
them," she says in an interview.
13. Christian Science Monitor
August 4, 1998
Tackling the SAT? Test-Prep Help Abounds
WASHINGTON - For high school
between $10 and $30. There are
School in Parker, Colo., loads a
students, it's an academic challenge
CD-ROM disks for personal computers,
CD-ROM, sold by Kaplan Educational
dreaded more than reading the English
selling for around $20 to $50. Coaching
Centers, into his computer. "You put in
epic poem Beowulf: The SAT and ACT
classes cost from $60 for a high school
the CD. It's like you're driving a car and
college-entrance tests.
English teacher doing test-prep on the
you have a road map to the ACT. After
But put away the pencils and grab a
side to more than $500 or $600 for
you take the pretest, it tells you what
computer mouse. Test-preparation
classes from national commercial
areas you need to work on," he says.
programs on the Internet and
companies. Some parents spend
Bob Schaeffer of the National Center
CD-ROMs that slide into home
thousands of dollars for private
for Fair and Open Testing in
computers are flooding the market.
sessions, including some offered at
Cambridge, Mass., advises students
With colorful graphics, cartoon
well-to-do vacation spots like Martha's
who prepare on their computers to
figures, personalized practice tests, and
Vineyard, off the Massachusetts coast.
sharpen a No. 2 pencil, sit down at a
test-taking strategies, the computerized
Educators caution that not all
desk, and take a practice exam,
products - as well as commercial prep
students need to invest in test-prep
methodically coloring in the tiny ovals,
classes and private tutors - appeal to
software or classes. They advise
or bubbles, on the answer sheet. "A
many of the more than 3 million test
students to check out free materials and
very common mistake is
takers tackling the Scholastic
determine whether their preliminary
mis-bubbling skipping a question, but
Assessment Test and American College
college-entrance test score will be
not skipping a line on the answer
Testing program exam each year.
adequate to obtain admission from the
sheet," Schaeffer says. "You can't get
Students preparing for the tests can
college they've chosen.
that practice with a mouse.'
find free help on the World Wide Web.
To get a preview of the ACT, Paul
They can buy prep books, mostly priced
Silva, a senior at Ponderosa High
14. Christian Science Monitor
August 4, 1998
Summer and Basic Skills
Amelia Newcomb,
Staff writer
of The Christian Science Monitor
22
BOSTON - Here's an easy quiz:
ahead over the years. while
psychology at the Harvard Graduate
When do children achieve more
high-poverty children barely budged.
School of Education in Cambridge,
academically, during the summer or the
The problem, the study stated, lay
Mass., makes a key point: If adults
school year?
almost completely at the feet of
show interest, kids typically will as
Most everyone knows the answer.
differing summer experiences.
well. If you both liked the movie
It's one of the reasons parents may
Two other studies found that while
"Contact," for example, read the book
indulge in a mental tug-of-war between
high-poverty first-graders moved ahead
(by Carl Sagan) aloud. Try to find
wanting offspring to experience that
more quickly than their peers in
someone, or a university, who has a
American ideal - the content-free
reading, their progress slowed more
telescope you can check out. Do the
summer - and taking a second look at
than that of their peers over the
shopping together, making a game out
summer-school classes. Exchange the
following summer - and did not pick up
of reading labels and sorting items.
September routine for more TV and
again in second grade.
Borrow library passes to museums.
little in the way of reading, after all, and
Most kids lose some academic skills
The United States Department of
the most common warm-weather lesson
over the summer. But those from
Education also is chipping in to help.
becomes one in how to backpedal.
more-prosperous homes often get camp,
Its "Summer Challenge in
Now, you could argue that a little
summer classes, or most important,
Read*Write*Now!"
program
nose-to-the-grindstone after Labor Day
many informal learning, playing, and
encourages children to read 20 minutes
will get students back on track. But
reading opportunities to keep them on
and write 10 minutes each day. Partners
there's more at stake. Summer is not
track.
meet with children once or twice a
only when skills may slide, but also
A number of urban systems are
week. The department provides activity
when gaps in academic growth widen
requiring more summer classes for
books, including "summer home
between children of different social and
students who have fallen behind - a
recipes" in reading, math, and history
economic backgrounds - sometimes
move that is often popular with
(Contact 1-800-USA LEARN or
creating long-term barriers to success in
inner-city parents and the kids
www.ed.gov). The department also has
school.
themselves, in part because it keeps
materials for preschool kids.
The research is sobering. A recent
them safe and with other children. But
No question - kids deserve a summer
study looked at the difference in
experts say that some informal (and
break. But that doesn't mean some fun
reading comprehension skills between
free) efforts can make a difference as
that slips in a few learning tips is a bad
high-poverty and middle-class students
well.
idea.
at the end of elementary school.
Janine Bempechat, assistant
More-advantaged kids moved steadily
professor in human development and
15. Associated Press
08/03/98
Reno Urges Laws on Kids and Guns
By LAURIE ASSEO Associated Press
requiring gun owners to store their
injuries and deaths influenced by others
TORONTO (AP) - Attorney General
weapons securely so that children
must clearly continue to be a national
Janet Reno told the largest U.S.
cannot get access to them," she added.
priority," the attorney general said.
lawyers' organization Monday that more
Pointing to the recent fatal shootings
She called for federal, state and local
must be done to keep guns away from
inside the U.S. Capitol and killings at a
efforts to enforce gun laws and carry
children and help end a national
number of schools around the country,
out prevention programs.
"culture of violence."
the attorney general said gun-related
"We need to teach these young
"There can be very few people in the
violence is a major threat to Americans'
people that guns kill and maim for life
United States who disagree with the
safety. While Toronto had only 100 gun
that guns really do kill," Reno said.
proposition that no one should possess
killings from 1992 through 1996,
"The bottom line is that lawyers can
a gun unless they know how to safely
Chicago - a similar-sized U.S. city - had
change our country's attitude about
and lawfully use it, and evidence a
3,063 gun homicides during that same
guns We can end the culture of
willingness and capacity to do so,"
period.
violence in this nation."
Reno told the American Bar
Every day in the United States, about
On July 21, the Senate rejected a bill
Association's policy-making House of
100 people die from gun- related
to require all handguns sold in the
Delegates.
injuries, she said.
United States include safety locks
"States must enact and enforce laws
"Thus, reducing the number of
designed to prevent accidents.
The ABA's House of Delegates
violence, including firearms education,
young people.
passed a resolution Monday seeking
mediation to head off disputes and
stronger efforts to deal with school gun
stronger laws to keep guns away from
16. Associated Press
08/03/98
23
MIT Requires Online Applications
By ROBIN ESTRIN Associated Press
services with the National Association
applications
through
the
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) - Students
for College Admission Counseling.
GradAdvantage Web site, which went
aspiring to attend one of the country's
By wiping out paper applications,
online Aug. 1.
most prestigious business schools can
MIT says it will save thousands of
Participating institutions pay $5,500
say farewell to one well-known ritual:
dollars in processing, printing and
a year for the administrative Web site
the frantic, down-to-the-wire trip to
postage costs - plus hundreds of hours
software. Students pay a $12 processing
mail an application by the deadline.
of staff time.
fee for each application.
Beginning this month, MIT's Sloan
Using a new Internet site started by
Only MIT is SO far telling its future
School of Management will accept
the folks who sponsor the Graduate
MBAs to forget about applying if they
applications
only
via
Management Admission Test - the
can't go online. But exemptions will be
computer - apparently becoming the
standardized exam for business school
considered in the first year of the new
nation's first graduate or undergraduate
admission - applicants can fill out the
plan.
school to adopt such a policy.
required Sloan School forms, pay the
Experts said it's unlikely many
Plenty of the nation's 3,400 colleges
application fees and arrange to have
undergraduate schools will require only
and universities have been
their GMAT scores sent to the
online applications anytime soon. After
experimenting
with
electronic
university in one electronic package.
all, it's elitist to assume that every
applications, using them as an
The only items that can't be
applicant has computer access, said
admission
option
for
the
electronically mailed - at least, not
Timothy J. McDonough, a spokesman
computer-savvy. But the class that will
yet - are college transcripts and outside
for the American Council on Education,
enter Massachusetts Institute of
recommendations.
which represents 1,800 colleges and
Technology's graduate business school
About two dozen other business
universities nationwide.
in September 1999 is charting new
schools, including Harvard, Columbia,
And Sloan is making no changes in
territory.
Dartmouth,
Northwestern,
the
the back end of the process: Officials
"I don't know of anybody who's gone
University of Texas, Tulane, Michigan
there still plan to send acceptance and
100 percent that way," said Mark
State and the University of
rejection letters the old-fashioned
Milroy, chief officer of programs and
California-Davis. will accept electronic
way.
17. The New York Times
08/02/98Section: Education Life Supplement; Section 4A; Page 12, Column 1
Students Abroad Find A Wealth of Choices, And Even
Bargains
By Robert D. Hershey Jr.
investment-banker lineage. In fact, they
The cost, including housing and
A generation ago, American
may save money by spending a
one-way air fare but not meals, came to
collegians going abroad were typically
semester or two abroad - perhaps as
$15,200 - not inexpensive but
well-bred women with rich or indulgent
much as 50 percent off the cost of a
significantly less than the $20,000 or so
parents, students whose commitment to
private American college, which can
she would have paid to Salem College
mastering the pluperfect sometimes
range from $20,000 to more than
in Winston-Salem, N.C., where she was
wavered before the myriad enticements
$30,000 a year.
enrolled back home.
of Paris or Madrid.
"I don't know any country that has
"I was pleasantly surprised," said
While distractions remain, foreign
colleges as expensive as here," said
Virginia Petersen, Nissa's mother. "I
study these days is a far different
Paulo Sotero Marques, a Brazilian
thought it would end up costing more."
proposition. No longer confined largely
journalist who lives in Washington and
For her part, Nissa Petersen said the
to language courses, study abroad offers
has three college-age children.
savings gave her the sense "that I wasn't
a vast array of places and subjects from
Nissa Petersen spent the 1997-1998
gallivanting around at my parents'
which to choose.
academic year studying sociology at
expense."
And students have no need for
University College in Cork, Ireland.
Heidi Janes, 18, of Chevy Chase,
the $28,000 she would have paid to stay
cannot always be applied, Federal aid
Md., who spent her freshman year at
in Portland. "She believed she had to do
like Stafford loans and Pell grants can;
Reed College in Portland, Ore., heads
something like this to be able to
in fact, it's a requirement.
off this month to Capital Normal
graduate from Reed," Heidi's mother,
But no matter how much less a
University in China. She needed to
Elizabeth, said.
foreign program appears to cost,
stretch her resources, since her parents
Adding to the possible savings is the
students need to check whether they
had set aside a specified amount for her
fact that students can sometimes apply
still have to pay their school at home
education. She looked to China for a
their financial aid to foreign studies.
the full domestic tuition. Among the
bargain year expected to cost $7.500,
While state aid and grants and
increasing number that do are Wesleyan
including room and board, far less than
scholarships from the home college
and Columbia Universities, Swarthmore
24
College, the University of Pennsylvania
Box 371, Annapolis Junction, Md.
program for study at one of 10 English
and, beginning in the 2000-2001
20701; by calling (800) 445-0443, or
and Scottish universities that students
academic year, Smith College.
by connecting to the institute's on-line
are assigned to after they are accepted
Some institutions are "shutting the
catalogue (www.iiebooks.org). Another
into the program. Students from other
doors," said William Hoffa, a
useful reference is "Peterson's Study
colleges and universities get secondary
foreign-study consultant in Amherst,
Abroad" ($29.95), from Peterson's, P.O.
consideration. Costs range from
Mass. "The new compact is, 'You owe
Box 2123, Princeton, N.J. 08543; (800)
$14,280 a year for New Jersey residents
us eight semesters worth of tuition,
338-3282 (www.petersons.com).
to attend the Universities of Bristol and
regardless.''
Of course, students study abroad for
Sussex to a high of $21,370 for students
Students do tend to remain enrolled
reasons that transcend finances: to
from other states who attend University
in a college or university at home while
expand their cultural horizons, and their
College London. The prices do not
studying abroad, and American schools
resume. The following choices meet
include room, board or air fare.
generally grant full credit for their
those criteria, but also are regarded as
The other universities are those of
foreign study. But because methods of
good value.
Exeter, Manchester, Reading, York,
evaluation vary widely by country,
Britain and Ireland
Glasgow and St. Andrews and City
grades are normally disregarded in
Studying in foreign countries is not a
University in London.
calculating grade-point averages.
guaranteed bargain. London and other
Rutgers Study Abroad Office, 102
More than 80 percent of students
major cities in Western Europe can be
College Ave., New Bruns-wick, N.J.
enrolling in foreign-study programs do
expensive. But Britain is still the most
08903;
(732)
932-7787
so through their own schools or other
popular choice for Americans,
(www.rutgers.edu/academics/study/uabr
American colleges. They can also apply
attracting more than 25 percent of those
oad/sao.html).
on their own directly to foreign
going abroad, and it offers a wealth of
Germany
universities, taking a route that is
programs.
Germany has some of the biggest
becoming somewhat more popular,
Beaver College, which places the
potential bargains because all its
largely because it is the least expensive
most American students in Britain,
institutions of higher education are
option. But undergraduates don't always
deals with 28 universities there,
government-financed. Under an
have this choice. Some colleges will not
including University College London,
increasingly rare policy, as more
let their students go independently and
known for its economics department
countries end or sharply limit subsidies
still have the work blessed with
($19,900 for the full year, including
for noncitizens, foreigners are not
home-school credit.
housing but not meals). City University
charged tuition.
With hundreds of foreign-study
in London offers a popular program in
As might be expected, however, this
programs, finding the right one often
which students attend classes two days
policy has led to an emphasis on
involves one of the two dominant
a week and intern three days a week in
one-for-one exchanges between
placement bureaus that have made a
places like the London Zoo and
American and German students, making
business of linking American students
Parliament ($18,000 a year, including
arrangements more difficult. A good
with appropriate courses in foreign
housing but not meals).
source of information on scholarships,
institutions. One is the Institute for
Beaver also places students in
visas and other foreign-study matters is
Study Abroad at Butler University in
Ireland. University College Galway
the New York office of the German
Indianapolis; the other is Beaver
exerts the strongest pull on Americans,
Academic Exchange Service, 950 Third
College in Glenside, Pa., a suburb of
especially those of Irish descent,
Ave., New York 10022; (212)
Philadelphia. The broker, who takes
because of the sizable Irish-speaking
758-3223 (www.daad.org).
care of all arrangements and continuing
community and its idyllic, west-country
One seasoned American operator,
supervision, is paid a fee that varies by
bayside location. (The cost is $8,700 for
the Institute for the International
place and situation and is built into the
the fall semester, $15,200 for a full
Education of Students in Chicago, has
total cost quoted.
year, including lodging and one-way air
setup its own programs instead of
Students seeking the widest options
fare but not meals.) Other highly
brokering students. One is in Berlin
may want to consult one or more of the
regarded places are University College
($9,000 a semester, $16,200 for a full
standard references published by the
in Cork, which specializes in Irish
year, including lodging but not meals),
Institute of International Education
studies and music, and the Institute of
and two are in Freiburg. One Freiburg
in New York (Web site: www.iie.org).
Public Administration, where students
program, on the European Union, costs
These include "Academic Year Abroad"
work as unpaid aides to members of
$8,400 for the semester, including
($44.95), "Vacation Study Abroad"
Parliament.
lodging but not meals.
($39.95) and "Financial Resources for
Beaver College Center for Education
Institute for the International
International Study" ($39.95). A free
Abroad, 450 South Easton Road,
Education of Students, 223 WestOhio
pamphlet called "Basic Facts on Study
Glenside, Pa. 19038; (888) 232-8379
St., Chicago, III. 60610; (800)
Abroad" is also available. All can be
(www. beaver.edu/cea/).
995-2300 (www.iesabroad.org).
ordered by writing to I.I.E. Books, P.O.
Rutgers University has a junior-year
The University of Maryland
$11,000 a year for Marylanders and
umuc.edu/internat/germany.html).
University College runs sizable German
$16,000 for nonresidents, including
Italy
programs, mostly for the military, but it
room and board.
Florence, not Rome, is the most
also offers one in Schwabisch Gmund
U.M.U.C. International Programs,
popular Italian destination for American
for civilians planning careers in
University Boulevard at Adelphi Road,
students, with Georgetown University,
international
business.
This
College Park, Md. 20742; (301)
Smith College and Sarah Lawrence
English-language
curriculum
costs
985-7442
(www.
College offering programs of some
25
renown. But the program that educators
of Kansas, 108W Lippincott, Lawrence,
Haifa, Overseas Student Programs, 352
usually mention first is run by Syracuse
Kan.
66045;
(785)
864-3742
Seventh Ave., New York 10001; (800)
University, which for more than 30
(www.ukans.edu/osa/).
334-0755 (www.haifa.ac.il).
years has been a sizable presence with
The University of Illinois leads an
An intriguing new Arab-studies
its own campus in this arts capital, a
American consortium that expects to
program is being offered this fall in
virtual museum without walls. Art
place 70 students in one or more of
Sana, capital of newly unified Yemen in
history and architecture are the chief
three top institutions in Buenos Aires
the southwestern corner of the Arabian
subjects of study for the American
this fall. The three are the University of
peninsula, along ancient trade routes for
contingent - 200 strong last semester.
Buenos Aires, still a center of political
spices and luxury goods. The 10-week
This program is unlikely to be a
ferment but not as strike-prone as it
program consists of Arabic and two
money-saver, though, because Syracuse
used to be; the Catholic University of
other courses: one on the country's
charges the same amount, about
Salvador, and Torcuato Di Tella
5,000-year history, the other on its
$13,000 a semester, that students pay at
University, which has rigorous
current political science. Study of
its campus in New York State. The
economics and business programs.
Arabic is recommended before starting
price includes housing, some meals and
"This isn't a fun-in-the-sun type of
the program, but it is not required.
one-way air fare. Students who join the
program," said Joan Solaun,
Registration is through Portland State
program from higher-priced universities
foreign-study director at the University
University in Oregon, which has more
might find Florence cheaper than, say,
of Illinois, noting that the program
than 30 years of experience in the
Yale or Princeton, but even as a
requires two weeks of orientation at an
Middle East. The Yemeni program
financial wash, the sunny seat of the
Andes retreat. Tuition, room and board
costs $5,500, which covers tuition,
Medicis is hard to resist.
come to $7,985 a semester.
lodging and at least one meal a day.
Division of International Programs
Study Abroad, University of Illinois,
Study Abroad, Portland State
Abroad, Syracuse University, 119
115 International Studies Building, 910
University, P.O. Box 751, Portland,
Euclid Ave., Syracuse, N.Y. 13244;
South Fifth St., Champaign, III. 61820;
Ore.
97207;
(503)
725-8246
(800)
235-3472
(sum
(217)
333-6322
(www.oaa.pdx.edu/International
web.syr.edu/dipa).
(www.uiuc.edu/providers/ ips/sao/)
/InternationalEd/studyabroad),
Fairfield University, a Jesuit
The Middle East
Australia
institution in Connecticut, offers two
Israel offers many choices for
Sydney, host to the Olympic Games
monthlong summer programs and
foreign students. Its five principal
in 2000, is becoming a highly popular
one-semester and full-year programs.
universities have formed a consortium
destination for American students. In
Cris Bowers, Florence Program
to coordinate efforts, but each maintains
size and breadth of curricula,
Assistant, Fairfield University, Dolan
individual admissions requirements and
institutions like the University of
House, Fairfield, Conn. 06430; (203)
sets its own price, although costs for
Sydney and the University of New
254-4220
(www.fairfield.
each are around $10,000 a year for
South Wales are similar to
edu/sce/index.htm).
tuition and housing. The Hebrew
state-financed universities in the United
New York University has begun
University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv
States. The cost is $11,500 to $12,000 a
offering a year in Florence for
University are the most popular choices
semester, including housing and air
freshmen. New York University Study
of American students. Bar-Ilan
fare, but not meals. The first semester
Abroad Admissions, 7 East 12th St.,
University, in a Tel Aviv suburb,
runs from February to June and the
Room 608, New York 10003; (212)
concentrates on Jewish heritage;
second from July to November.
998-4433
(www.
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in
A student must take a full course
nyu.edu/studyabroad/under
Beersheba offers a desert experience,
load to qualify for a student visa, and a
graduate/florence.html).
and the University of Haifa exploits its
guidebook cautions that foreign
Central and South America
location in a cosmopolitan port city and
students are sometimes "surprised at the
The University of Costa Rica attracts
center for high technology.
workload required of them."
students interested in the rain forest and
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem,
Butler is the main broker for
other environmental subjects; a
Office of Academic Affairs, 11 East
Australian study. But students can save
brochure mentions the country's 800
69th St., New York 10021; (800)
money by enrolling directly at, say, the
varieties of butterflies. The university
404-8622
University of Sydney, paying about
has become such a magnet for
(www2.huji.ac.il/www/usfos/top.html).
$6,675 a semester for tuition, room and
foreigners that some students have
Tel Aviv University, Office of
meals.
complained about a lack of connection
Academic Affairs, 360 Lexington Ave.,
Institute for Study Abroad, Butler
to the local populace.
New York 10017; (800) 665-9828.
University,
4600
Sunset
Ave.,
The University of Kansas sponsors a
Bar-Ilan University, Office of Academic
Indianapolis, Ind. 46208; (800)
highly regarded program that costs only
Affairs, 91 Fifth Ave., Suite 200, New
858-0229, (www.butler.edu/ www/isa).
$5,300 a semester, $4,300 for those
York
10003;
(888)
248-9327.
Study Abroad Adviser, University of
enrolled at the Kansas school. This
Ben-Gurion University, Center for
Sydney, NSW Australia 2006;
price covers everything but
International Student Programs, 342
61-2-9351-5841
transportation and includes intense
Madison Ave., Suite 1224, New York
(www.usyd.edu.au/su/io).
Spanish-language study.
10173;
(800)
962-2248
ART Drawings
Office of Study Abroad, University
(www.bgu.ac.il/osp/).
University
of
18. The New York Times
26
08/02/98Section: Education Life Supplement; Section 4A; Page 28, Column 1
Why Johnny's Doing Calculus: The Booming Education
Industry
By Jim Yardley
is also expanding, from 112 centers in
one-size-fits-all commodity.
In late May four teachers and
1995 to a planned 200 by the end of
"There's a magic bullet for
administrators, sitting solemnly behind
this year.
everything now," said Gail Furman, a
a table at the office of a top Manhattan
"The message we get from parents is
Manhattan child psychologist who
public school, delivered the bad news to
not so much that they're frustrated with
works with several private schools. "If
Elizabeth and Antonio Trindade. Their
schools, but that they're frustrated with
you're depressed, you take Prozac. If
son, Lorenzo, could not keep up. He
their child's performance," said Ray
you're impotent, you take Viagra. If you
needed to be placed in special
Huntington, who with his wife, Eileen,
have a learning problem, you get
education classes at a smaller school.
founded the first Huntington Learning
tutored, get tested and you think it will
Ms. Trindade listened with disbelief.
Center in Oradell, N.J., in 1977.
all get better. But that's not always
The future she had imagined for her
"Originally, we were the last choice.
true."
child - a competitive high school,
Today, we are increasingly the first
Young children, Dr. Furman noted.
maybe an Ivy League university - was
choice."
develop differently. Some may excel in
disintegrating.
There is so much educational
early grades; others may take longer to
In the not-too-distant past, this sort
software that stores cannot come close
bloom. One child with early reading or
of conference might have occurred in
to stocking it all. About three new titles
handwriting problems may be
Lorenzo's eighth year of school, or even
arrive on the market every day, all
incredibly creative; another who
as early as the fourth grade. But
aspiring to become the next "Rabbit
achieves early may simply be more
Lorenzo was 6 years old. He was failing
Reader" or "Jumpstart." Last year, sales
mature and better organized. The
kindergarten.
of educational software topped $511
second child may be identified early as
"They could kill my son," Ms.
million.
a high achiever - and then end up
Trindade said of the school officials.
The hottest sellers are for children in
struggling later as school subjects
So she responded as if Lorenzo had
preschool through third grade, and the
become more complex.
been diagnosed with a fatal disease: she
target group seems to be getting only
"You then make these kids 'labeled'
went looking for a second opinion.
younger: the new "Jumpstart Baby" is
and 'identified,' and what happens is
After that meeting, she arranged
for babies 9 to 18 months old.
they become more and more defensive
appointments with a child psychologist
"I say there will soon be electrodes
and self-conscious about learning," Dr.
and a pediatrician. And then she took
they will hook up to a woman's stomach
Furman said.
Lorenzo to a Huntington Learning
that will be educational," said Ann
In Manhattan, though, the intense
Center, one of the for-profit tutorial and
Stephens, president of PC Data, which
competition for admittance into top
educational centers that are becoming
tracks software sales. "What's next?
elementary schools, public and private,
increasingly common in cities and
'Jumpstart Fetus"?"
often hinges on early assessments.
suburbs.
Probably not. But parental anxiety
Private tutors charge up to $150 an
In doing this, Ms. Trindade joined
over education and future success
hour on the Upper East Side to help
thousands of other parents across the
certainly helps explain some books, like
students meet, or get ahead of, their
country who are plunging into the vast
"Career Coaching Your Kids, for Ages
workloads.
world of "supplemental education," of
6 to 26. The volume of materials hasn't
In her own practice, Dr. Furman says
which chains like Huntington, Sylvan
necessarily made for more clarity:
she sees many examples of children
and Score! make up only a part. In the
Different books and tutoring programs
who she believes are inappropriately
past five years, an enormous
often espouse contradictory advice, like
labeled as slow learners by schools. She
educational industry has taken off to
using the phonics or whole-language
is now counseling a 6-year-old girl in
meet the needs and demands of parents
approaches - or neither - to help
kindergarten whose parents want her to
who are either frustrated with schools,
children learn to read. Some child
attend an elite elementary school. In
or fearful that their children will fall
development experts note, meanwhile,
one sample of her work, the child has
behind in an increasingly competitive
that many "new approaches" on the
written, "Ples Do Not Tush, Thik you."
world.
market are merely repackaged old
She scored well on I.Q. tests, but has
The amount of products and services
maxims like drills and memorization.
not yet grasped spelling and reading.
- how-to books, software titles,
What also concerns many
"This child has been identified as a
learning centers, private tutoring
development experts is the notion that
youngster with severe learning
programs - is stunning. Since 1991,
young children can be cleanly assessed
problems," Dr. Furman said. "Her
Sylvan, one of the first chains of
and categorized. However good their
parents have been advised to get outside
storefront learning centers, has grown
intentions, they say, parents and schools
tutoring and counseling, and that she
from 466 to 700 outlets across the
must be careful not to place unrealistic
may not be a candidate for the school."
country, with more than 124,000
expectations on young children, and
students registered last year. Huntington
they caution that learning is not a
Parents wait up to a year to take their
the Center for Development and
Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel
children to Dr. Mel Levine, director of
Learning at the University of North
Hill. The author of several highly
27
regarded books on child development,
developmental pediatricians and
has five lower-income students being
Dr. Levine agrees with Dr. Furman that
educational diagnosticians - are
tutored for free.
early assessments can lead to premature
struggling to stay in business, because
Ms. Briggs emphasized that learning
conclusions, except where a child has
relatively few parents can afford the
centers are not designed for students
severe problems.
hundreds of dollars needed to pay for a
with problems like dyslexia or other
But, he said, parents are right to be
comprehensive evaluation, and
learning disabilities. Instead, they best
concerned if a fourth grader is still
insurance usually does not cover it.
serve students who, for one reason or
struggling to read, or if a sixth grader
Such specialized assessment can
another, are not reaching their potential.
resists writing or doing homework.
include a battery of medical and
At Huntington, incoming students
Such a child could have subtle motor
diagnostic tests. Lawrence Green, a
undergo two to three hours of
problems, memory problems or
retired educational therapist and
diagnostic and achievement testing to
difficulty in organizing ideas, he said.
diagnostician who lives near San Jose,
determine reading level, to measure
Because he considers learning
Calif., said only specialists can properly
phonetic ability, to assess ability to
disorders to be an "epidemic," Dr.
assess complicated, underlying learning
recall information and to pinpoint
Levine credited private learning centers
weaknesses that often go undetected in
learning strengths and weaknesses. In
with providing strong remedial tutoring
quick diagnostic assessments.
one test, the Slosson Visual-Motor
in basic skill subjects like reading and
"The parent is faced with all these
Performance Test, a child is shown 14
math. But he said parents should not
options and they have limited
different shapes and asked to perform
believe these programs are reinventing
resources," said Mr. Green, whose
tasks; for example, to "draw a straight
the educational wheel.
book, "Finding Help When Your Child
line inside the rectangle." Ms. Briggs
"A lot of these programs portray
Is Struggling in School," will be
said this test helps establish whether a
themselves as being on the cutting edge,
published later this summer by Golden
child can process visual information
but they're doing things that are very
Books. "What they know is: 'I have a
properly.
traditional," he said, adding that much
child who is bright and capable, but he
She said her tutors - all of them
of what is offered is old-fashioned
is not working at a level commensurate
certified teachers - do not adhere to
repetitive drilling.
with his ability. So what can I do?''
any particular educational philosophy.
A conflict of interest can exist, Dr.
Experts worry that lower-income
If they think phonics will work, fine. If
Levine said, when centers that offer
children, many of whom would greatly
it is whole-word reading, fine. The
tutoring also sell child-assessment
benefit from extra help, are far less
educational director, Robert Golden,
services. "You come in, and you get
likely to get it, pushing them even
says four of five students show
assessed, and they say, 'Well, we just
further behind academically.
improvement after several months.
happen to have exactly what you need,'
Educational software begins at around
"It's about going to a child's
" he said. "It would be better to separate
$30. And most poor families don't have
weaknesses and helping them survive
assessment and treatment."
home computers in any case. One
with that weakness," Ms. Briggs said.
Vickie
Glazar,
a
Sylvan
session at a learning center, meanwhile,
Just the promise of individualized
spokeswoman, noted that Sylvan uses
can cost $55 to $75 an hour, depending
attention is why so many parents turn to
the respected California Achievement
on the child's age and skill level, and
help outside their children's schools.
Test to make its assessments;
the centers suggest three hours a week
"It doesn't matter how good or bad
Huntington uses a combination of tests,
- putting the price beyond the reach of
the school system is," said Gary
including parts of the California test.
many middle-class families as well.
Natriello, a professor at Columbia
But another potential area for
"The learning centers work,
University's Teachers College, who
conflicts of interest can come from
obviously, with kids who have money,"
took his own son to Sylvan. "They're
"co-branding." In one example, Sylvan
said Deborah Briggs, who owns two
organized to produce bunches of kids.
and the software company Virtual
Huntington franchises in Manhattan.
They're just not organized to really
Knowledge have a relationship in which
In response, a small number of
address the needs of particular kids.
children who take Virtual Knowledge's
public school systems, using Federal
They're not organized to help a kid
"Children's Skills Test" assessment
grants, have contracted with Sylvan to
catch up."
software are nudged toward Sylvan for
operate tutoring centers in
On the surface, chains like Sylvan
help.
disadvantaged schools. And there are
and Huntington may seem as similar as
Though Dr. Levine has not seen that
nonprofit programs sprinkled across the
McDonald's is to Burger King. Both use
test, he cautioned parents about placing
country. The Readnet Foundation
a ratio of one tutor per three pupils and
too much weight on findings from any
operates programs in five upper
both have similar hourly rates. But
generalized, at-home computer
Manhattan schools, using computers
Sylvan offers an incentive plan in which
assessments. In many ways, this
and specially designed software to
students can earn points toward
assessment is a descendant of the old
provide intensive reading support and
winning a prize, such as a skateboard;
at-home I.Q. tests. Designed to be "fun"
tutoring for underprivileged children.
Huntington considers rewards to be the
and not intimidating to children, the
But these programs are the exceptions.
wrong message. Sylvan guarantees that
at-home assessment software is based
"If I get 100 calls a month, 60
a student's reading skills will jump at
on the lowa Skills Test and the
percent of them are from parents who
least one reading level after 36 hours of
California Achievement Test, according
are really poor," Ms. Briggs said. "The
tutelage; Huntington doesn't make
to company officials.
first thing they ask is do we have
guarantees.
Paradoxically, many assessment
financial aid. It's unbelievably
specialists - like child psychologists,
heartbreaking." She said currently she
Some independent learning centers
or private tutorial services offer even
more individual attention. K.C.
28
Genzamer, a Manhattan tutor who
software learning games.
Lorenzo was, in fact, in need of tutoring
charges $90 an hour and works with
"There's nothing to say that just
and recommended three hours a week at
children ages 3 to 14, offers a weekend
because something is fun, it isn't
$225. Ms. Trindade could not afford it.
study hall at her apartment so students
educational," Ms. Shohet said.
She is a personal trainer who runs her
can drop by to work on homework.
But even educators involved with
own business; her husband is a personal
Linda Nelson, a retired teacher who
software worry that some products
trainer for a health club.
opened Learning Power, a tutoring
labeled as educational are merely thinly
After Huntington, Ms. Trindade took
center in Hartford, offers one tutor for
veiled video games. Robin Hubbard,
Lorenzo to a child psychologist, who
every student. Ms. Nelson said she
executive director of the Readnet
raised the possibility of attention deficit
decided against buying a Sylvan or
Foundation, which has developed a
disorder. She also bought a copy of
Huntington franchise because of what
reading software program in
"The World Almanac for Children," and
she described as their "cookie-cutter"
conjunction with Teachers College, said
she kept meeting with officials at
methods.
most titles "for younger children are
Manhattan's District 2.
"We spend a lot of time looking over
really just pleasant looking, not based
Finally, she said, she reached a
report cards, calling teachers," Ms.
on academic theory, generally."
compromise with them: Lorenzo will
Nelson said. Ms. Glazar, the Sylvan
"The software the little kids are using
repeat kindergarten this fall rather than
spokeswoman, responded that the
really has to be a close relative to the
transfer into special education. In her
centers offer the assurance of
television they have been watching,"
research, she discovered that Lorenzo
"consistent programs around the
she said. "Otherwise it won't hold their
was one of only a few children in his
country."
interest."
class who hadn't attended preschool.
If learning centers represent a 90's
What is lacking is an easy way to
Perhaps, Ms. Trindade said, Lorenzo
variation on old-style tutoring, then
make sense of it all. In this, the
wasn't slow, but simply behind before
software - the other fast-growing
Government offers little help. Charles
he had started.
component of the supplemental
Blaschke, head of Education Turnkey
To help him catch up, she has
education industry - may be the
System. a market research group that
restructured her home life. She now
educational brave new world. Titles like
monitors Federal and state initiatives
spends time every day tutoring
"Math Blaster," "Reader Rabbit" and
for software, said that the last major
Lorenzo; when he makes up his bed, he
"Where in the World Is Carmen
study of computer-based education in
has to also spell b-e-d. She has devised
Sandiego?" already constitute
schools was done in 1975. For simply
counting games and learning games,
something of a canon. There seems
weeding through the options, the Web
partly from consulting books. He also
little doubt that using educational
sites of Family PC, Children's Software
works with different educational
software only enhances children's
Revue, Home PC and Technology &
software titles.
computer literacy, and many parents
Learning offer reviews of new software.
It's all geared toward one goal:
regard it as essential to preparing for the
Some educators say the evolution of
success, from first grade on. "I didn't
future.
software is already transforming the
realize that after kindergarten," she said,
"Parents are very worried in general
learning process for the better.
"you've got to be ready."
that the world is going to turn into a
Voice-sensitive computer software can
ART Photos: Students being tutored
computer-generated place, and that their
interact with students doing exercises.
at a Huntington Learning Center in
kids have got to get started prenatally,"
The not-too-distant future of virtual
Englewood, N.J. "Originally, we were
said Mary Sue Lindley, an elementary
reality - when a student can put on a
the last choice," said Ray Huntington,
school computer teacher at Public
headset and find himself in first-century
the chain's founder. "Today, we are
School 321 in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Asia Minor - tantalizes many
increasingly the first choice." (Philip
Diane Shohet, an executive producer
educators.
Greenberg for The New York Times;
with Hasbro Interactive, which makes
"It's only the beginning." said Paul
Photo illustration by Terry Miura) (pg.
computer games with an educational
Houston, executive director of the
28); Elizabeth Trindade is spending the
bent, said that "edutainment" is the most
American Association of School
summer looking for ways to help her
recent trend for children. In
Administrators. "It's going to inevitably
6-year-old son, Lorenzo, who had fallen
edutainment, the emphasis is on visual
revolutionize a lot of learning.
behind in kindergarten. (Thomas
graphics and "fun" animated characters.
Kids and families are having direct
Dallal for The New York Times) (pg.
"People are doing more
access to learning and education, he
31); K.C. Genzamer, a private tutor,
entertainment-form titles that happen to
added. They don't have to go through
works with Eric and Jake Murray on
have some education in them," Ms.
an intermediary like a school.
educational games. (J. Emilio
Shohet said. "Fun," of course, is part of
Elizabeth Trindade is spending much
Flores/The New York Times) (pg. 38)
the attraction of software; unlike rote
of the summer looking for ways to help
school exercises, children embrace
her son. Huntington determined that
19. The New York Times
08/02/98Section: Education Life Supplement; Section 4A; Page 17, Column 1
Easy Degrees Proliferate on the Web
By David Koeppel
Ira Doreen Donovan, an elementary
school teacher in Miami, was 31 credits
29
shy of a master's degree in special
graduation requirements, hundreds of
academic frauds that have a little
education when she saw an on-line
Web sites have popped up for schools
substance that are the problem."
advertisement for Columbia State
charging between $200 and $7,000 for
He was referring to schools that
University. After sending $800 as the
sheepskin that requires little or no work
require students to perform some
first payment on a $2,000 degree, Ms.
from students. Columbia, for instance,
academic exercises like writing a paper
Donovan received a textbook to
promises degrees within 27 days.
or taking an exam - and some students
summarize and send back for grading.
Elaborate home pages make schools
might invest considerable effort - but
Believing this was the first step of
look credible, Mr. Lambert said. The
their degrees are unacceptable to
several, she was shocked when shortly
schools can operate in the anonymity of
established colleges and universities
after, a certificate not only for a master's
cyberspace, sometimes listing just an
and unimpressive to prospective
but a doctorate arrived at her home.
E-mail address or post office box. And
employers.
Along with the degrees came transcripts
on line, they can reach a global
But experts admit that most such
awarding her a 3.9 grade point average
audience for minimal cost.
institutions cater to people who know
for classes never taken and credit for a
Eugene Sullivan, co-author with
exactly what they are getting into.
completed thesis and dissertation.
David W. Stewart and Henry Spille of
"Many people are well aware of what
TD
"I called the school and told
"External Degrees in the Information
they are doing," Mr. Sullivan said.
them if this degree isn't worth the paper
Age," the American Council on
"They want a credential and they want
it's printed on, I don't want to pay for
Education's guide to correspondence
to get it quickly. But others are busy
it," Ms. Donovan said. "This degree mill
programs, defines a diploma mill as an
people or foreign students who don't
made me look like a fool."
"organization that sells degrees without
know much about higher education.
Columbia State returned her money,
an academic base and without requiring
They see these places as programs that
but others say they have not been so
sufficient academic achievement."
fit their needs."
lucky.
While perfectly legitimate schools
Joe Joyal of Atlanta said he had
After investigating 36 complaints,
might have an element or two of a
worked as an engineer for 20 years
including one from Norway and one
diploma mill (say, credit for work
without a degree and applied to
from Malaysia, the Louisiana Attorney
experience), experts say there are
Columbia State for a joint
General's office has filed for a
multiple defining characteristics:
bachelor's/master's
degree
in
preliminary injunction against
The school emphasizes credit for
mechanical engineering. He received
Columbia, charging that it violates the
work or life experience without
both degrees in under six months after
state's Unfair Trade Practices Act and
appropriate mechanisms for assessing
summarizing two textbooks.
consumer protection laws. Last month
that experience in terms of college-level
He said he suspected the degree was
the State of Illinois also filed suit
learning.
worthless but nonetheless listed it on
seeking an injunction and restitution for
Degrees are obtained in far less time
his resume. Later he had second
consumers and the state.
than would be required at a legitimate
thoughts and took it off. He is pursuing
Repeated calls to Columbia's office
institution. (A bachelor's degree
a degree from an accredited
in Metairie, La., seeking comment were
typically takes four years of full-time
distance-learning program.
not returned.
course work, a master's one to two
Columbia State claims in Internet
The Internet has "rekindled the
years, a Ph.D. dissertation several years
advertising that it is accredited by the
old-fashioned diploma mill," said
to research and write.)
International Accrediting Association, a
Michael Lambert, the executive director
Tuition and fees are on a per-degree
"fictitious school accrediting agency,"
of the Distance Education and Training
basis instead of per semester or course.
according to the Louisiana Attorney
Council, a recognized accrediting
School brochures list faculty
General's complaint. The owner of
agency that has approved 65 on-line
members who neither teach nor provide
Columbia, Ronald Dante, was
and home-study schools. "The Internet
other services, and there is virtually no
sentenced in February in Los Angeles
is a haven for these places."
interaction with faculty members.
to five-and-a-half years in prison for
Surfing the Web these days is like
The school is not accredited by an
operating fraudulent schools in
flipping through a virtual college
agency approved by the Department of
California. He jumped bail and is being
catalogue. With its interactivity and
Education, the Council for Higher
sought by United States marshals,
accessibility, the Internet has sparked
Education Accreditation or other
according to Michelle Muth, a
new interest in home-study programs,
legitimate institutions.
spokeswoman for the Federal Trade
offering actual courses on line or just
Accreditation, however, is voluntary.
Commission. Columbia continues to
information.
"From my experience it's not the
operate.
Although many distance-learning
blatantly fraudulent schools that are the
schools have solid reputations and
real threat," Mr. Stewart said. "It's the
Perhaps the largest crackdown on
Investigation who oversaw Dipscam.
with the weakest laws, like Hawaii,
schools took place from 1981 to 1991,
"Some schools sent transcripts and
Utah and Louisiana.
when Operation Dipscam (for diploma
diplomas to students for courses never
Hawaii has been wrangling with a
scam) put 50 out of business on charges
taken."
few unaccredited schools lately. Its
ranging from mail or wire fraud to
States like New York and Illinois
department of consumer affairs has sued
conspiracy. "Sometimes we'd find
closely regulate academic institutions,
Pacific Western and American State
phony accreditations or that we were
requiring that they be authorized to
Universities, two distance-learning
able to negotiate a degree for a lower
operate. But many don't. Mr. Ezell said
schools with offices there, for not
price," said Allen Ezell, a former agent
investigations often start by looking
making clear in advertisements that they
with the Federal Bureau of
into schools incorporated in the states
are unaccredited. After agreeing to a
30
settlement, American State decided to
an honorary doctorate.
said.
close. "The penalties were too
"What they do bears no resemblance
In her settlement with the Attorney
substantial," the school's lawyer, Evan
to the education we provide," said Lori
General's office, which had filed suit
R. Shirley, said, specifically citing the
Fox, the associate general counsel for
against her, Ms. LaFata agreed to pay
requirement that every ad disclose its
Washington University in St. Louis.
restitution to the state and not to
unaccredited status.
"Are they a diploma mill? You'll have
conduct business on the Internet for five
"My client never explicitly expressed
to draw your own conclusions."
years, including having a Web site.
wrongdoing." he added, "but a
Mr. Karademir said he is not running
"The state and I came to a good
conclusion could be rationally made
a diploma mill.
understanding," said Ms. LaFata, who
that there was wrongdoing."
"We are a young university," he said.
offered that she had been a Columbia
Pacific Western's case is pending.
"We didn't even know about them when
State student. "I did have to admit to
Calls to its office and lawyers were not
we chose the name three years ago.
wrongdoing. It was an awful time for
returned, but in answer to the complaint
They're not exactly Harvard. Calling us
me. I hope to leave that behind."
filed in circuit court in Honolulu, it
a degree mill is hitting below the belt in
Richard Mitchell, president of the
denied allegations that it misleads
order to belittle and discredit us."
New Orleans Better Business Bureau,
consumers about its accreditation or
Mr. Karademir said his school is
advises prospective students to do their
suggests it is "somehow accredited or
made up mostly of international
own investigating before signing up
approved by the State of Hawaii to
students who are given academic credit
with a distance education school.
award academic degrees."
for life experience, though he plans to
"Do some intelligent things like
Another area of dispute that has
add on-line courses in the fall.
checking out a school with agencies
caused considerable legal wrangling has
Washington International's Web site is
that can give you more information," he
been the similarity in names between
extensive and promises to grant degrees
said. "Don't just jump into a school
accredited and unaccredited schools.
in one year. "The academic comunity
because they have an impressive Web
An unaccredited school called
[sic] find our degree programs to be
site. If you take time and do your
Washington University, which has an
OUTSTANDING!" the Web site
homework, you can avoid a problem."
office in Bryn Mawr, Pa., but is
declares. "All Washington International
Mr. Lambert said it was easy for
incorporated-in Hawaii and the British
University degrees are ATTESTED and
unsophisticated applicants to be fooled.
Virgin Islands, settled a suit in June
sealed for authenticity by a Government
"In mixing dollars and dreams," he said,
filed by the more established
appointed NOTARY!"
"it's many of the true innocents that get
Washington University of St. Louis.
Costs range from $2,850 for a
trampled on."
The suit charged that the-unaccredited
Bachelor of Science in business
How to Check School Credentials
school infringed on its trademark and
administration to $7,400 for a
Surfing the Web for a home-study
engaged in unfair competition.
combination bachelor's and master's
school? The Department of Education
The details of the settlement are
degree.
suggests that thr first step is to check a
confidential, but the consent judgment
Meanwhile,
the
Pennsylvania
school's accreditation - a process in
entered by the court told the school to
Department of Education is
which courses are reviewed, students
come up with a new name, and one that
investigating complaints about the
surveyed and campuses inspected. For a
separated the words "Washington" and
school, according to Michelle Haskins,
list of agencies approved to accredit
"University" with a word of at least 10
a department spokeswoman.
schools, write: Department of
characters.
Last year, the Illinois Attorney
Education Accreditation and Eligibility
Yil Karademir, who owns the
General succeeded in shutting down an
Determination
Division,
6000,
unaccredited school, chose Washington
on-line school, Loyola State University,
Independence Ave., S.W., Washington,
International University. (Unaccredited
for violating consumer protection laws
D.C. 20202-5244; (202) 708-7417;
schools tend to favor the word
by confusing students into thinking it
www.ifap.ed.gov/scb.html/agenc.htm
"International," as well as "America,"
was Loyola University of Chicago.
The Council for Higher Education
"United" and "Pacific.")
Patricia Kelly, division chief of
Accreditation, an organization of
The St. Louis school had complained
consumer protection in the Attorney
colleges and universities, also approves
that it had received inquiries from
General's office, said that Lorie LaFata,
accrediting agencies. Write: One
prospective students and alumni who
who ran the school, created dummy
Dupont Circle, N.W., Suite 854,
were confused when they saw the other
transcripts with fictional class names,
Washington, D.C. 20036-1110; (202)
school's ads not to mention being the
codes and grades. Students would
955-6126; www.chea.org.
target of protests from human-rights
receive diplomas after paying $2,800.
ART Photo: The home pages of two
activists after a businessman linked to
"We were able to see she was not
on-line schools that offer quick degrees,
Myanmar's military dictatorship bought
offering what she promised," Ms. Kelly
left. Ira Doreen Donovan's doctorate.
20. The New York Times
08/02/98Section: Education Life Supplement; Section 4A; Page 32, Column I
Back To the Blackboard
By Mikki Shaw
with the reality of the American
research organization Public Agenda,
A recent survey suggested that
classroom, students' needs and the
concluded that education professors
education professors are out of touch
public's desires. The survey, by the
value the learning process over the right
31
answer and creativity over grammar and
well-manicured, one-family homes.
I'm worried. I spent four hours
spelling, and they consider discipline a
Until a decade ago, the school was well
tonight making up questions, group
low priority.
respected for academic achievement.
projects and character maps for my new
Not surprisingly, such conclusions
But today, its reading and math scores
students, indicating each character's
make parents growl and classroom
are among the lowest in the state. In the
role and relation to the others. I have
teachers cringe.
mid-80's, a high-profile, bitterly fought
my own project due this week for a
Those of us who work with new
redistricting effort triggered white
class at Teachers College, plus another
teachers struggle daily with the
flight. Today the school is 10 percent
rewrite for my dissertation proposal.
conflicting demands of classroom
white, 40 percent Hispanic, 45 percent
Tomorrow I pick up curriculum projects
realities and academic ideals. We want
black and 5 percent Asian and other.
from my own Teachers College
our teachers to have realistic
I returned to the classroom to see if I
students, which will have to be returned
expectations and appropriate tools, but
still responded to students - and they
in a week or so.
we also seek commitment to change and
to me, but what surprised me most was
What was I thinking?
a recognition that the traditional ways
the teachers. Some were curious about
Tuesday, Day 2
of teaching are not the only ways. In
me, others suspicious about my motives
Mr. M. had a conference day, so
our program at Columbia University,
or aggressive in their attacks on the
there was a substitute teacher in class
we encourage aspiring teachers to read
Ivory Tower. Day after day, what I
with me. Maybe in her mid-20's. she
widely and work in cooperative groups,
heard was sadness, sometimes anger,
was certified to teach Health Ed. She
and we offer alternative methods for
and often despondence when the
seemed sweet. She took attendance -
assessing their future students' progress
subject turned to the lack of money or
there were five kids who had been
besides traditional testing.
support services. Yet, what my
absent yesterday - then she sat down
Still, many of our graduates find jobs
colleagues wanted most was help in
and chewed gum for the rest of the
in schools that emphasize traditional
becoming more effective teachers, help
period. I could tell when I got boring
teaching and learning - and the
working with their students.
just by looking over at her. She would
transition can be difficult. I think of
Monday, Day I
start bobbing her head or staring out the
Ashley, for example, idealistic and
I had been up until 3 the night
window.
enthusiastic, who was placed in a
before, worrying, but class was
I handed out the character maps.
school where the teachers focused on
completely anticlimactic. The 27 10th
Now, all I needed was their attention! I
issues of control and discipline. Ashley
graders came full of noise and energy,
told the class that Mr. M. had told me
found the approach troubling. Yet when
but settled down quickly at the request
the class was great and so should be
she took over a class and tried out other
of my host teacher, Mr. M., as the kids
able to do the entire play in one period.
techniques, students responded only to
call him. He introduced me, distributed
"Come on, we can do it."
the lack of restraints, and chaos ensued.
our project for the next two weeks, "The
Nothing. No open books.
She was left feeling that there was no
Taming of the Shrew," and took a seat
"Well, O.K., if we can't read the
choice but to assert control.
in the back of the room.
whole play, maybe we can at least get
Last May, prompted by questions of
I asked why anyone would want to
an idea of what the play is about, and
pedagogy and a conviction that, after
read Shakespeare today, and we wended
then we can try and convince Mr. M.
five years at Teachers College, it was
our way into a discussion about whether
that we did read the whole play."
time to get back to kids, I accepted an
human nature - and teen-agers -
A few grins: they knew they'd been
invitation to spend two weeks teaching
have changed much in 400 years. We
set up, but it wasn't such a bad idea.
at a Yonkers high school. I had been a
talked about arranged marriage, why
So we plowed through the summary
high school English teacher for 20
older siblings always think they got a
and the character map - with small
years, and later, as a teacher of teachers,
bad break, and who has the upper hand
time-outs for explanations about
I had spent three years at the Yonkers
in the battle of the sexes.
dowries, soliloquies, asides and why the
school supervising student-teachers. My
Mid-discussion, one child asked,
Shakespearean casts were all men.
intent in returning to a high school
"What are you doing here if they don't
We got to the crucial scene in which
classroom was to teach, not to write.
be paying you?"
Petruchio admires what he claims is
But much of what I saw lends a
I told him, "I came down to see what
moonlight in the middle of the
firsthand glimpse into the chasm
the big deal is with all the dopey
afternoon, and forces Kate to acquiesce
between the theory and the practice of
Tommies you guys wear."
to the false observation. A few kids
education, a disjuncture that recurs in
Fortunately, they laughed. Perhaps I
started going off on Kate - how she
urban districts across the country.
wasn't SO bad for a geeky-looking,
was a sellout, and worse.
The high school where I taught is
middle-aged white woman.
located among practically identical
Midnight
One boy said, "Most of the women
had thought I was in trouble when I
class by asking Mr. M. if he could
be saying they want their rights, but
started by asking questions. It turned
please get me some coffee. ("Hey, Mr.
when the man says the word, they be
out "good," though, she said. I asked her
M., she think she Petruchio!") While he
bending their heads to it."
why she didn't consider getting certified
was gone, we planned our attack. Mr.
I was pleased that they were being
in one of the major subjects, where
M. returned.
talkative. I had feared silence. At the
there are more opportunities than in
"Mr. M., what are we going to read
end of the period, they asked if we were
Health Ed. No, she told me, that's
next?"
still going to fool Mr. M. Sure, I told
boring stuff and too much work.
" 'Taming of the Shrew.' I thought
them, why not?
Wednesday, Day 3
you started it yesterday."
After class, the substitute said she
The kids laughed when I started
"We finished it."
32
"You what?" He played it big. "You
and as we were taught to teach. But we
the movie.
guys don't know about the - moonlight
need to teach differently today, because
After class, Mr. M. spent the break
scene, do you?"
kids learn differently.
in the faculty room. The main topic
Amazement. laughter, all very silly.
And. with the vocabulary lesson as
there was a principal's letter to a teacher
We moved on to the reading. They
an opportunity, I decided
detailing the proper disposal method for
took turns, but some read so haltingly it
to raise a point. I'm certain
dead rodents. Having tried
would have been difficult to sustain all
that memorizing words out of
unsuccessfully to get the custodian to
period. After reading a pivotal scene
context and copying dictionary
remove the offending mice from her
and discussing it, we watched the
definitions is not very effective. Many
classroom, the teacher had finally
Elizabeth Taylor-Richard Burton
students, for example, write sentences
scooped them into a box and left it on
version. They liked the movie.
like these:
top of the garbage can, prompting the
I spent the next period in the faculty
My friend is glib.
reprimand.
room with Mr. M. When he introduced
My friend is forbearance.
Then Mr. M. had three classes in a
me as "from the university." several
My friend is finesse.
row, and I stayed to observe. Each class
teachers started talking about "reality,"
Mr. M. listened and encouraged me
was much like second period -
as if theirs is separate from mine. It's
to think of different approaches. My
resistant, even a little hostile. Mr. M.
what I'm here to see, I told them.
first thought was to trash the vocabulary
worked the room, pushing and pulling
They began to tell stories. They
altogether. If these kids need to know
and teasing the kids. But I noticed there
agreed that the central problem in this
these words because the Curriculum
were some he didn't approach or touch.
school is that students suffer few
God says so, why not just give them
Later, he told me he fears they might
consequences for breaking rules, unless
definitions and be done with it? Then
really go off.
violence is involved. This last is not a
we could spend the time focusing on
Now I know why Mr. M. has
rare occurrence. In the fall and winter,
context. I tried to design a handout that
structured the week like this, with
there were half a dozen reported
gives definitions, indicates parts of
Thursdays in the computer room.
instances of fights involving teacher
speech, and then asks students to put
Consciously or unconsciously, he's
injury.
the correct words into a coherent
saving his energy for Friday.
Another typical scenario they
paragraph - hardly the challenging
Yesterday I was critical of the
described goes like this: There's an
innovation I'd fantasized about, but
relative ineffectiveness of the
announcement that teachers should
perhaps useful.
vocabulary work. Today I was in awe
make boys remove their hats. A teacher
Friday, Day 5
that he comes back every Monday.
sends one student who refuses to do so
I missed a fight yesterday afternoon.
There is no lunch period for
to the office. He is back in five minutes
Two young women were involved,
upperclassmen. The cafeteria had been
- his hat still on. Another five
one of whom took her shirt off to fight.
the site of too many fights, so lunch was
minutes, an administrator peeks into the
Mr. M. tried to break it up, and in the
eliminated. Juniors and seniors attend
classroom and criticizes the teacher in
process was slugged by a boy. The girls
school only from 8 until 12:45 - with
front of the class for not enforcing the
were suspended for five days; the boy
no lunch and no break - and then are
hat rule! I groan.
got three.
dismissed.
Thursday, Day 4
The class was restless today, edgy. I
After his last class, as Mr. M. and I
Mr. M. has his kids in the computer
wasn't a new face anymore. Perhaps
were walking toward the lobby with a
room every Thursday working on
they figured they'd been polite for long
crush of students all around us, I
vocabulary. The kids look up 20 words,
enough. One boy turned and started
noticed a spill - red paint or
copy the definitions into their
talking to the boy behind him. I stood
something.
notebooks and then write sentences
near them as we were reading, and he
I pointed it out, saying, Should we
using them. Some teachers might use
stopped.
call the custodian? Someone spilled
the time to go "on vacation," but Mr. M.
But then two girls in the back started
paint."
circulated throughout the entire period,
up. When I moved toward their desks,
He looked at me strangely. It took a
troubleshooting computers and assisting
naturally, I heard a new conversation
minute, but then I realized that it wasn't
with vocabulary.
sprout up on the side of the room. So I
paint. It was blood. The kids didn't
He has plenty of energy and
strolled casually over.
seem to notice. They walked right
enthusiasm. It's his 30th year, and he
Pretty soon I was playing the
through, trailing blood all over the hall.
still wants to learn as well as teach. He
classroom
equivalent
of
On my way out of the building, a
wants interaction and feedback and
"Whack-a-Mole," the carnival game
boy from second period asked me,
stimulation and support - something
where little animals pop up from
"Miss, you coming back next week?"
teachers don't often get, because it is so
different holes as fast as you can whack
"Yeah," I tell him. "I am."
easy to become isolated in classrooms.
them down. Finally, Mr. M. bailed me
The Weekend
Many of us teach as we were taught,
out by again showing a key scene from
I have spent a lot of time trying to
working atmosphere - but it isn't the
evening to prepare for a 40-minute
figure out what I might have done
whole answer. I decide we need to keep
class.
differently on Friday. Why has
reminding them of the relevance of the
Monday, Day 6
discipline become the Consideration
material, and they need to have at least
I brought in a few props, including
That Dare Not Speak Its Name in our
two activities each period. Designing
one of my son's books, Where's
universities? Keeping students engaged
those kept me entertained for four or
Mommy's Truck? It shows the Mommy
and expressing concern for them goes a
five hours late Sunday evening. It is
driving a pickup to work at a
long way toward maintaining a good
taking me well over three hours each
construction site and changing her own
33
tire on the way. I knew I had my class
90.
tough; they kept calling us over and
back when I walked over to one of the
Wednesday, Day 8
asking questions. It seemed as if they
biggest guys and got him to lift the flap
Today Mr. M. and I co-taught, and
weren't listening or reading the
to show the class "Mommy's truck."
we had them hooting and hollering. We
directions. But their sentences were
I also brought in an article about
read the scene where Kate and
much improved.
Kelly Flinn, the first female B-52
Petruchio finally meet, and I asked Mr.
The one exception was Benjamin,
bomber pilot. who was accused of
M. to read aloud with me. The scene is
whose first three sentences were terrific,
adultery. We spent 10 minutes on a few
rife with double entendres, and these
clearly indicating that he knew the part
"Dear Abby" situations, like what if
kids seemed to pick up on all of them.
of speech, that he could write a
your brother wanted to be a nurse or a
Just before we started the scene, Mr.
complex sentence and that he
kindergarten teacher? And, should
M. surprised me by inviting the class to
understood the meaning of the word.
Tasha ask out the shy boy in her class
split up, girls on one side, boys on the
But the fourth sentence was "He is
who she thinks likes her?
other, and encouraging them to root for
grimy." The fifth was "She is a
In between we read and paraphrased
the character of the appropriate gender.
hypochondriac." And so on. When I
the play. Some of the boys persisted in
I was taken aback, but the kids loved it.
asked him why the difference,
thinking that I was poisoning their
Mr. M. and I were soon striding around
Benjamin, a recent transfer student,
minds with propaganda, but for the
the room:
said: "The school I come from, no
most part, they were surprisingly
Petruchio: "Myself am moved to
teacher ever read past my third
willing to examine their preconceived
WOO thee for my wife."
sentence."
notions.
Kate: "Moved? In good time: let him
Friday, the Last Day
Tuesday, Day 7
that moved you hither
I asked the kids to write a letter with
Quiz day. Mr. M. and I each made
Remove you hence!"
some advice for the new teachers I work
up our own, 10 questions each. Mr.
Tiffany and Krystal: "You go, girl!"
with. What do they need to know to be
M.'s had five on vocabulary, and five on
We then showed the Taylor-Burton
good teachers? The kids struggled,
the play, all based on memory. What
version of the same scene, and as it
unsure what right answer I was looking
year was Shakespeare born? What was
played, two boys determinedly
for.
Kate's suitor's name?
shredded loose-leaf paper into the tiny
Some wrote things like, You've got
Mine was a paragraph of fill-in
pieces of confetti that you find on the
to like kids and then quit. Others wrote
sentences, each one about Shrew, and
floor in every high school in America.
from the heart. Tyrone, whom I thought
each using one of the vocabulary words.
When the bell rang, I walked over and
I'd really made a connection with, asked
Among them: Gremio, Hortensio and
told them, "Hey, there's paper all over
to leave the room. The pass was out so I
Lucentio are eager to Kate's marriage
the floor by your desk." They both
told him he had to wait. He insisted he
so Bianca will be free to marry. (The
looked up and replied in concert, "I
had to get something from his locker,
word: expedite.)
didn't do it."
made a face and walked out. Don't grab
Mr. M. was concerned that mine
There was no way I could win this
the rope, Mik, I told myself again. I'll
might be too hard, so we gave both
one. It was a perfect example of Mr.
write him up later. To my amazement,
quizzes and told them we'd count
M.'s maxim: Don't grab the rope. Don't
he was back in a minute - with a pen
whichever grade was higher.
take the bait, Mikki. Don't argue.
to write his letter.
The results were interesting, but not
I wanted to. Instead, I looked down
I walked around, and shook hands
very definitive. The average grade on
and said, "Well, let's pick it up." I didn't
with each student and wished them
mine was 69; on Mr. M.'s, 62. The kids
wait to see their reaction; I just started
good luck. This seemed to take them by
who did the worst on my quiz were four
picking up the confetti. After a moment,
surprise.
girls who usually get grades in the 80's.
first one boy, then the other helped. It
Several girls hugged me; a few
All four study hard, memorize
took 10 seconds. I stretched out my
asked if I would come back and visit.
definitions and facts, and were probably
hand for the paper, but one of them
But when the bell rang, they
thrown by the change in format.
smiled and rolled his eyes at me, and
zipped out the door without a
The kids who did the best on my
said, "No, I'll do it, Mom."
backward glance. I left the building
quiz were students who usually do
Thursday, Day 9
feeling both reluctant and relieved,
poorly. They may not study, but they're
Vocabulary in the computer room. I
remembering what Mr. M. had told me
bright. When the test depended on
gave out a sheet with words and
when I asked how he kept going after
memorizing facts and definitions, they
definitions, parts of speech and a
30 years.
failed; but when they could use context
sentence for each as an example.
"The kids," he said. "I'm there for the
clues or information from discussion to
Students had to say whether the word
kids."
figure out the answer, they did well.
was used correctly and then write a new
Angel, who rarely comes to class, got a
sentence using it. The period was
21. The New York Times
08/02/98Section: Education Life Supplement; Section 4A; Page 7, Column 1
Sonny, We Didn't Have Calculators Back Then (And I
Had to Walk)
34
By Jame Barron
The Oughtred Society was formed in
two-foot slide rule for the final and
A generation ago, every engineering
1993 to help collectors and dealers
make a point of sitting in the front row.
student, prospective physicist and
swap information. The society, which is
People would stare at it and wonder
budding chemist carried a slide rule.
based in Emeryville, Calif., has 300
what it was."
Made of ivory, wood or (later) plastic, a
members and is named for William
Then he became a teaching assistant.
slide rule looked like a fancy ruler but
Oughtred, who invented the slide rule
"I weep for the students I see now," he
used logarithms to perform
in the 17th century.
said. "They can't do simple
mathematical functions, from simple
Mr. Smith, the son of a physics
multiplication or addition, and the first
multiplication to trigonometry.
professor at the University of Florida,
reaction when you give them a problem
Hand-held calculators came along in
studied at the Georgia Institute of
is to reach for the calculator. They have
the 1970's, and slide rules disappeared
Technology and other hard-core
no concept of order of magnitude or
from backpacks and briefcases. So how
engineering institutions. He set up one
estimation."
many companies still make slide rules?
of the first World Wide Web sites about
He encourages his students not to
"Pretty much no one," said Gordon
slide rules, using computer technology
use calculators.
P. Smith, a graduate student at the
to honor an anachronism while he still
The slide rule, he said, is an even
University of Mississippi who has a
used the anachronism in class.
harder sell. So far, no converts. JAMES
collection of 50. The best-known maker
"I was in that gray area where
BARRON
of slide rules in this country was the
students no longer used slide rules but
ART Photo: Gordon P. Smith shows
Keuffel & Esser Company. whose
calculators weren't allowed for tests, so
off part of his treasured collection
slide-rule factory in Hoboken, N.J., was
I managed to keep some math skills,"
(Rollin Riggs for The New York
converted to apartments in the 1980's.
Mr. Smith, 27, said. "I'd show up with a
Times)
22. The New York Times
08/02/98Section: Education Life Supplement; Section 4A; Page 7, Column 1
Barbarians at the Schoolhouse Door
By David W. Chen
policy aimed at adults.
administrators to micromanage the
One father barged into the principal's
The policy stipulates that, in
manners and morals of their staff,
office, screamed obscenities and
accordance with a rarely invoked state
pupils and parents?" Tibor Machan,
demanded a copy of his son's summer
law, anyone who yells, uses profanity or
who teaches business at Chapman
school schedule. Another argued with
behaves in a way that threatens the
University in Orange, Calif., wrote in
the driver when his daughter's school
safety of students may be asked to leave
The Orange County Register. "It fosters
bus arrived 20 minutes late, then lay
school property.
paternalism carte blanche."
down in front of the vehicle in protest.
"This is not meant to chill people
Since the policy went into effect in
These were the most egregious
from criticizing us," said James A.
March, no one has been asked to leave,
examples of the boorish behavior that
Fleming, the district's Superintendent.
Dr. Fleming said. A few parents,
prompted the Capistrano Unified
"What we're saying is, someone's got to
however, have been warned: be civil.
District in Orange County, Calif., to do
make a point to stop the incivility."
DAVID W. CHEN
something that apparently no other
But the policy has its critics.
district has tried before: pass a civility
"What example does it set for school
23. The New York Times
08/02/98Section: Education Life Supplement; Section 4A; Page 7, Column 1
Alumni Editors Call for Freedom
By Macarena Hernandez
Advancement and Support of
standards to member institutions. The
It's an age-old debate: what is the role
Education, an organization of alumni
statement grew out of discussions on
of the alumni magazine?
association administrators, seeking "the
the Internet between several editors
Traditionally, administrators have
protection of academic freedom
about disagreements they had had with
seen them as fund-raising tools (some
generally accepted in higher education"
administrators over editorial content.
operate right in public relations or
and the right to present a balanced
Tom Bleezarde, editor of the
development offices).
portrait of their universities - "good
Williams College Alumni Review and
But editors have long had different
and bad news, popular and unpopular
head of the drafting committee, said it
ideas. Last month, a group of 250
views."
strived to balance traditional freedoms
editors submitted a statement of
A council subcommittee is
of expression with concern for the
standards to the Council for the
discussing whether to recommend the
institution.
35
24. The New York Times
08/02/98Section: Education Life Supplement; Section 4A; Page 7, Column I
Military Fires a Warning Shot at Law Schools
By David W. Chen
military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy
So far, no law school has been
After getting word that several law
toward gay soldiers, most of the 40 law
declared ineligible for aid, said Colonel
schools were barring its recruiters from
schools are either changing their
Begines, though detente has not been
campus, the Department of Defense
policies on recruitment or reinterpreting
reached with everyone. He would not
decided to take a closer look, and over
them (say, redefining what constitutes
identify any schools.
the last few months it has notified 40
"on campus"), said Lieut. Col. Tom
But New York University Law
law schools that their policies most
Begines, a Defense Department
School is apparently one of the
likely violate Federal law.
spokesman.
holdouts. Irene Dorzback, an assistant
The warning is the latest broadside
The College of Law at Willamette
dean, said the school saw no reason to
against campuses that ban employers
University in Salem, Ore. - worried
change.
who discriminate on the basis of sexual
that it might lose as much as $100,000
"We're not putting a monetary value
orientation. The Defense Authorization
- is one of the schools that will allow
on individuals' civil rights," Ms.
Act for 1995 cuts off Defense
military recruiters on campus for the
Dorzback said, adding that the school
Department grants and contracts to
first time. "We decided to make an
had not even calculated how much
educational institutions that do not give
exception under the theory of comply
money it might lose.
the military access to students.
now, grieve later," said Dean Robert M.
Now, after soul-searching over the
Ackerman of the law school.
25. The New York Times
08/02/98Section: Education Life Supplement: Section 4A; Page 7, Column 1
Where the Girls Are: Where Boys Aren't
By Andrew Jacobs
elementary and secondary schools rose
said Meg Milne Moulton, executive
In recent years, an insistent group of
7 percent, according to the National
director of the coalition, which
educators has been making the case for
Center for Education Statistics.
represents 88 schools with 37,000
all-girls schools. Now it seems that
The increase is a sharp turnabout
students nationwide. The coalition
parents are jumping on the bandwagon.
from the previous three decades, when
survey, which compared 80 of its
From 1991 to 1997, enrollment at girls'
single-sex schools lost favor to
member schools, found that enrollment
schools has increased 15.4 percent,
co-educational institutions.
had risen to 33,802 in 1997, from
according to a study by the National
"It shows the growing realization
29,282 in 1991.
Coalition of Girls' Schools. During the
that girls do better when they're not
same period, the total population of
competing with boys in the classroom,"
Studies have demonstrated that in
David Sadker, a professor of
"We should be fixing coed schools,"
co-educational settings boys get more
education at American University, has
he said, "because the girls that get left
attention than girls and so perform
analyzed patterns of instructional
behind are the ones who will lose out."
better academically, but critics contend
favoritism in his book "Failing With
ANDREW JACOBS
that segregation inhibits social
Fairness," but he does not necessarily
development and is not particularly
support the creation of more single-sex
healthy for society, either.
academies.
26. The New York Times
08/02/98Section: Education Life Supplement; Section 4A; Page 24, Column 3
Forging a Worldview: From Crow's Nest to Ivory Tower
By Linda Lee
"Everybody goes straight to college
(enrollment: 23,000). He began to get
Four years ago, Danny Siegle
from the School of Science and Math,"
cold feet.
graduated from the North Carolina
he said. "It's assumed you go."
"I thought I'd fall through the cracks
School of Science and Mathematics, a
Mr. Siegle, one of five children,
there," he said. "I was afraid I would get
public boarding school in Durham
wanted to attend a small private college,
lost. Meanwhile, I didn't think I knew
known for its tough admissions
but he couldn't afford it. Instead, he
anything. I knew science and math, but
standards, rigorous course work and
found himself headed for the University
I didn't know what made countries
personal attention to students.
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
different."
36
So he decided to defer enrollment
hours a week. "So I learned a lot about
of the U.S. drove me back to school."
for a year and see the world.
the real world there," he said. He saved
Today, at 22, Mr. Siegle has
There were long talks in the living
$10,000, got off the boat in Japan and
completed three years as a biology
room with his family. Friends balked.
wandered through China and Tibet,
major at Chapel Hill. He has spent
"People said, 'Oh, you'll never go to
Pakistan, Jordan, Israel, Greece,
seven months studying in Denmark and
college," he said.
Albania ("one of my faves"), Serbia and
four more teaching English in Turkey.
His mother, Kathleen, accepted his
Hungary. He then traveled through
When he graduates next spring, he
unconventional idea. "I think there's this
Western Europe and flew home from
wants to go back to work on a fishing
desire to be in a path of your own," she
London in August 1995. "I entered
boat, this time as an observer for the
said, "and some people know that
school just like I told everyone I
National Marine Fisheries Service.
sooner, and take these brave steps."
would," he said, adding that the trip
"We got paid about the same," he
After graduation, Mr. Siegle first
taught him how to deal with
said of the observer on his last
spent five weeks delivering pizza to buy
bureaucracies, a skill he believed he
expedition. "But I was working 14
a plane ticket to Scattle, where he got a
needed on a large campus, and
hours a day and he was sitting in a
job as a cook on a fishing boat. "They
something more.
chair." LINDA LEE
didn't ask me if I knew how to cook," he
"I traveled because I wanted to learn,
ART Photo: (Jennifer Warburg for
said. "They asked if I liked to cook. I
and universities didn't offer what I
The New York Times)
knew how to boil water."
wanted to experience," he said. "The
The job lasted four months, 100
same desire to learn that drove me out
27. The New York Times
08/02/98Section: Education Life Supplement; Section 4A; Page 25, Column 3
'So, Like, What Do I Do Now?' Some of the Alternatives
By Linda Lee
program in Cambridge, Mass. "If you
had a young man come in who had a
Admissions officers agree that no one
don't know where you're going," he
1.9 average in high school," said John
should go to college until he or she can
says, "any road will take you there."
Chopka, dean of admissions at Malone
do so with enthusiasm and optimism.
Here are six options:
College in Canton, Ohio. "He'd spent
But parents often divide along
Military Service
the last three years in the Marines. We
ideological lines (carrot VS. stick) about
An old remedy for young men at
did admit him, conditionally. I really
what a child should do instead:
loose ends, the military now finds that
think this young man is going to make
mothers tend toward an expansion of
20 percent of recruits are women.
it."
horizons like internships and seminars,
Advantages: The G.I. Bill offers up
Downside: Discipline may come as a
while fathers often want their child to
to $15,300 (paid out at $400 a month)
shock; pay is low ($856.80 a month for
learn some harsh lessons about work
for college after completion of service
basic training), and a two- to six-year
and responsibility.
and between 75 percent and 95 percent
commitment is required.
Perhaps the best advice comes from
tuition assistance up to a certain amount
Postgraduate Year
Cornelius Bull, founder of the Center
while still serving. The experience can
for Interim Programs, a counseling
put some young people on track. "I just
Boarding schools like Phillips Exeter
Internships
admissions at Mount Holyoke College
Academy in Exeter, N.H., offer
A number of companies help match
in Massachusetts. "They come back
programs that give students who have
students with suitable programs and can
with an unbelievable ability to make
just graduated from high school a
provide a leg up in the application
connections."
chance to take classes they missed or
process. For $1,500, Mr. Bull (below)
Downside: Some children are not
retake ones they did poorly in; to play
and his Center for Interim Programs
ready for a solo adventure.
more sports, or maybe to mature a little
offers two years of counseling and a list
Residential Internship Programs
more.
of adventure internships, like farming in
Dynamy, in Worcester, Mass.,
Advantages: Students can bring up
New Zealand or helping at an
provides a structured living
their grade point average and take
orphanage in India. Students usually
environment, counseling and three
advanced courses that could get them
receive room and board but pay
unpaid internships. The yearlong
into a better college. "A postgraduate
transportation costs. Time Out
program, for applicants ages 17 to 22,
year is very much like what their
Associates in Milton, Mass., charges
begins with three weeks of canoeing
freshman year will be like, but very
$150 an hour for counseling on
and rock climbing through Outward
structured," said Karyl Clemens, dean
internships and experimental education
Bound.
of admissions at Hartwick College in
programs.
Advantages: Provides guidance,
Oneonta, N.Y. "It helps them gain
Advantages: Going to remote
supervision and the chance to work in a
confidence and helps them sharpen
locations teaches self-reliance and
variety of challenging fields that are
skills. And it may motivate them."
provides immersion in other cultures.
traditionally hard to break into, like
Downside: Cost can reach $25,000,
"Those students who travel and see the
advertising or television. "Some kids
about the same as a year of private
world learn a lot about themselves,"
can pack a suitcase and take off, said
college.
said Diane Anci, associate director of
David Rynick, executive director of
37
Dynamy. "Others need the support."
end of September, he is to help manage
of training - say, in bartending or
Downside: An expensive solution:
computers in a Senegalese village as
truck driving - will greatly increase
the fee is $10,250 and housing $3,600.
part of a nonprofit program connected
income.
Good Works
to the Ecopartners Project at Cornell
Advantages: Teen-agers have a
Nonprofit groups - religious,
University. He is to get room and board
chance to grow up and support
cultural, humanitarian - can usually
but must pay his own plane fare. "My
themselves.
make use of a willing worker.
friends said, 'Go to college first, and
Downside: A temporary gig could
Government programs like Americorps
then do it,' he recalled. "But if I went
become a lifelong career. But, as Larry
and private national service
to college, I'd never be able to do this
Griffith, the director of admissions at
organizations like Americare, based in
again."
the University of Delaware, says,
New Canaan, Conn., also welcome
Downside: Low or no wages, and
"There's a snobbery in academia, but
help.
some youths need more supervision.
there are perfectly legitimate hair salon
Advantages: Looks good on a
A Job
schools. Some people have a different
college application. is beneficial to
Many jobs will pay handsomely for
path."
LINDA LEE
society, expands horizons. Joshua
something a teen-ager already knows,
ART
Photos: (Monkmeyer; Kirsten
Wray, 19, of Durham, N.C., said he was
from fooling around on a computer or
Elstner; Evan Richman; Laura
"just getting by" in high school. At the
car to mowing the lawn. And a little bit
Pedrick)
28. The New York Times
08/02/98Section: Education Life Supplement; Section 4A; Page 42, Column 5
After High School, A Call to arms
By Kristina Shevory
was yearning for an eventful break after
grenades, move under enemy fire, jam
WHEN I TOLD MY father I was
four years of intense study, and I loved
enemy communcations. I can march to
looking for something interesting to do
language. The military could send me to
John Philip Sousa.
the summer after high school
the Defense Language Institute in
More important, during two years of
graduation, I was not quite prepared for
California. I could learn a foreign
active duty, the Army instilled in me a
his suggestion: the Army.
language. 1 could learn to surf.
high sense of self worth and discipline,
I thought he was joking. What young
The local recruiter assured me of the
and a desire for an education. In fact, I
woman with an upper-middle-class
superb wave conditions around the
often find little in common with my
background, graduating from one of the
institute. And in the summer of 1993,
fellow students, who are largely
best high schools in Texas, would even
fresh from graduation, I left for basic
ambivalent about their own direction in
consider the military? I had a bright
training in Missouri.
life. I have a clear vision of my future
future awaiting me at the University of
The military intelligence unit in
as a Russian specialist. In August, I
Chicago that fall. Obviously my father
Austin I was assigned to was up to
leave for St. Petersburg, where I will
doubted my intellect.
quota in every language but Russian. So
study Russian for another year.
But being an astute man, he knew
it was Russian I learned. Now I also
exactly why the Army might draw me: I
know how to fire a machine gun, throw
I remember, at boot camp, how
minute. I have always been terrified of
everyone else's time.
unsure I was about some of the more
heights, and the thought of throwing
My father was not crazy at all. And I
difficult tasks I was challenged to
myself off that wall positively filled me
can surf. KRISTINA SHEVORY
undertake - for instance, rappelling
with terror. Somehow, I managed to
down a 30-foot wall in less than a
muster up the courage, and I beat
TRADE
29. Education Week
August 4, 1998
It's About Teaching And Learning -Not Testing
By Gerald N. Tirozzi
and educators a slightly different
The declaration "all children can
In decades past, television and radio
question: "It's 9 a.m. Do you know how
learn" is emblazoned on the walls of
stations ran this public service
your children are doing in school?"
corridors and classrooms in most of our
announcement: "It's 10 o'clock. Do you
As important as it is to know where
schools. Yet while a critical and
know where your children are?" As we
our children are after school, we must
optimistic statement, the phrase is
approach the new millennium, we
also know how they are doing in
incomplete. It begs the central question:
should revisit this PSA, asking parents
school.
What is it that we expect all children to
38
learn? For answers to that, states and
U.S. Department of Education, 1997).
Rigorous
voluntary
national
school districts have to clearly articulate
In addition, significant disparity exists
assessments in reading at the 4th grade
challenging content and performance
in many states' assessments of student
level and math at the 8th grade level
standards for all students, especially in
performance in reading and math when
will provide a national and international
reading and mathematics. Educators
compared with results from the
barometer against which teachers,
must decide once and for all what
National Assessment of Educational
administrators, parents, and students
students should know at specific grade
Progress of a random sample of the
can assess learning at critical junctions
levels and clearly state how well they
same students. For instance, Louisiana
on the pathway to academic success.
should know it. And to ensure that such
reports that 80 percent of its students
Voluntary national tests in reading
challenging expectations are being met,
meet state standards in 8th grade
and math are being debated in
states will have to implement rigorous
mathematics. Yet, NAEP reports that
Congress, promoting a national
assessment systems aligned with their
only 7 percent of Louisiana 8th graders
discourse on the issue. The reality is
standards.
meet the basic mathematics level.
that much of the debate and dialogue is
Yes, we know that all children can
Wisconsin reports that 85 percent of its
missing the point. The issue is not
learn. We know, too, that not all
4th graders meet the state standards in
testing, states' rights, federal intrusion,
children are learning to the same high
reading. According to NAEP reports,
or disadvantaged communities. The real
standards. That is why the voluntary
however, only 35 percent of 4th graders
issue is teaching and learning.
national tests recommended by
in Wisconsin meet the basic reading
The voluntary national tests will
President Clinton and U.S. Secretary
standards.
support learning in the classroom. They
of Education Richard W. Riley will be
Research tells us that if a student is
will not take valuable time away from
critical to helping determine whether or
unable to read independently and with
instruction, as critics purport. Each test
not children are learning reading and
comprehension by 4th grade, he likely
will take one and a half hours to
math as well as their peers across the
will fall further behind as he progresses
administer, representing approximately
nation and around the globe.
through middle and senior high school.
one-tenth of I percent of the total
Contrary to popular belief, a
As a result, this student's learning
school year. Imagine a doctor deciding
student's report card or
potential in all other courses is seriously
not to test a child for a life-threatening
standardized-test scores may not
impaired. A child who does not master
disease -one for which there is a cure
accurately represent how he or she is
the foundations of algebra by grade 8 is
if diagnosed early on -because the test
doing in school. A recent study of
less likely to take challenging
would take one and a half hours to
students in low- vs. high-poverty
coursework such as geometry,
administer. If one and a half hours of
schools reinforces this point. It shows
trigonometry, and calculus in high
instructional time is really the issue,
that students in low-poverty schools
school; thus, this child will be less
then school officials must re-examine
who receive C's in math score higher on
likely to be prepared for more advanced
how each and every 90-minute period
math assessments than students in
math and science courses, college-level
of the school year is being utilized.
high-poverty schools who receive A's in
work, and a demanding technological
math ("Prospects: Student Outcomes,"
society.
We also have clear and critical new
performing compared with rigorous
how well they know it, states will never
evidence that the voluntary national
national standards.
really understand how high they have
tests will not merely repeat tests that
Critics of the voluntary national tests
"raised the bar" for student
states are currently administering.
also claim that public education is the
achievement. This challenge can be met
Congress asked the National Academy
responsibility of the states, not the
by utilizing NAEP standards, which the
of Sciences, in consultation with the
federal government, and that it is states'
president is recommending as the
National Governors' Association, the
rightful role to develop standards and
national barometer.
National Conference of State
assessments to support student learning.
AEP has been used for 28 years to
Legislatures, and the National
I wholeheartedly agree. The seminal
assess a random, stratified population of
Assessment Governing Board to study
question that states must address is how
America's students on achievement in
whether tests that already have been
they define "challenging" and
reading and math. It is recognized and
developed by commercial publishers
"rigorous." These two words should not
accepted by educators, researchers, and
and states may be used to measure
have a variety of definitions. Would it
evaluation experts as a rigorous, valid,
individual student performance against
not make sense to have a national and
and reliable assessment of student
NAEP standards, and whether existing
international benchmark against which
progress. The voluntary national tests
tests can be compared against each
50 states -individually and
will be developed in accordance with
other. The results are in. The national
collectively -can assess the extent to
the content and performance standards
academy found that it is not possible to
which students meet challenging
embedded in the NAEP 4th grade
compare and link commercial and state
learning outcomes? After all, reading is
reading and 8th grade math
achievement tests, nor is it feasible to
reading and math is math, regardless of
assessments. Therefore, states, districts,
report individual scores from those tests
where it is being taught. The voluntary
schools, teachers, parents, and students
based on the NAEP scale. The
national tests are tools that districts and
will be able to assess student progress
administration and Congress agreed last
states should be given the opportunity
against other 4th graders nationally in
fall to have these results inform
to use to measure whether their students
reading, and 8th graders nationally and
congressional action on national testing.
are meeting challenging standards.
internationally in mathematics. Also,
These findings clearly demonstrate that
Unless there is a rigorous benchmark
states can objectively and realistically
the voluntary national tests are needed
against which states can accurately
determine how high their "achievement
to show how well students are
gauge what their students know and
bars" measure up to world-class
39
standards.
process of aligning their assessments to
commander cogently warns the crew of
The voluntary national tests are not
their standards. The national tests will
a damaged space capsule, "You have
an attempt at federal intrusion into the
serve to supplement such efforts and
one hour to build a filter, and failure is
schools, as critics charge. First and
validate results of student achievement.
not an option."
foremost, voluntary means voluntary.
In effect, states and districts can use the
Failure is not an option for
States and local districts will determine
voluntary testing initiative to take an
America's schools. But, as a nation, we
whether or not they participate. And the
additional and more comprehensive
have a dilemma. Simultaneously and to
federal government will not be involved
snapshot of student progress through
varying degrees, all 50 states and a
in the development and administration
both a national and international lens.
majority of our 15,000 school districts
of the tests. These tasks will be
Critics of the voluntary national tests
are engaged in defining academic
determined by the National Assessment
say it is unfair to expect students from
success and failure. In effect, the
Governing Board, a group of 26
lower socioeconomic school districts to
assessment of student progress is in the
independent individuals -not federal
do well on a rigorous test until they
eyes of a multitude of beholders; one
employees -that also oversees NAEP.
have all of the necessary material and
state or district's idea of success may be
Furthermore, the federal government
personnel resources. While I respect
another state or district's lament over
will not collect information on
and understand this, as a former
failure.
individual students.
educator with more than 37 years of
Until there is a national resolve to
Within 45 days of test
experience in education at all levels, I
articulate a vision of what students must
administration, educators and parents
believe we do a greater disservice to
know and be able to do in the core
will receive detailed information about
students in these communities by
academic subjects of reading and math,
students' performance on the tests,
holding them accountable to a lower set
parents, teachers, students, school
including an item-by-item analysis that
of standards while they wait for the
boards, and communities will only have
will
further
enhance
the
resources to arrive. With this
access to a state and local interpretation
teaching-learning process.
waiting-period mentality, many districts
of student progress. Often, this limited
A new form of the test will be
and schools try to explain away poor
view of reality hinders the potential to
developed by the test contractor each
students' performance. Securing the best
improve the teaching-learning process.
year. NAEP will place the "old test" on
resources for classrooms is important,
Without question, there are examples
the Internet within 45 days of
but even more important are high
throughout the nation's schools of
administration. So students, parents,
expectations and a commitment to
high-quality
assessment
and
teachers,
principals,
and
excellence for all. The ultimate irony in
challenging academic standards. But if
superintendents can review the test's
this continuing discourse is that, even if
we are committed to academic success
individual questions and answers. The
suddenly the resources became
for all students, we cannot be content
availability of an item analysis of this
available, the critical issue would
with the celebration of victory gardens
type can be a useful tool for states,
remain: resources to learn what?
when what is truly needed is a
districts, schools, and classrooms to
commitment to amber waves of grain.
collectively and individually assess
The new millennium will require a
Voluntary national tests represent tools
instructional strengths and address
highly educated citizenry and
that can help us reap the harvest of
learning weaknesses. In turn, this
workforce. As a nation, we cannot
equity and excellence in our schools.
becomes an even more powerful tool
afford to leave even one student behind.
Gerald N. Tirozzi is the assistant
for teachers, students, and parents in
The urgency of this national imperative
secretary for elementary and secondary
determining student progress.
is captured in a closing scene of the
education for the U.S. Department of
Many states and districts are in the
movie "Apollo 13," when the flight
Education in Washington.
30. Education Week
August 4, 1998
What's Wrong With Bilingual Education? Repair It,
Don't Replace It
By Jerry Jesness
(Flemish, English, and German) like
understand their dialect.
If bilingual education has been a
other Netherlanders. Citizens of
The political right has blamed the
failure in the United States, it is not
Luxembourg are educated in their
bilingual education establishment for
because of its bilingual nature. A
native language, plus French and
poor academic performance by
number of foreign countries have done
German. Lebanese schools prepare
Hispanic students. The political left has
well with bilingual or multilingual
many students to speak, read, write, and
blamed prejudice and poverty. While
education. The Friesians of Holland
do business in both Arabic and French.
there may be some truth in both
receive their elementary education in
Even the supposedly homogeneous
allegations, there are other important
both Friesian and Flemish. That simply
Japanese have a form of bilingual
factors that have not been adequately
means that by the end of high school
education in which dialect-speaking
addressed. Part of the problem both
they will be expected to have mastered
Japanese children receive their earliest
with bilingual education and
four languages instead of three
years of education from teachers who
English-as-a-second-language
40
instruction in the United States lies in
Hispanic surnames may find themselves
necessarily been more successful than
our unwillingness to treat English for
with the LEP label. I have taught a
bilingual education. There have been
nonspeakers as an academic subject.
number of students who were suddenly
pockets of success for each method, but
Although
truly
found to be
none stands head and shoulders above
limited-English-proficient, or LEP,
limited-English-proficient after failing
the others. It is unfortunate that so
students are children in need of
a semester or creating a major
many educators and politicians glorify
instruction in the English language,
disruption in a regular education class.
one approach while demonizing the
schools often treat them as members of
Schools have benefited by artificially
others. In reality, all three are valid and
a social caste, a group of helpless
inflating their numbers of
can work if, and only if, they are well
individuals in need of a warm, fuzzy
limited-English-proficient students.
implemented.
environment created by caring but
Low test scores can be explained away
Immersion. the solution being touted
undemanding teachers. The polyglot
by pointing to a high number of LEP
by conservative educators, will not
Dutch see Friesian children as students
students, so applying the LEP label to
solve all of the problems of LEP
who need early instruction in two
low-performing students, even those
students. The American public schools
languages. In addition, their polyglot
who are English dominant, can make a
of
years
past,
when
school administrators and policymakers
school appear statistically better than it
non-English-speaking children sank or
understand the process of
really is. In some places, LEP students
swam, yielded mixed results. Although
second-language learning. Monolingual
can even be exempted from
some immersed students did quite well,
American educators, however, are likely
standardized testing. There are
others, unable to speak English and
to see immigrant children merely as a
supposedly safeguards to prevent
forbidden to speak anything else, went
disadvantaged group that must be held
students from being mislabeled as
mute daily from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
to a lesser standard.
limited-English-proficient,
but,
Teachers would "modify" for these
Placement in bilingual or ESL
unfortunately, these safeguards are
students by allowing them to mindlessly
classes is not always strictly according
weakly enforced and many students are
copy phrases from textbook to
to language ability. In some schools on
not appropriately placed. Because of
worksheet or to review for tests with
the U.S.-Mexican border, bilingualism
this abuse of the system, bilingual
"study sheets" that were in reality
is the norm. Bilingual students are not,
classes sometimes become holding pens
copies of upcoming tests with the
however,
necessarily
for poorly performing students.
answers filled in. They eventually
limited-English-proficient. Many are
absorbed enough English to
English dominant, and others are fully
American schools aren't particularly
communicate, but missed out on
proficient in both languages. In some
good places to learn languages. Few
academics. Thanks to grade adjustment
such schools, bright, well-behaved
American students of foreign languages
and social promotion, such students
bilingual students get placed in regular
(other than English) actually master
managed to get through school
education, while their slower or more
them, at least not in school. Immigrant
conversant in English but barely literate
troublesome peers find their ways into
children tend to pick up English
in any language. It was the failings of
bilingual classes. Farther from the
eventually, but not at a speed that
immersion education that gave rise to
border,
even
monolingual
would impress European educators.
bilingual education.
English-speaking students with
ESL and immersion programs have not
Immersion works well for some
speakers surround the LEP child, but
ou-can-swim. Bilingual education at its
students, and needs to be at least a
immersion of very young students can
worst allows students only very limited
large part of the program for all.
create a problem with reading. Children
contact with spoken English. I once had
Older students with a grasp of basic
cannot read beyond their vocabularies,
a beginning ESL class made up of
English and the willingness to pore
so those who are taught to read a
recent immigrants mixed with students
over their homework with dictionaries
language that they do not speak will not
from a bilingual program like the one
and grammar books benefit from
progress well.
described above. The bilingual students
such an approach, especially if they
If there is true immersion, the
had been in American schools from two
have access to someone who can
trade-off, more oral English but less
to four years, but none had more than a
explain and clarify difficult English
reading, may be reasonable as long as
rudimentary command of English. By
concepts. The greater the ratio of
the schools understand the situation and
Christmas, some of the recent
native speakers to nonspeakers, the
allow for more intensive reading
immigrants were outperforming the
more
appropriate immersion
instruction when the student is ready.
ex-bilingual education students in both
becomes. One teacher cannot truly
Unfortunately, this is often not the case,
oral English and academics. Obviously,
immerse 30 students. When a tiny
and students whose reading has been
these students had been cheated out of
handful of nonspeakers is spread
delayed because of language problems
both contact with and instruction in
throughout a sea of English speakers,
may end up being labeled slow learners
English. A good bilingual teacher
every activity becomes an English
or learning-disabled. A major advantage
realizes that a student needs thousands
lesson. However, in communities in
of bilingual education is that it permits
of hours of contact with a second
which most people speak the child's
students to learn to read at a
language in order to become fluent.
native language, opportunities to
developmentally appropriate age. These
Bilingual programs that do not
practice English in true one-on-one
early literacy skills will transfer over to
recognize this deserve to be eliminated.
conversations are few.
English.
Younger students respond to
Worse than sink-or-swim, however,
It is never a good idea for educators
immersion better than older ones,
is
to stand on dogma. Bilingual education
especially if a large number of native
stay-out-of-the-water-until-you-know-y
and immersion need not be mutually
41
exclusive. If an immersion approach is
requiring the teachers to respond in
immersion as well as opportunities to
to be used, schools could still provide
English. One daily period of
interact with native speakers. Both
students with access to out-of-class
native-language reading instruction
bilingual and immersion programs
tutors who could give explanations in
could be offered to 1st and 2nd graders
should be held to accountability
the students' native language, or we
even if the rest of the day is spent in
standards. Bilingual education needs to
could imitate the Japanese and allow
total English immersion.
be repaired, but not necessarily
beginning students to speak to their
Bilingual programs would do well to
replaced. Let us not replace the status
teachers in their native languages while
provide long periods of total English
quo with less effective programs.
31. Education Week
August 4, 1998
What's Wrong With Bilingual Education? Is It
'Lingual,' or Is It 'Education'?
By Raul Yzaguirre
students with limited proficiency in
Texas at Austin, who did a
If someone had only read news
English. These children should be
meta-analysis of all the research done
coverage of the Ron Unz initiative that
taught how to read in their native
on bilingual education. Mr. Greene is
passed resoundingly on June 2 of this
language while acquiring proficiency in
not an educator and therefore has
year (the so-called "English for the
spoken English, and then subsequently
neither a predetermined agenda nor any
Children" California ballot proposition
taught to extend their skills to reading
claims to expertise on the subject. He is,
which all but mandates the end of
in English."
however, an expert in the field of
bilingual education). one would think
Another recently released NRC
ensuring statistical and methodological
that bilingual education was an
study, "Educating Language-Minority
validity in research. Using rigorous
educationally unsound concept doomed
Children," conducted in conjunction
standards, Mr. Greene found that the
to failure. Yet just in the last few
with the National Institute of Medicine,
research evidence was overwhelmingly
months, three well-regarded reports
found:
in favor of bilingual education as the
were released that give a resounding
"Bilingualism, far from impeding the
best
way
to
educate
educationally based endorsement of
child's overall cognitive or linguistic
limited-English-proficient, or LEP,
bilingual education.
development, leads to positive growth
children.
The first was "Preventing Reading
in these areas. Programs whose goals
These three reports, taken together,
Difficulties in Young Children" by the
are to promote bilingualism should do
should end any question about the
National Research Council, a respected
so without fear of negative
effectiveness and worth of bilingual
organization with unassailable research
consequences.
English-language
education, both as an educational
standards that is not given to unfounded
learners who develop their
strategy and as the best way to make
pronouncements. In the section on
native-language proficiency do not
sure that proficiency in English is
literacy, the NRC's carefully worded
compromise their acquisition of
achieved. But anybody who believes
finding on bilingual education states:
English."
that this will end the debate is either
"Schools have the responsibility to
Even more dramatic was the report
uninformed, naive, or both.
accommodate the linguistic needs of
from Jay P. Greene of the University of
Although I have been an observer of
problem, language as a right, and
English was neither positive nor benign.
and a participant in this debate for
language as a resource and/or a reality.
It was a "problem" to be washed away,
years, it took me a long time to
For many years, educators saw language
and led to a process which obliterated
understand why there is so much
-or rather any language other than
that other language because it
passion and so little rational discussion
English as the primary or only language
represented a threat to the nation, or at
on this issue. What I realized is that
spoken by children attending school
least, to those who did not understand
while I and other proponents of
-as a problem. I use the term
that language. And if the child failed to
bilingual education were talking about
"problem" rather than challenge
keep up with his or her peers, so be it;
education, others were really talking
deliberately. It was not simply a
there were always factory and field jobs
about language policy.
question of the practicality of adding
that did not require literacy but only the
And while education philosophy is
English to whatever language the child
ability to understand the verbal
hardly emotion-free, language policy
brought to the class to assure a common
commands of their bosses. At a time
and practice affects us in a very
means of communication. Rather, it was
when universal literacy was only a
personal way. It gets at the core of the
a question of instilling in immigrant
dream even for native-born Americans
kind of society we want or are likely to
children, so far as it can be done, the
and when there were a plentiful number
have. And since the debate on bilingual
objective of "absolute forgetfulness of
of union factory jobs that allowed a
education should now be over, let us
all obligations, or connections with
hard-working person with drive and
then have a discussion on language.
other countries because of descent or
determination the opportunity to work,
birth," as the superintendent of schools
buy a home, and send his and her kids
The debate over language has at least
in New York City noted in 1918.
to college, this might have made some
three aspects to it: language as a
Therefore, any language other than
sense. It was the process by which
42
millions of what we now call "white
leaders
for
embracing
this
and even Japanese-Americans from our
ethnics" assimilated into this society,
"philosophy." Mr. Rodriguez once went
own internment camps served our
and the process became a source of
so far as to argue that it is great for
country honorably and gallantly and
pride to them.
non-Latinos to learn and speak Spanish
were an asset in helping American
For others, particularly Native
but not Hispanics.
forces understand the Axis powers.
Americans and Hispanics whose roots
It is precisely folks who equate
Navajo Indians known as the "code
in this country predated the British, the
bilingual education with an effort to
talkers" were assigned to different units
trade-off was not perceived to be so
preserve, or worse, demand the right to,
to facilitate communications without
equitable. To those who had not gone
their own language that are most rabidly
fear of the enemy breaking the code. In
through the psychological experience of
against bilingual education. Language
fact, it was the only code not
crossing an ocean and leaving family
as a right, or more precisely a minority
deciphered by the Axis powers.
and other ties behind them for greater
language as a right, conjures up images
There exists an enormous
opportunities, the idea of having to give
of a Quebec-style divisiveness and the
contradiction in this country. On the
up something so personal and so
possible Balkanization of the country.
one hand, the National Governors'
defining as language and culture for a
That, of course, is precisely the issue
Association unanimously agreed last
society that did not accept them even
-the tendency to draw analogies that
year that the United States should make
when they did speak English, the
are familiar to us, which in the case of
foreign-language acquisition a priority
trade-off was fraudulent and
language are overwhelmingly about
in our schools, given the fact that we
demeaning. Thus, intellectuals,
problems, controversies, and feuds.
are the industrialized world's most
activists, and other leaders from these
Even if the analogy does not apply, too
linguistically ignorant nation. On the
groups and others reacted by raising the
many of us believe that it does. After
other hand, as a recent Washington Post
issue of language rights.
talking to dozens of Canadians familiar
headline summed it up: "California
There are many ethnic Americans
with the Quebec separatist movement, I
Rejection a Big Blow to Bilingualism."
who lament that their ancestors were
have yet to find one who believes that
I believe this contradiction exists
put through this pressure cooker that
Hispanics in the United States are
because the debate over bilingualism
passed for a melting pot and that
remotely
like
French-speaking
has been about language policy and not
deprived them of their heritage. More
Quebecers. For one thing, the
about education.
vocal and more prominent, however,
Francophone separatists and the
Let me be clear: I believe learning
are Americans, particularly some white
hard-line Anglo opponents of
English is a must for every American. If
ethnic Americans, who are incensed
French-language rights are both
anyone doubts my word, I would ask
with the idea of language as a "right,"
opposed to bilingual education. It is the
them to visit any of the 100 or so
particularly if the notion is that this
"One Canada" leadership that promotes
National Council of La Raza affiliates
right should be paid for by their taxes.
bilingualism in the name of unity. But
that provide English-language training
How many times have we heard, "My
how often do you hear about countries
to tens of thousands of Latinos each
grandfather came to America not
where people speak different languages
year. But it is equally unconscionable to
knowing a word of English and nobody
and enjoy peace and prosperity, as is
allow the debate over bilingual
helped him," or, "We were taught to
the case in Switzerland and other
education to lead our country into
learn English and nothing but English
countries? Peace and comity do not
wasting such a valuable natural
was spoken in front of us." Even some
make the evening news.
resource as a population that already
Hispanics, who had been forced to give
speaks a multitude of languages. It is
up some of their birth language and
Which brings us to a third way of
also wrong not to use the best method
heritage, became the staunchest
understanding language: language as a
available to teach LEP children English,
supporters of this notion. Indeed,
powerful national resource. During
which research shows is bilingual
"contrarians" like the commentators
World War II, America profited
education.
Richard Rodriguez and Linda Chavez
enormously from U.S. citizens who
have been given far more publicity and
spoke other languages well.
coverage than mainstream Latino
German-Americans, Italian-Americans,
Raul Yzaguirre is the president of
Hispanic civil rights organization.
essay.
the
Washington-based National
Education policy analyst Raul Gonzalez
Council of La Raza, the nation's largest
assisted in the preparation of this
32. Education Week
August 4, 1998
More Parents Want Charters, Ed. Dept. Study
Concludes
Parent demand for charter schools has
from the U.S. Department of
the District of Columbia in the 1997-98
grown, but the schools continue to face
Education says.
school year, taking into account school
such obstacles as a lack of start-up
Nationwide, the department counted
closures. The school tally jumps to
funds and inadequate facilities, a report
693 charters running in 23 states and
about 780 when counting as separate
43
schools Arizona's multibranch charter
students, it says, about one-third are
Later reports will address issues such
schools. In the 1997-98 school year,
more likely to serve poor and
as what impact charter schools have had
279 new charter schools opened their
minority students.
on student achievement and on public
doors, according to the report.
The report issued last month is
education as a whole.
Fewer than one in 20 charter schools
the second installment in a four-year
The department late last month also
has closed voluntarily, merged with
study of such public schools, which
released a guide for chartering entities
others, or been shut down, the report
operate without some state and local
that outlines such tasks as devising
says.
regulations in exchange for greater
solid evaluation criteria for reviewing
While most charter schools are
accountability for student results. ("ED
charter applicants, conducting
similar to their districts in the racial
Study
Paints Portrait of Charter
background checks of applicants, and
and economic backgrounds of their
Schools," June 4. 1997.)
managing an appeals process.
33. Education Week
August 4, 1998
Predominantly Black Charters Focus of Debate in N.C.
By Lynn Schnaiberg
ethnicity.
For now, the state's charter schools
When North Carolina lawmakers
While many states' charter laws aim
are operating against a shifting
opened the door to charter schools in
to encourage racial diversity, North
landscape.
1996, critics predicted a rush of "white
Carolina's is relatively prescriptive,
In July, the state school board voted
flight" schools would follow.
experts say. Neighboring South
to allow a statewide charter school
It seems precisely the opposite has
Carolina, which has one of the nation's
advisory committee to determine on a
happened. Of the 33 charters that are up
strictest racial-balance rules for its
school-by-school basis whether a
and running, a dozen have student
charter schools, has confronted similar
charter school's racial imbalance is
populations that are more than 85
issues. ("Racial Makeup at Issue In S.C.
justified and what action, if any, the
percent black.
Charter Debate," April 30, 1997.)
state should take.
Many state charter school supporters
North Carolina law says that within a
The Raleigh-based North Carolina
say that as long as the schools produce
year after a charter opens, its enrollment
Foundation for Individual Rights, a
positive academic results -and do not
"shall reasonably reflect" the racial and
conservative nonprofit legal group,
not intentionally block students based
ethnic composition of the general
plans to file a lawsuit to block the state
on their race -those figures should not
population within the countywide
from enforcing the law's racial-balance
be cause for alarm.
district boundaries or the district's racial
provision.
But North Carolina law suggests
and ethnic composition.
And a bill is moving through the
otherwise, and a debate has ensued over
Supporters fear the state's
legislature that would soften the
whether -or how -the racial-balance
predominantly black charter schools
provision to require only that schools
provision of the charter school law
may be forced to close. "It's a scary and
make a "good faith effort" toward
should be enforced. State policymakers
confusing time for these schools," said
achieving diversity.
have spent months trying to resolve the
Roger A. Gerber, the president of the
But both critics and supporters of the
issue in a legal and political climate that
Association of North Carolina Charter
proposed change say it is unlikely to
looks with growing suspicion at
Schools.
survive the legislative process.
policies drawn on the basis of race or
'Fear of Resegregation'
While the state wrestles with the
member and a professor at Appalachian
whole, 31 percent of students are black.
issue, charter schools are not sure what,
State University's school of education
Roughly half a dozen of the state's
if any, steps to take as the next school
in Boone, said she is undecided on the
charter schools are predominantly
year approaches, said Jack Daly, the
issue.
white, but many reflect their
executive director of the legal group
"I have a definite fear of
surrounding communities in the rural
challenging the state law.
resegregation. I am old enough to
western areas of the state, according to
He points to one such school that
remember 'separate but equal' in this
Grova L. Bridgers, who oversees
last year held separate enrollment
state," she said. "But I believe in
charter schools for the state education
lotteries for blacks and whites in order
freedom of choice to a certain extent.
department.
to strike racial balance. Such action
It's a real dilemma."
Experts point to myriad reasons for
amounts to an illegal racial quota
Seeking 'Good Schools'
the
high
percentage
of
system, he contends.
A recent U.S. Department of
African-Americans in charter schools,
State board President Phillip J. Kirk
Education study found that most
too. Many of the predominantly black
Jr. said he opposes shutting down the
charter schools are similar to their
charter schools are in majority-black
charter schools and points out that there
districts' racial and ethnic breakdowns,
neighborhoods in large cities like
are nearly all-white or all-black
but about a third are more likely to
Raleigh and Durham, and some were
traditional public schools in the state.
serve minority students.
launched by black community leaders.
"I don't think charters were intended
Close to 49 percent of North
"People aren't fleeing the public
to resegregate the schools," he said.
Carolina's charter school students are
schools because of race," Mr. Gerber
Jane P. Norwood, a state board
black. In the state's public schools as a
said. "They're fleeing to what they think
44
are good schools. And they are
Durham.
But the former New York state
unsatisfied with what they've been
Although the organizers tried to talk
school administrator, who is white, said
getting in traditional public schools."
the 40 white students who had signed
his top priority -and his parents'
Balancing Goals
up last year into staying, they all
priority -is a high-quality education.
Tom Williams, the director of
withdrew, he said.
True integration, he argued, comes from
Healthy Start Academy, said that when
The vast majority of Healthy Start
the upward economic mobility gained
the school organizers wrote their
students come from the neighborhood.
through education. "I hear parents say:
charter, they never expected they would
Of the 320 pupils in grades K-3, four
'My kid is reading a year above grade
draw anything but a mixed student
are white. Mr. Williams said he hopes
level. And I don't care whether he's
population. But the search for an
that more white families will give the
sitting next to a white student or not.
affordable building led them to a poor
school a chance once they see the
and mostly black neighborhood in
students' impressive test gains.
34. Education Week
August 4, 1998
N.Y. To Require Accreditation For Ed. Schools
By Jessica L. Sandham
graduates pass one or more required
money into them."
Colleges and schools of education in
certification exams beginning next year.
Two Options
New York state are taking a hard look
The mandate comes even as the
The regents' new rules allow schools
at teacher-exam pass rates and
regents move to make existing
two accreditation options: accreditation
accreditation requirements following
certification exams on teaching skills
through a nationally recognized
the state's recent adoption of stricter
and liberal arts knowledge more
professional body; or accreditation by
teacher education standards.
difficult, and as they require all new
the regents themselves, which would be
The New York board of regents last
teachers to pass a third exam that will
based on the recommendations of a
month passed a set of reforms geared
gauge their expertise in a specific
professional-standards board that the
toward improving the quality of the
content area or specialty.
state board is in the process of forming.
state's teaching force. Among the
Adoption of the new standards
To date, only four of the state's 113
changes, which range from
should push universities that skimp on
teacher education programs are
strengthening
their teacher education programs,
accredited
through
the
professional-development standards to
sometimes to the benefit of other
Washington-based National Council for
overhauling teacher-review processes,
disciplines, to wise up to the need to
Accreditation of Teacher Education,
the regents now will require that all
allot more resources to teacher training,
which is currently the only established
public and private higher education
said regent Saul B. Cohen, who served
professional accreditation association
institutions attain accreditation for their
on the task force that initially proposed
for schools of education. A second
teacher education programs by Dec. 31,
the teacher reforms.
group, the Teacher Education
2004.
"Right now, schools of education are
Accreditation Council, also located in
Under the new standards, the state
cash cows for the universities," Mr.
Washington, is planning to begin
also retains the right to shut down, or
Cohen said. "If universities want their
reviewing teacher training programs
"deregister," schools of education
schools of education to be accredited,
within two years.
where fewer than 80 percent of
they're going to have to put more
Schools of education in New York
economically unattainable for the state's
providing quality teacher education
have steered away from trying to obtain
public institutions, unless they receive
programs in their institutions, how can
NCATE certification because of the
an infusion of new state money.
private institutions be expected to do
direct and indirect costs of the process,
The situation appears particularly
it?" Mr. Nash said.
said Elaine Sands, the dean of the
dire for the City University of New
Like other aspects of the regents'
education school at Adelphi University,
York. Only two of CUNY's 10 branches
plan that hinge on state funding, any
a private institution in Garden City.
that offer teacher education attained an
increased aid for public institutions
Despite the expense, which runs into
80 percent pass rate on each of the
would require legislative approval.
the thousands, many of those heading
required teacher certification exams in
Other highlights of the plan include:
education schools in New York
1996-97.
A gradual phasing out of all
understand that the regents' move to
School districts are depending on the
temporary, or emergency, teacher
demand accreditation was "a long time
teacher education programs in the New
licensures by 2003;
coming," Ms. Sands said. "Schools of
York state and New York City systems
A requirement that all incoming
education need to meet a higher
to help produce some of the hundreds
teachers obtain a master's degree within
professional standard of excellence."
of thousands of new teachers they will
the first two years of entering the
State Aid Sought
need to hire in the next several years,
classroom;
Still, some education officials
said Gregory Nash, the president of
A provision that would provide
expressed concern that the required
NEA-New York, the state affiliate of
every new teacher with at least one year
accreditation and an 80 percent pass
the National Education Association.
of state-financed mentoring;
rate on teacher exams will be
"If the state isn't committed to
A requirement that all teachers
45
certified after Sept. I. 2000, complete
scholarships and a $10,000 bonus to
unsatisfactory will be given the
175 hours of professional development
certified teachers who agree to work for
opportunity to improve through a
every five years to renew their licenses;
three years in high-need areas; and
district-created
teacher-improvement
The creation of an incentive program
The
establishment
of
a
plan.
designed to attract teachers to
teacher-review process in which
hard-to-staff
schools
through
teachers who are judged to be
35. Education Week
August 4, 1998
Senate OKs HEA Bill That Would Streamline Teacher
Ed.
By Julie Blair
would consolidate current programs
to hire teacher candidates who integrate
Washington
into only one grant to states. It also
technology into the classroom.
Members of the House and Senate
proposes that 70 percent of the federal
"You can't realistically expect
are set to reconcile their competing
funds go to local partnerships and only
students' performance to improve unless
plans to ensure new teachers are well
30 percent to states.
you also focus on those doing the
prepared for the classroom.
The differences will be taken up by a
teaching," Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.,
In voting 96-1 to renew the Higher
House-Senate conference committee.
a member of the Labor and Human
Education Act for five years, the Senate
When the committee will go to work
Relations Committee who lobbied for
last month accepted a proposal that
has yet to be determined.
improved teacher accountability, said in
would authorize $300 million over five
Legislators in both houses are "all on
a recent interview. "The more academic
years in competitive grants to improve
the same page with wanting to do the
instruction we have...the better our
teacher education and recruitment
right thing," said Amy Wilkins, a senior
teaching corps will be."
programs.
associate with the Education Trust, a
The plan also would offer incentives
Specifically, it would consolidate the
nonprofit organization in Washington
to teach in needy districts by forgiving
federal government's myriad teacher
that advocates high standards and
up to $8,000 in student loans for those
education initiatives into two grant
equity in education. "The real question
who did so.
programs. The bill calls for allocating
is: Will people be able to
"This is the strongest piece of the
$150 million to states to reform their
overcome pride of authorship in
entire bill," said Penelope Earley, the
teacher preparation requirements. The
exchange for really good policy?"
senior
director
for
the
other $150 million would be used for
Focus on Teachers
Washington-based
American
partnerships between universities and
The newly passed Senate bill aims to
Association of Colleges for Teacher
disadvantaged schools to upgrade the
raise state standards for teachers, boost
Education. "There have been a number
quality of teaching.
their assessment scores, and create
of reports showing a teacher shortage.
In May, the House approved its own
opportunities
for
professional
We want to make sure there are enough
version of the HEA reauthorization,
development. It would require states
teachers and that they are well
414-4, calling for $18.5 million a year
that accept funding to increase the
prepared."
for teacher training. While similar to the
percentage of K-12 classes taught by
Senate measure in intent, the House bill
educators in their areas of expertise and
The Senate bill does not mention
costs of higher education.
estimated the bill would provide $2.4
funding for the National Board for
Under both the House and Senate
billion in subsidies during the five-year
Professional Teaching Standards, which
plans, the interest rate on federally
time frame to make up for the
offers voluntary certification for
subsidized student loans would drop to
difference in interest rates.
educators who meet high standards. The
6.8 percent from the current 7.6 percent
Other provisions in the bill include
House bill, however, would eliminate
for students still in school, and to 7.4
increasing the maximum annual Pell
federal funding for the organization. In
percent from the current 8.2 percent
Grant for needy college students. By
fiscal 1998, the NBPTS received $18.5
after graduation.
2003-2004, awards will be worth
million from the federal government,
Supporters note that the decrease
$5,800.
said Sally Mernissi, vice president of
would save students substantial
Separately, the Department of
the Southfield, Mich.-based board.
amounts of money. But opponents
Education last month cut interest rates
Despite the HEA proposals,
-including President Clinton -say it
for students who consolidate their direct
however, funding could survive in a
would allow lenders to collect billions
student loans with federally guaranteed
separate appropriations bill, David
in federal subsidies because the
student loans by Sept. 30. A student
Bryant, a senior associate for
government would pay the lenders to
with a $1,000 loan who consolidates
government relations with the National
continue in the student-lending
will save about $50, said Jane
Education Association in Washington,
business, which banks contend is
Glickman, a spokeswoman for the
said in an interview.
unprofitable at the lower interest rate.
department.
The bill also sets parameters on the
The Office of Management and Budget
46
36. Education Week
August 4, 1998
Future Shape of E-Rate Program In State of Flux on
Capitol Hill
By Mary Ann Zehr
that would require all schools and
Also during the hearing, the General
Washington
libraries to choose a system to filter out
Accounting Office presented its report
The fate of the E-rate remains
any objectionable Internet material such
on how the Schools and Libraries
uncertain on Capitol Hill, where
as pornography before receiving any
Corp., the agency administering the
Congress is weighing a proposal that
E-rate money. Sens. John McCain,
E-rate program. was handling its
could change the program dramatically.
R-Ariz., and Ernest F. Hollings, D-S.C.,
"integrity operations." Sen. McCain, the
Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., and
introduced the amendment.
chairman of the committee, had asked
Rep. W.J. "Billy" Tauzin, R-La., have
Undue Scrutiny?
the congressional investigatory office to
advanced legislation that would use a
The appropriations bill also includes
make sure that the SLC had adequate
third -or about $1.7 billion per year
language overriding an earlier
procedures to prevent waste, fraud, and
-of the current 3 percent telephone
amendment that would have prohibited
abuse.
excise
tax
to
pay
for
schools and libraries from applying to
Among other things, GAO officials
"telecommunications and related
the
Commerce
Department's
said they were concerned that an
services" in schools and libraries.
Telecommunications and Information
independent audit of the corporation
Their companion bills, introduced in
Infrastructure Assistance Program. The
had been scheduled for completion after
both the House and the Senate on July
new amendment says schools and
funds would already be committed to
23, propose getting rid of the E-rate and
libraries would be eligible for TIIAP
applicants.
replacing it with a five-year program of
money in fiscal 1999, but only for
During the hearing, Ira Fishman, the
block grants to states. The program
purposes other than those served
executive director of the SLC,
would be administered by the
through the E-rate. ("Panel Cuts
committed to complying with all of the
Department of Commerce's National
Technology-Grant Program," July 8,
GAO's recommendations on running
Telecommunications and Information
1998.)
the program.
Administration.
Complaints that the E-rate is
After repeatedly being asked by Mr.
The 30,000-plus applications
undergoing an unusual amount of
McCain to say when the SLC could
submitted by schools and libraries for
examination for a new government
start paying for E-rate applications, Mr.
1998 education-rate discounts for
program arose during a July 16 hearing
Fishman estimated that money would
telecommunications services would be
in the Senate Commerce, Science, and
start flowing "sometime early this fall."
transferred to the new program,
Transportation Committee.
In response to congressional
according to Ben O'Connell, a
"I don't know of any other program
pressure, the Federal Communications.
spokesman for Sen. Burns.
that has been created in less than a year
Commission has already dramatically
On the same day that the
and received such scrutiny and review,"
scaled back the E-rate program for 1998
Burns-Tauzin proposal was introduced,
said Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine,
applications, promising to give out $1.9
the Senate passed the appropriations
a co-sponsor of the E-rate provision
billion over 18 months instead of $2.3
bill for the departments of Commerce,
contained in the Telecommunications
billion over a year, as was first
State, and Justice with an amendment
Act of 1996.
anticipated.
Congressional challenges to the
put a 5 percent charge and Sprint Corp.
"There's absolutely no reason these
program were stepped up when AT&T
put a 4.5 percent charge on residential
discounts can't start going out to
Corp. and MCI Communications Corp.
phone bills for universal service.
children [in schools], and anyone who
announced in May that they would put
Spokesmen for AT&T, MCI, and Sprint
is trying to say more measures need to
a surcharge on residential phone bills
deny charges from E-rate advocates that
be put in place is just trying to delay the
for the cost of universal service, which
their companies also are lobbying
program," Michelle Richards, the
includes the cost of the E-rate.
Congress to kill or stall the E-rate.
director of federal programs for the
On July 1, AT&T put a charge of 93
E-rate supporters monitoring the
National School Boards Association,
cents per month for universal service on
E-rate program say they hope the SLC's
said during a recent pro-E-rate rally on
residential phone bills; the company
commitment to comply with the GAO
the Capitol lawn.
estimates about 23 cents will go to the
report will put questions about the
E-rate program. At the same time, MCI
program to bed.
37. Education Week
August 4, 1998
Contractor Gets More Time To Write National Test
47
Items
By David J. Hoff
development by Sept. 30.
Education Richard W. Riley, the
Washington
The Senate included the same
National Research Council said
The independent panel designing
language as an amendment to a bill
NAGB's schedule did not leave enough
President Clinton's proposed voluntary
creating tax incentives for K-12
time for the American Institutes for
national tests is juggling its
education savings. When the test
Research, the lead contractor for the
development schedule even as
language was dropped from that bill in
project, to prepare the 2,600 questions
Republicans in Congress are moving to
a conference committee, Speaker of the
needed for the pilot tests.
stop its work.
House Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., and
The nrc's experts in June reviewed
The National Assessment Governing
Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott,
105 questions and determined that
Board announced last month that it will
R-Miss., promised they would put a
about half needed significant revisions
give its contractors extra time to write
stop to NAGB's work on the new tests
before they could be approved for
questions for pilot tests.
in the fiscal 1999 appropriations bill.
pilot-testing. While that proportion isn't
The changes eat into the board's time
President Clinton eventually vetoed
extraordinary for a test in the early
to review more than 2,000 potential
the tax bill. He has announced his
stages of development, the experts for
items for the proposed 4th grade
opposition to the House appropriations
the private council created by
reading and 8th grade mathematics
bill based on its numbers alone. Last
congressional charter thought NAGB's
assessments. But board members won't
year, he threatened several times to veto
time line was insufficient for the
delay the schedule that calls for pilot
a fiscal 1998 spending bill that would
contractor.
testing in March and for the exams to
have halted his testing plan, but the
Deliberation Curtailed
be ready by the spring of 2001.
administration negotiated a compromise
In response, NAGB will free up time
If GOP leaders have their way, the
that allowed test development to
for the contractor by cutting back on the
work will never get to that point. The
continue for fiscal 1998, which ends
time the board spends deliberating on
fiscal 1999 spending bill approved by
Sept. 30.
the items.
the House Appropriations Committee
Despite the outside debate, NAGB is
Mark D. Musick, the board's
last month included no money for
working as if it will have the money and
chairman, said NAGB will hire experts
ongoing work on the tests and prohibits
authority to proceed with its work on
to review potential test questions and
the Department of Education or the
the tests.
decide how well they measure students'
governing board from spending money
The bipartisan panel of politicians,
ability to perform on the proficiency
from other accounts on the project.
educators, and community leaders
levels of the existing national
Republican Roadblock
-whose primary task is overseeing the
assessment, the sampling of student
Stopping the proposed tests is a top
separate National Assessment of
performance that would be the basis of
priority for congressional Republicans.
Educational Progress -altered its
the new tests.
The House early this year passed a bill
schedule last month after experts
demanding that the governing board
evaluating its work suggested changes.
-known as NAGB -stop test
In a July 15 letter to Secretary of
38. Education Week
August 4, 1998
GOP Report Underscores Two Views on Federal Role
By Joetta L. Sack
early October, the Republicans have
K-12 programs.
Washington
already begun working on related
"What we have learned should
The ingredients of the Republican
legislation, and one bill that follows
concern every American," Mr.
recipe for federal education policy have
their agenda -the proposed Dollars to
Hoekstra, the Michigan Republican
resurfaced in recent weeks, through the
the Classroom Act -may be voted on
who chairs the House subcommittee on
release of a long-awaited report and
shortly after the August recess.
oversight and investigations for
new initiatives designed to reduce
The report and the Dollars to the
education and workforce issues, said in
federal bureaucracy.
Classroom legislation -which would
announcing the report's findings at a
Unveiling their "Education at a
merge funding for 31 federal education
July 16 news conference. "We found
Crossroads" report in July, Rep. Peter
programs into one block grant -are
little evidence proving the effectiveness
Hoekstra and fellow Republicans
likely to be merely symbolic works
of federal programs."
offered a formula for public schools
given the relatively little time left in this
Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich
with roots in the GOP education
year's session. But, assuming that
of Georgia was among the GOP
agenda: block grants and fewer federal
Republicans retain control in the 106th
lawmakers at the briefing.
rules, more parental involvement, and
Congress, both could lay the
Trading Charges
back-to-basics academics.
groundwork for next year's anticipated
Members of Mr. Hoekstra's
With Congress scheduled to recess
reauthorization of the Elementary and
subcommittee spent more than two
this month and adjourn for good in
Secondary Education Act and its related
years traveling across the country,
48
mainly to members' home districts, to
create a federal education block grant
hearing last year, in which he was
visit schools and talk with local
with few rules on how states and
unable to provide the exact number of
officials about the effectiveness of
schools use the money. Many education
federal education programs.
federal initiatives. The "Crossroads"
groups -including the Council of
The GOP puts that total at 760,
report, which Mr. Hockstra called "the
Chief State School Officers -also
while the Education Department says
most comprehensive review of federal
oppose the measure.
federal education programs number
education programs undertaken by
"The whole idea of collecting money
fewer than 200.
Congress," was first scheduled for
from taxpayers and sending it back
The two sides also squabbled over
release late last year. ("Value of Two
without any establishment of needs,
the amount of federal school funding
GOP Education Probes Debated ,"
goals, or criteria of admission is simply
that reaches the classroom. Mr.
March 18, 1998.)
not acceptable," Ms. Mink said.2
Hoekstra maintained that it's no more
Upon the report's release, House
The same debate surfaced in the
than 65 to 70 cents out of every dollar,
Democrats quickly blasted its
Senate Labor and Human Resources
while the Clinton administration says it
conclusions, and claimed they were
Committee late last month, as the panel
is more than 95 percent.
shut out of the planning process for the
approved a measure that would expand
The Washington-based American
study and the 22 hearings associated
an experimental program that gives
Association of University Women also
with it.
states some freedom from federal
gave the report a thumbs-down. The
"It was more or less set out with an
regulations for education programs. The
AAUW released a poll of 600
objective in mind," said Rep. Patsy
bill, S 2213, would expand the "Ed
Democratic,
Republican,
and
Mink, D-Hawaii, the ranking Democrat
Flex" program from the 12 states where
independent women voters that showed
on the subcommittee. "I don't think
it is allowed now to all 50 states.
they favored a strong federal role in
there was any effort to balance the
More immediately, "Education at a
education. The "Crossroads" report
witnesses."
Crossroads" highlights the gulf between
"flies in the face of what the majority of
"That's baloney," Mr. Hoekstra
the Republican take on federal policy
women voters want," said the AAUW's
responded in an interview. He charged
and that of the Clinton administration.
executive director, Janice Weinman.
that Democrats had refused to
Debating the Facts
Ms. Weinman attended Mr.
participate in the process and were
"The contents of this report are
Hoekstra's news conference to
usually given 30 to 60 days' notice of
riddled with inaccuracies, and its
announce the report, and the
scheduled hearings.
recommendations again fail to address
Republicans there told her that voters
The Dollars to the Classroom Act
the most critical needs of America's
should first and foremost focus on the
debate, meanwhile, is also likely to
students, teachers, and schools,"
quality of federal programs rather than
spark fierce opposition from
Secretary of Education Richard W.
the quantity.
Democrats, who contend that it would
Riley said.
unravel accountability in federal
The report contains a transcript of
funding. If enacted, the measure would
Mr. Riley's testimony at a Washington
39. Education Week
August 4, 1998
House Spending Bill Takes Conservative Line
By Joetta L. Sack
Republican leadership, it includes
$2 billion from our request for
Washington
language that would bar federal funding
educational investment, short-changing
Under the cloud of a threatened
for the development or implementation
initiatives on education reform, on
presidential veto and sharp discord
of new national tests, continuing a
raising educational achievement for our
among its members, the House may
hard-fought battle over one of President
children, and on providing focused help
vote this week on a restrained education
Clinton's education priorities.
for students who need it most."
spending bill with implications well
Conservative Appeal
The GOP faults Mr. Clinton for
beyond dollars and cents.
In many ways, the appropriations bill
counting on funding from a stalled
The proposal, which passed the
is a bow to conservative Republicans,
tobacco settlement to support new K-12
Appropriations Committee on a
who say they have been shortchanged
initiatives in his budget proposal, and
party-line vote July 14, would hold total
by their party in recent years. Already,
for not proposing budget cuts to offset
funding for Department of Education
the package is provoking strong
his new expenditures on class-size
programs to $32.9 billion, up 2.5
reactions.
reduction and other efforts. Last week,
percent from fiscal 1998's $32.1 billion
In a move that was unusual so early
Appropriations Committee Chairman
allotment.
in the budget process, Mr. Clinton told
Robert L. Livingston, R-La., sent a
It would let states use funding from
the House Appropriations Committee
strongly written letter to the White
the Goals 2000 school reform program
before its vote that, unless significant
House demanding that officials there
and the Eisenhower Professional
changes were made, he would veto the
quickly send "real and do-able" funding
Development grants as block grants for
measure.
alternatives in order for the House to
education reform with few restrictions
"The bill is fundamentally flawed,"
consider paying for any of the
on spending. And, as promised by the
Mr. Clinton said in a statement. "It cuts
administration's proposed initiatives.
49
The House committee's proposal
full House is an open question.
to be easy, because of the budget
would increase spending for GOP
"They're going to have a hell of a
constraints, but it has been made
priorities such as special education state
time getting the moderate votes,"
infinitely more difficult."
grants, which would see a 5.8 percent
predicted Andrew Rotherham, a
But Republican leaders did not seem
boost, to $4.82 billion; and the Chapter
legislative specialist with the American
troubled. "This bill will pass. A version
VI block grant, which gives aid directly
Association of School Administrators in
of this bill will be signed into law, and
to schools with few strings attached,
Arlington, Va. "There's a lot in that bill
life will go on," Mr. Livingston said,
which would get a $50 million increase,
that gives a lot of people reason not to
also during the hearing.
to a total of $400 million.
like it."
Republicans on the Appropriations
The bill would also hold funding for
Hitting Existing Programs
Committee pointed out that the tight
Title I grants at the current level of $7.5
The Committee for Education
constraints
of
last
year's
billion and sharply cut some of Mr.
Funding, a Washington-based coalition
balanced-budget agreement were agreed
Clinton's favorite initiatives. For
of education groups that lobbies for
to by both parties, and that Republicans
instance, Education Department
increases in federal school aid, blasted
were working to eliminate or cut
funding for school-to-work programs
the measure as "inadequate and
programs that they believe are
would drop from $200 million to $75
harmful."
ineffective or not a federal
million. The school-to-work initiative
The bill is unusual in the amount of
responsibility.
also receives funds in the Department of
language it contains that would alter
"We have to make choices," said
Labor budget. Mr. Clinton had
existing programs, such as the Goals
Rep. John Edward Porter, the Illinois
requested $125 million in education
2000: Educate America Act.
Republican who chairs the education
money for the program, which is
"This bill probably, more than any
appropriations subcommittee.
scheduled to be phased out by fiscal
other, defines the differences in
The
Senate
Appropriations
2000.
priorities" between the two parties, Rep.
Committee is expected to write and vote
Whether
the
conservative
David R. Obey, D-Wis., the
quickly on its spending plan when
Republicans who have driven the
Appropriations Committee's ranking
Congress returns Sept. 8.
budget-writing process this year have
Democrat, said shortly before the
the votes to get their bill passed in the
panel's vote. "This bill was never going
40. Education Week
August 4, 1998
District Holding Some Notes in Assault Case
By Jessica Portner
alleged incidents, which are said to
seeking the notes in an effort to bolster
The Grosse Pointe, Mich., school
have occurred in private homes last
their cases.
system has refused to surrender certain
December and January. Under
"If somebody said to the school
notes in a rape investigation involving
Michigan law, 16 is the age of consent
[official] that a student did such and
district students, saying state law
for sex. The four defendants were all 18
such with so-and-so, that's evidence,"
prohibits school officials from releasing
or 19 at the time. If convicted, they
said Richard Padzieski, the chief of
records of conversations between
could face up to 15 years in prison.
operations in the prosecutor's office in
students and staff members.
Mr. Granger's lawyer, William
Wayne County, Mich.
Education law experts say such a
Bufalino, said last week that his client
But Mark McInerney, a lawyer for
state law has rarely been used to
"categorically denies having sexual
the 8,500-student district, said that the
prevent the release of student-staff
intercourse [with the accusers] or not to
school system is trying to satisfy the
communications in criminal cases.
the level these young girls imagined."
statute, not obstruct the prosecution.
According to the district's lawyer,
Mr. Granger and the other defendants
The 1961 Michigan law says that
Caryn Wells, the principal of the
have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
"confidential communication with
1,274-student Grosse Pointe North
Additional Records
teachers and administrators and
High School became aware of the
In a preliminary hearing last month
behavioral records cannot be released
alleged rapes while investigating how a
in Wayne County Circuit Court, Judge
without parents' or students' OK," he
lewd photograph of senior-class
Lynne Pierce ordered the district to
said.
president Daniel Granger appeared in
surrender the principal's notes about all
Interviews with a student have the
school's 1998 yearbook. During those
of the students involved in the case.
same protection as a person's
inquiries, three female students accused
The district complied but refused to
discussions with a doctor or a priest and
Mr. Granger and three other male
provide additional notes sought by both
must be kept confidential, he argued.
students of sexual assault.
the prosecution and the defense because
"Society wants students to talk to a
Police then investigated the
they concerned other students.
teacher without being afraid that the
accusations, and the four young men
Prosecutors are seeking the
conversation is going to get out," he
who attend school in an affluent suburb
additional records in an attempt to
said.
of Detroit were charged with
corroborate the accusers' accounts and
In a Bind
third-degree criminal sexual conduct.
to identify any other possible victims or
Gwendolyn H. Gregory, an outside
The girls were 14 at the time of the
assailants. Defense lawyers also are
counsel to the National School Boards
50
Association and an expert on education
student
records
or
private
"It's always a quandary," Ms.
law, said she knows of no other case in
communications with school officials.
Gregory said. "You just have to work it
which a state privacy law was invoked
Cases such as the one involving
out to maintain the confidentiality, but
to block the release of notes in a
Grosse Pointe North High School put
not so you allow the perpetrator to get
criminal investigation.
administrators in a bind, she said. They
away with it."
Federal law requires school districts
are stuck between violating student
Mr. Padzieski of the county
to keep student records confidential,
privacy, thus risking a parent's lawsuit
prosecutor's office said last week that he
with some exceptions. But Ms. Gregory
if they divulge information about a
plans to seek a subpoena at the end of
said she was unaware of state laws other
child, and inhibiting an investigation
the month to get the remaining records
than Michigan's that further protect
that could lead to a criminal conviction.
from the district.
41. Education Week
August 4, 1998
Mayor To Control Cleveland Schools After Judge Ends
State Intervention
By Kerry A. White
-under mayoral control.
an appointed nine-member school board
The passing of the torch in
U.S. District Judge George W. White
and a superintendent of his choosing,
Cleveland is imminent: This fall, the
ruled last month that a federal court
will take over the Cleveland schools,
beleaguered school district will join the
order that placed the district under state
returning the district to local control for
list of large urban school systems
control will be lifted on Sept. 9.
the first time in nearly 25 years.
-including Boston and Chicago
Mayor Michael R. White, along with
"Today is a historic day for
in a "state of crisis."
Employees International Union, which
Clevelanders," Mayor White, a
The plan for mayoral control was
represents school support workers, have
Democrat, said in a prepared statement
approved by state lawmakers and signed
asked that schools remain under state
following the judge's ruling. "After a
into law by Gov. George V. Voinovich,
control until their appeal is decided.
quarter of a century of having the
a Republican, in August 1997.
("Judge Ends Desegregation Case in
educational policy for our children in
Fight Continues
Cleveland," April 8, 1998.)
the hands of the federal court and then
Judge White, no relation to the
Meanwhile, a nominating panel put
the subsequent state supervision, we
mayor, who in March declared that the
together by the state is reviewing the
can now move forward with a school
school system had fulfilled its legal
applications of about 240 school board
system run by our community for our
obligation to desegregate its schools,
hopefuls -many of them prominent
community."
failed to rule last month on a request by
community leaders -and will make
A federal court ordered the state
two groups opposed to the mayor's
recommendations to the mayor by Aug.
takeover of the 76,500-student system
assumption of authority. Those groups,
10. The school board and the mayor's
in 1995 after declaring the school
the Cleveland chapter of the National
choice for chief executive officer are
system, which was on its last legs
Association for the Advancement of
expected to be named by fall.
academically and $155 million in debt,
Colored People and the Service
42. Education Week
August 4, 1998
Mass. Reacts to More Test Data; Teacher Proposal
Outlined
By Kerry A. White
released results by school on July 23.
that scores from colleges where only a
A school-by-school breakdown of
The 59 percent overall failure rate
small sample of students took the test
scores on Massachusetts' first-ever
had already rippled through the state
"need to be interpreted carefully," he
exam for licensing new teachers is
and made headlines nationwide, but the
asked college leaders to make changes
forcing some education schools to take
data on how individual colleges and
in their programs where they could.
a hard look at their curricula, even as
universities in the state performed took
"I urge the institutions of higher
state officials propose creating one of
many higher education officials by
education to accept the data for what it
the nation's most intensive programs of
surprise.
is, which is a snapshot of performance
teacher recruitment and training.
Nearly 1,800 prospective teachers
on one round of testing," he said in a
While individual test-takers' scores
took the eight-hour test in April and,
statement, "and now analyze it and use
on the April test were issued earlier this
although interim Commissioner of
it to strengthen areas of need."
summer, the state education department
Education David P. Driscoll cautioned
In addition, Mr. Driscoll, along with
51
acting Gov. Paul Cellucci, a
proposes a new "master teacher corps"
"The scores confirmed what we've
Republican, and top lawmakers, last
through which the state would
known for some time: that the
week unveiled the state's -and
reimburse and reward those teachers
education programs here and elsewhere
possibly the nation's -most aggressive
who complete the National Board for
are not as strenuous as they need to be,"
plan yet to attract, train, and mentor top
Professional Teaching Standards
he said in an interview last week. "Well
teachers.
requirements and an additional content
before the testing results were released,
$20,000 Bonuses?
test.
we revamped our master's program,
The proposal, known as the 12-62
In order to be enacted, different parts
raised freshman admission standards,
Plan for its intent to reach from middle
of the plan would require the approval
and reworked our undergraduate
school -or age 12 -to retirement,
of either the state board of education
curriculum The test makes the case
would cost a total of between $5
-which could take up the proposals
that we should redouble our efforts."
million and $10 million, state officials
next month -or the legislature, which
Many other schools didn't fare much
say, funds they say could be drawn
has recessed until January.
better than Northeastern: Only 22.2
from the state's $1 billion surplus.
A Confirmation
percent of Springfield College's 63
It incorporates a widely publicized
On the school-by-school analysis of
candidates passed both the reading and
proposal by state Senate President
teacher-test scores, one of the
writing portions of the Communications
Thomas F. Birmingham to grant new
institutions with the poorest showing
and Literacy Skills Test; 26.8 of
teachers $20,000 signing bonuses,
was Northeastern University in Boston.
Westfield State College's 84 candidates
which would be spread over the first
Only three -or 17.6 percent -of the
passed; 30 percent of Massachusetts
few years of their careers, new
school's 17 teacher-candidates passed
College of Liberal Arts' 20 candidates
scholarships and loan-forgiveness
both the exam's reading and writing
passed: 32.9 percent of Bridgewater
programs, and a more streamlined
subtests.
State College's 146 candidates passed;
certification process.
The university's president, Richard
and 33.8 percent of Salem State
The plan, which Mr. Driscoll drafted
M. Freeland, said the scores represented
College's 71 candidates passed.
with input from other state leaders, also
one in a series of "wake-up calls."
Administrators at Springfield
teacher tests, administered July 11, are
percent pass rate within the next two
College said that since the scores were
forthcoming.
years, he said, university officials will
released they have put together a panel
Boston University Chancellor John
consider abolishing the education
that will examine how students
R. Silber, who as the state school board
program.
performed on each section of the test to
chairman has led the drive to raise the
Only two of 56 Massachusetts
determine how required courses can be
academic bar for students and teachers,
institutions whose students or graduates
adjusted to improve results.
saw his university post a 65.7 percent
took the spring exam had perfect scores,
"Springfield College has a long
passing rate among its 68 teaching
according to education department
history of producing quality teachers,"
candidates.
figures: the Harvard University
said Gretchen A. Brockmeyer, the
In a statement, Mr. Silber said that
graduate school of education and
associate provost and associate vice
the teacher tests "were not difficult,
Wellesley College, although a total of
president for student affairs at the
and, therefore, the scores are even more
only 13 students from those schools
private college. "We'll look at testing
appalling than they might at first seem."
took the test.
results as they come back and will
He added that although BU students
The next-highest passing score went
determine what sort of enhancements
scored relatively high, officials there
to Tufts University, where 81.3 percent
and changes need to be made in the
were not happy with the results and
of the 16 candidates passed.
curriculum."
have set a higher standard for future
Results from the second round of
tests: If bu students don't manage a 90
43. LRP Publications
July 31, 1998
Senate Passes Job Training Conference Report
Youth job training programs will
yesterday in a late-night session prior to
the work force legislation. "Our
have a greater focus on long-term
leaving town today for its August
economic future depends on a
academic and occupational training,
break.
well-trained work force and this bill
rather than short-term employment
The House will likely follow suit
will help prepare American workers to
fixes, under a House-Senate conference
later today or early next week, after
face the challenges of the 21st century."
report issued this week and passed by
which President Clinton is expected to
Rep. Bill Goodling, R-Pa., chairman
the Senate late last night.
quickly sign the bill into law.
of the House Committee on Education
House and Senate conferees finished
"For more than three years, I have
and the Workforce, echoed DeWine's
negotiations on the legislation (H. Rpt.
been working on a comprehensive job
sentiments, saying the Workforce
105-659) that will provide more
training reform package and 1 am
Investment Act "is a huge step toward
flexibility in job training and push
convinced Senate passage comes not a
reforming this nation+s employment,
federal dollars to local communities.
moment too soon," said Sen. Mike
training and literacy programs for the
The Senate approved the report
DeWine, R-Ohio, primary sponsor of
21st century."
52
The act consolidates more than 60
academic and occupational learning
neighborhoods and rural communities.
federal training programs through the
opportunities. Under these programs,
Clinton praised the bill's focus on
establishment of three block grants to
priority will be given to hard-to-serve
disadvantaged children, saying it
the states, including programs for
disadvantaged youth, including a
would help "create jobs and
disadvantaged youth employment and
requirement that not less than 30
opportunities for out-of-school youth in
training.
percent of local youth program funds be
high poverty areas."
While the legislation allows for the
spent on out-of-school youth.
House and Senate conferees are
continuation of summer youth
The legislation also authorizes youth
expected to take up vocational
employment programs, it requires that
opportunity grants, which are intended
education legislation when Congress
all employment experiences under
to create job and learning opportunities
reconvenes in September.
these programs be tied to basic
for children living in high poverty
44. Education Week
August 4, 1998
Researchers Blame Test Revisions for Falling Ill.
Reading Scores
By Debra Viadero
mysterious declines in students' scores
helped design the assessment say the
Illinois educators have been
on the state's 10-year-old reading tests.
fault for the declining scores lies with
scratching their heads over four years of
Now, two of the researchers who
the tests themselves.
"Simply put, we think the reading
the tests had some flaws, the
said. If those students don't try as hard
scores are wrong," P. David. Pearson
achievement declines were real.
as a result, he said, then students taking
and Timothy Shanahan write in an
In their analysis, however, Mr.
the regular test have to get more
article scheduled to appear this month
Pearson and Mr. Shanahan point out
questions right in order to score as high.
in the Illinois Reading Council Journal.
that the scores headed southward only
"It's like a tractor pull that gets
The dip in scores on the reading
after 1993, when the state began
heavier every year," he said.
portion of the Illinois Goals Assessment
reporting the test results for individual
State officials, though, said that the
Program, or igap, has been a puzzle
students rather than for districts.
"equating" tests are given days after the
because it has come as scores on other
One of the problems with that
the regular tests and that students may
parts of the test were rising. Also, some
change, they say, was that it altered
not even be aware the results don't
large districts, such as Chicago and
some of the conditions in the way the
count.
Springfield, have seen their students'
test was scored.
"Basically, we have looked at the
reading scores on other standardized
Because Illinois, like many other
equating, scaling, scoring, and linking
tests go up while their state scores were
states, wants to see how students do
issues up one side and down the other,
dropping.
over the long run, each year's version of
and we have used the best people in the
"Even when we'd see small dips in
the test has to be made comparable to
country, and none of them found a
scores or we were treading water, what
the previous year's. To do that, test
problem," said Eunice Greer, the
we were seeing on the IGAP was huge
administrators give a smaller subset of
division director for standards and
Niagara Falls drops," said Thomas
students two tests -the current one and
assessment for the Illinois state school
Kerins, who oversees testing programs
the previous year's version -and the
board.
for the 14,800-student Springfield
results are compared.
What is more, state officials said, the
district.
For most test-takers, explained Mr.
issue could become moot as Illinois
The state tests, given to students in
Shanahan, the director of the University
moves next year to a new assessment
grades 3, 6, 8, and 10, are important
of Chicago's center for literacy, the
-one that was designed to yield
because districts whose students score
stakes got higher with the switch to
individual results from the start.
poorly over a period of years are placed
reporting individual test results.
But Springfield's Mr. Kerins
on academic warning lists and can
"All of a sudden, kids' names go on
disagreed. "It's certainly not a dead
eventually be dissolved by the state.
the test, and Mom and Dad know how
issue to the principals whose phone
What's at Stake?
you do on the test," he said.
numbers I have in front of me and who
Beginning in 1995. state education
But for the subset of students taking
want to be called the minute last
officials launched a series of studies to
the older tests, the stakes stayed the
March's scores are available," he said.
determine the cause for the declining
same, he said. They are told, "Look, no
scores. The studies found that, although
one cares how you do," Mr. Shanahan
45. LRP Publications
July 31, 1998
House, Senate GOP Lawmakers Offer Measure to
53
Abolish E-Rate Agency
The agency established by the
grants would be awarded to fund
through 2003. The program is intended
Federal Communications Commission
Internet access for schools and
to provide needy schools and libraries
to govern the E-Rate program would be
libraries.
with discounts ranging from 20
eliminated under a new joint
"It is hard to justify the continuation
percent to 90 percent for
House-Senate measure.
of the excise tax in an era of budget
telecommunications services, including
The Schools and Libraries Internet
surpluses, and it is harder still to
Internet access.
Access Act (H.R. 4324, S.
swallow a new tax on our monthly
In recent weeks, Congress has shown
2348) - - introduced last week by Rep.
phone bill," said Burns, chairman of the
support for the E-Rate program, but
Billy Tauzin, R-La., and Sen. Conrad
Senate
Subcommittee
on
lawmakers have been highly critical of
Burns, R-Mont. - - would eradicate the
Communications. "This legislation is an
the SLC and the manner in which it
Schools and Libraries Corporation and
excellent compromise that would
has administered the program.
shift authority for the program from the
allow us to keep our promise of
A recent General Accounting Office
FCC
to
the
National
educational access to the Internet
report found that, under the SLC's
Telecommunications and Information
without sticking it to the American
direction, the E-Rate application
Administration.
taxpayer. At the same time, we are
process was taking longer than
The measure cuts the federal excise
cutting the new bureaucracy that
expected, the effectiveness of key
tax on consumer telephone bills from
oversees the program and relying on
compliance checks is questionable,
3 percent to 1 percent. It also devotes
current agencies."
program procedures have not yet been
the remaining proceeds to a
The Burns-Tauzin measure calls for
finalized, and the program lacks clear
"Telecommunications Technology Trust
approximately $1.7 billion to be
and specific performance goals and
Fund" from which needs-based state
authorized for the E-Rate program
measures.
46. LRP Publications
August 3, 1998
Teacher Group Launches Laptop Computer Initiative
for Educators
Science and math instructors figure
"We believe the future of science
to analyze a problem, plan and conduct
to benefit this year from a new,
education will include the use of
an experiment, organize results, and
privately funded program that gives
personal, portable computers by all
communicate their findings.
them a chance to show how laptop
teachers and students," said John
Twenty plans will be selected by a
computers can be used as tools for
Sumansky, president of the Toshiba
panel of field experts for publication
teaching and learning.
America Foundation. "And, while
in an NSTA-produced book and
With a grant from the Toshiba
there is a great potential for the laptop
CD-ROM package.
America Foundation, the National
computer leading to significant
"Laptops have the potential to usher
Science Teachers Foundation will
improvements in the teaching and
in a whole new array of hands-on
administer the Laptop Learning
learning of science, it will only be
teaching activities that can be used
Challenge, a program for educators to
realized if we begin now to explore and
inside and outside the classroom, and
present innovative ideas for using
construct lessons that employ the
teachers need to be on the forefront of
laptop computers to enhance science
power and flexibility of the laptop."
this technology," said Steven Rakow,
and math education.
To participate in the program,
NSTA president. "We are especially
The program will be open to all
educators will submit lesson plans that
excited that we can introduce these
educators during the 1998-1999 school
have both science and math components
strategies to our new teachers in
year. The National Council of Teachers
and are performed using one or more
training and prepare them for the
of Mathematics also will have input
laptop computers. The plans should
classroom of the future.
on the project.
describe an investigation for students
47. Education Week
August 4, 1998
Georgia, Maryland Beef Up Teacher Education
Programs
By Kathleen Kennedy Manzo
Students who graduate from teacher training programs in Georgia and
54
Maryland will soon enter the classroom
"The bottom line is that our
standards, which may lengthen the time
buoyed by more extensive coursework
graduates must be better prepared to
for getting a degree, could also create
in reading and mathematics instruction.
teach," Chancellor Stephen R. Portch of
new challenges, some observers say.
Graduates of the 15 education
the Georgia university system said in a
"A number of our members have
programs at Georgia's state universities
statement.
been struggling and don't think they
will also be backed by a guarantee from
The system will guarantee that
were prepared enough to deal with
the university system.
graduates at every level have sufficient
[classroom] issues," said Tim Callahan,
Under a 10-principle plan to
knowledge of the subject matter they
a spokesman for the Professional
improve teacher preparation programs
expect to teach and that they will be
Association of Georgia Educators, an
unanimously approved by the Georgia
able to demonstrate effective teaching
independent teachers' organization that
state regents last month, elementary
skills within their first two years in the
approves of the plan. "We are setting
education candidates will be required to
classroom.
the bar a little higher, and we may find
complete an academic minor in both
If they are unable to do so, the
ourselves with some shortages of
reading and math. Middle school
system will provide additional training.
educators in the pipeline. But that will
teacher-candidates will need minor
Ongoing professional development will
be transitional."
concentrations in language arts, math,
also be offered for all classroom
Meanwhile, a Maryland reading task
science, and social studies, while
teachers.
force proposed last month that all new
aspiring high school teachers will have
Raising the Bar
teachers and those seeking
to complete additional requirements in
The state education department,
recertification in that state take up to 12
each subject they expect to teach.
which has been working with the
semester hours in reading instruction.
Beginning in the fall of 1999, all
university system on an initiative to
The state board approved the measure
education majors will have to
improve
education
from
in an 11 to I vote last month.
accumulate 15 to 18 credits in each
pre-kindergarten through college,
subject to meet the new requirements.
endorsed the plan. But the new
Most education graduates now
said. "It is clear we need to make some
new courses] is the best way to make
complete just one reading course, and
changes."
sure teachers have the skills they need
some new teachers enter the classroom
Some union officials and
to teach children to read," said Karl K.
without any background in the subject.
teacher-educators oppose the new
Pence, the president of the Maryland
Three new courses will focus on
policy. While higher standards are
State Teachers Association, a National
reading, reading instruction, and
needed, they say, mandating a specific
Education Association affiliate.
instructional materials and strategies.
number of courses will not guarantee
"Teacher education departments have
"State test results have been
teachers' improved performance in the
retooled their programs, and they feel
relatively mediocre," Ron Peiffer, the
classroom.
that they've permeated these skills
assistant state schools superintendent,
"The question is whether [requiring
throughout in-service training.'
48. LRP Publications
Aug. 3, 1998
Study Reveals Threat of School Shootings "Overblown"
The media blitz fed by the
The liberal criminal justice research
programs and restricting gun sales."
half-dozen fatal school shootings in the
group drew data from a variety of
As a result of the hype, the study's
last six months has created the public
recent sources, including the Center for
authors argued, lawmakers are
perception that such violence is on the
Disease Control, the U.S. Department
misguided in their legislative efforts to
rise, when research shows it has
of Education's National Center for
solve a problem that does not exist.
decreased in recent years, a new study
Education Statistics and the U.S.
"[A]s the risk of school death is
claims.
Department of Justice.
overblown, we are witnessing a tragic
The number of fatal attacks in
The report argues that the media
misdirection of attention and
schools is lower than it was five years
exposure and drama surrounding this
resources," the report said.
ago, the Justice Policy Institute revealed
year's school shootings leads the public
The study pinned "everyday gun
in a recent study. The report cited a
and policy-makers to believe that such
violence" as a more pressing issue,
23.7 percent decline in violent school
violence is becoming a trend.
citing that "as many as 8 kids a day are
deaths from the 1992-93 school year
"Media coverage of these dramatic
killed by guns kids are killed in gun
through the current school year.
killings has created a misperception
accidents 23 times the rate they are
The report - - School House Hype:
that schools are dangerous," said
killed in schools.
School Shootings and the Real Risk
Vincent Schiraldi, director of the
"The best data on the very specific
Kids Face in America - says 55 deaths
Justice Policy Institute. "In fact, schools
threat of school-associated violent
resulted from school shootings in the
are still the safest place in America for
death reveals that children face a
1992-93 academic year; 51 in 1993-94;
kids. If we want to reduce the overall
one-in-a-million chance of being
20 in 1994-95; 35 in 1995-96, 25 in
number of childhood gun deaths, we
killed at school," the report added.
1996-97 and 40 in 1997-98.
should be expanding after-school
49. Education Week
55
August 4, 1998
Taxes, Transfer Program on the Table In St. Louis
Desegregation Settlement
By Caroline Hendrie
erects a framework for continuing the
will look like," said Cleveland
When he signed a recent bill aimed
major elements of the city's nationally
Hammonds, the superintendent of the
at ending court-ordered school
known urban-suburban transfer
46,000-student St. Louis district.
desegregation in Missouri, Gov. Mel
program once federal oversight ends.
"Everything is on the table."
Carnahan hailed it as "a monumental
Several key provisions, though, will
Riding on the settlement talks,
piece of legislation." The measure's
not take effect unless a settlement is
among other provisions, are:
final outlines, however, are scarcely set
reached to get the state off the hook in
Funding,
governance,
and
in stone.
the 26-year-old case. And other features
educational programming in the
Conceived as a tool for extricating
of the bill can be scrapped or modified
troubled St. Louis district;
the state from court-ordered
during negotiations
desegregation in St. Louis, the new law
"Nobody knows what the final thing
Millions of extra dollars for districts
For St. Louis school leaders, money
Transfers at Stake
statewide, thanks to changes in the
heads a lengthy list of obstacles to such
Among the other obstacles to a
funding formula aimed at benefiting
a deal. The city currently receives $70
settlement is continuation of the transfer
districts with large numbers of poor
million to $75 million annually in
program, the largest of its kind in the
students and steep local tax rates: and
court-ordered desegregation payments.
country.
Some
13,000
The transfer program for St. Louis
To help replace some of those funds
African-American students from St.
and 16 nearby suburbs, which many
once the case is settled, the law
Louis attend schools in 16
integration advocates view as a flagship
authorizes about $45 million in new
predominantly white suburbs, while
of interdistrict desegregation efforts
state aid for the city and lays out a plan
1,400 white suburban students are
nationally.
for raising local taxes by about $21
bused to city magnet schools.
All Eyes on St. Louis
million annually.
Lawmakers say they intended to
The legislation, which the
But because of a provision that
provide enough state money to maintain
Democratic governor signed in late
rewards districts with high local tax
those exchanges. But some school
June, sets a March 15 deadline for
rates, much of the state replacement
officials question whether the law does
settlements that release the state from
funding would become available only if
that. Moreover, the legislators left
court-ordered desegregation spending
St. Louis voters agree to the tax
unaddressed exactly how money would
in St. Louis and Kansas City. The state
increase. Even in this best-case
be distributed among districts.
has spent about $3 billion since the
scenario, the district faces a net loss of
Another potential impediment is the
mid-1980s to remedy unconstitutional
$25 million to $30 million in annual
law's requirement that each
school segregation in those cities.
state aid under the law.
participating suburb hold a referendum
Since a federal judge has approved
The two African-American state
six years after court control ends on
such a deal in Kansas City, all eyes are
senators who represent the city have
whether to keep taking city students.
now on St. Louis. While some
clashed over the legislation, in part
Mr. Taylor, for one, said he sees no
potentially deal-breaking issues divide
because of the tax issue.
reason why districts should have that
the parties there, many analysts believe
And Sheryl H. Davenport, the
option.
the stage is set for an end to litigation.
president of the local affiliate of the
William H. Danforth, a former
("Judge Decides State Funds for
American Federation of Teachers, said
chancellor of Washington University in
Desegregation To End in K.C.," April
the proposed tax increase helped
St. Louis, has been appointed by the
2, 1997.)
persuade the union to fight the bill.
court to coordinate a settlement. And
"We think that this is a one-time,
Observers say the best hope for
among those hoping he succeeds is
tremendous opportunity to resolve the
getting a yes vote is a settlement that
Alpha Nickelberry, 18, who graduated
case," said John R. Munich, the state's
lays out a credible plan for improving
from high school in the suburban
deputy attorney general. William L.
city schools. On the other hand, a
Lindbergh district last spring.
Taylor, a Washington-based lawyer
settlement is unlikely without financial
"I hope in my heart that it
who represents the National
assurances for St. Louis once the court
continues," he said of the transfer
Association for the Advancement of
pulls out. Kenneth C. Brostron, the St.
program. "If not, you're going to have
Colored People in the case, shares that
Louis schools' general counsel, predicts
kids who are all the same going to
view.
the answer lies in making any legal deal
certain schools, and they're not going to
Cash a Concern
conditional on a referendum's approval.
be ready to go out into the world.'
50. LRP Publications
August 3, 1998
Clinton Gears Up to Veto GOP Education Agenda
56
President Clinton today vowed to
comes in the wake of his recent
Republican-led Congress for cutting
veto any congressional budget that
criticism of funding allotted for
more than $3 billion from the
does not contain adequate funding for
various initiatives in the House's
administration's proposed budget,
the administration's
cornerstone
proposed education agenda (see
including funding for smaller class
education initiatives and summer job
D.C.Daily, July 29).
sizes, school construction, Internet
programs.
"The House Republican plan puts
connection in schools, reading tutors
The
president,
addressing
politics ahead of people and puts your
and hiring 100,000 additional
participants of the federal summer jobs
future in the back seat. That is wrong,"
teachers.
program. again denounced the
the president said to the group of
"There are those in Congress who
Republican-supported budget proposal
federal summer employees. "And if a
disagree with [my] agenda," the
that would cut funding for the jobs
bill like the one that is proposed by
president said. "They have proposed a
program and inhibit expansion of Head
the House Republicans passes, 1 will
narrow and much more partisan plan
Start, after-school programs and
veto it."
that, in my view, is not a step into the
national testing. Clinton's statement
Clinton
condemned
the
future, but a step backward.
51. Education Week
August 4, 1998
Barriers to Education Exist Long Before High School
Among Latinos, Report Says
By Lynn Schnaiberg
dropout
rate for Latino youths is 30
States than there are African-Americans
While much has been made of the
percent,
compared to 7.7 percent
younger than 18.
high dropout rates among Hispanic
for whites and 12.6 percent for
"Because of the size of the Latino
students, a recent report suggests that
African-Americans. ("U.S.
Report
youth population, even modest
Latinos face barriers to gaining a good
Tracks High Dropout Rate Among
improvements in Latino educational
education long before high school.
Hispanics," Feb. 11, 1998.)
attainment mean a boon for the United
And those barriers seem to persist
Hispanic children also are less likely
States," Mr. Yzaguirre said.
throughout Hispanic students' school
to enroll in preschool programs such as
The report, which largely draws on
years, says the report released late last
Head Start, take rigorous academic
previously published data, is intended
month by the Washington-based
classes, or attend a four-year college,
to focus attention to the dramatic
National Council of La Raza, a leading
the report says.
achievement gap that exists between
advocacy group for Hispanics.
Rafl Yzaguirre, the president of La
Hispanic and white children. is also
"We really want to redefine the
Raza, said in a prepared statement that
intended as a call to action among
picture for Latino education and
the fate of Hispanic children will have a
community groups, business leaders,
not make it a single issue: dropouts.
large effect on the United States as a
and policymakers at the federal, state,
We need to look at what
comes
whole. Recent figures from the U.S.
and local levels.
before that," said Sonia M. Perez, a
Census Bureau show that there are now
report co-author. The cumulative
more Hispanic children in the United
52. Education Week
August 4, 1998
Pirated Software Could Prove Costly
To L.A. District
By Julie Blair
681,500-student district to come into
Occupational Center was prompted by
An internal audit of one school in
compliance with federal copyright law
the BSA, a watchdog organization for
the Los Angeles Unified School District
in three years, an effort officials say
seven leading software companies,
has uncovered hundreds of pirated
could cost the Los Angeles schools $4.5
following a call in 1996 to the group's
computer-software programs, and that
million.
pirating hot line.
could end up costing the district
Compliance efforts would likely
Industry specialists say the problems
millions of dollars.
mean holding seminars for staff
in Los Angeles can be found in
Under a tentative agreement, the
members, purchasing licensed software,
educational institutions across the
district would be required to pay
removing unlicensed software, and
country and could cost schools millions
$300,000 to the Washington-based
monitoring the schools' use of software,
in copyright-violation penalties.
Business Software Alliance for
said Victoria M. Castro, the school
Pirating
involves
making
infringement.
board president.
unauthorized copies of licensed
The accord would also require the
The audit of the West Valley
software, books, or music -and all are
57
violations of federal law.
the proposed settlement at a school
Elsen, the BSA's director of marketing
In Los Angeles, the illegal copies
board meeting Aug. 25.
and public relations.
were most likely were made by
Checking software use in the 660
While there are no statistics on the
well-intentioned
teachers
or
district schools would not be an easy
number of schools that pirate software,
administrators who did not realize they
task, Ms. Castro said. Some facilities
an estimated one in four programs used
were doing anything wrong, said Rich
have hundreds of computers, and each
in the United States is bootlegged, she
Mason, the general counsel for the
year the district spends $8 million on
said.
district.
new software, she said.
"Despite great strides recently
"If we did [a districtwide] audit
The district has a policy against
there is still a lot of software that is
we would probably find some
pirating copyrighted materials, but, Ms.
copied and distributed. Unfortunately,
significant use of unlicensed software,"
Castro said, the computer policy is
as long as there is a resource need, there
Mr. Mason said. Employees "are simply
"probably not as strong" as the other
is a tendency for that to happen, said
not knowing they're not supposed to do
sections.
David Byer, the vice president for
this."
Universal Problem
government affairs at the Software
Officials
of
the
nation's
The issue of pirated computer
Publishers Association in Washington.
second- largest district plan to discuss
software is a universal one, said Karine
The law on computer software
-such as books and Internet materials
Monitoring how products are used
should be clear, but the use of the
-can be copied for educational
may prove the most difficult element of
Internet is murkier, said August W.
purposes under strict guidelines, Mr.
new technology, the experts say, and
Steinhilber, a Maryland lawyer who is
Byer said.
informing staff members of district
an expert in copyright law.
One solution would be to purchase a
policy may be the best way to prevent
In most cases, the federal Fair Use
districtwide license that would allow
abuses.
Act of 1976 does not apply to software.
districts to duplicate some programs
Some other copyrighted products
within specified schools, Mr. Byer said.
53. Education Week
August 4, 1998
Waco Gets Tough With Summer School Effort
By Robert C. Johnston
cheap.
curriculum with state learning
Summer vacation has finally arrived
After spring tests, 20 percent of
standards. And, in teacher evaluations,
for nearly 2,000 students in Waco,
Waco's 1st through 8th graders faced
principals are comparing student grades
Texas, who endured six weeks of
retention, prompting a record summer
with TAAS scores.
summer school under the toughest
school enrollment that carried with it a
Today, the higher stakes the district
retention policy in the Lone Star State.
$1 million price tag.
has attached to the state exam are being
Last summer, the Waco school board
Michele Ryan, the president of the
credited with improving scores on the
declared that 1st through 8th graders
Waco Council of PTAs, believes it is
most recent TAAS this spring.
who failed standardized tests would not
money well spent. "It's a good first
Waco students raised their reading
advance to the next grade. Instead, such
step," she said. "The more we expect
and math scores 10 percentage points
students would have to attend a month
from children, the more they're going to
over last year's; the state average went
and a half of summer school and then
put forth."
up 3 percentage points. The
be retested. The new practice was
Grade Inflation?
performance of the district's black
launched this summer.
Waco's stricter policy began with a
students shot up 16.6 percentage points,
Now, despite a lawsuit brought by a
1996 district study that found a high
while the average score for black
group of local parents seeking to end
rate of students who passed their classes
youngsters statewide rose by 6
the effort, state officials are looking to
but failed the Texas Assessment of
percentage points.
Waco as a pilot project on scrapping
Academic Skills, a state exam given in
To help the students who didn't
so-called social promotion. In fact, the
grades 3-8 and grade 10.
reach threshold scores, the district hired
policy in the working-class city in
Waco's passing rates on the 1995
154 teachers for summer programs on
east-central Texas has drawn praise
TAAS were 58.7 percent in reading and
18 campuses.
from Republican Gov. George W. Bush,
42 percent in math -more than 20
Waco regularly has summer school
who has pledged to end such
percentage points below the state
for students who fail to meet grade and
promotions statewide if he is re-elected
average in each category.
attendance marks for promotion. But
this fall.
"We found there was very little
this year's program is larger and more
"Ending social promotion is one of
correlation between report card grades
focused.
Governor Bush's top priorities," said
and TAAS scores," district
In addition to holding the size of
Debbi Head, a spokeswoman for Mr.
Superintendent Rosanne Stripling said.
summer classes to a maximum of 16
Bush. "He agrees with Waco's goal and
"This became the platform for pursuing
students, the district sought out strong
supports it."
a new policy."
reading and math teachers and raised
But raising the bar in the
The district has addressed the
their hourly pay from $14 last year to
16,000-student Waco district won't be
discrepancy by more closely aligning
$18.
58
"We encouraged principals to be
on confidence and letting students
Mr. Gibson, who has one son in a
very selective," Ms. Stripling said. "No
know that they can do this."
district school, supports a broader
matter how wonderful a program is,
The Bait'
approach to ending promotions of
success depends on who administers it."
But the new retention strategy has
students who are not academically
In addition to a curriculum tailored
riled some people.
ready for the next grade
to their weaknesses, the students
McLennan County Commissioner
"Low performance on the TAAS is a
received tips on strategy for last week's
Lester Gibson is leading a small group
direct reflection on the administration,
makeup tests, the results of which will
of minority parents who oppose the
but they're making students look like
be ready this month.
program. In a recent lawsuit, they say
criminals and not victims," he said. "If
Students who fail again will be
that the TAAS was not designed to
they're basing retention on one test in
placed in classes this fall designed to
determine student promotion.
one year, that's wrong."
get them up to grade level as soon as
Moreover, identifying students to be
Ms. Stripling said such arguments
possible.
held back based on the exam violates
are groundless. The policy, she added,
"There's a certain amount of
TAAS confidentiality laws, the suit
seeks to make parents and their children
anxiety," said Eileen Lytle, the director
contends. A hearing in the case has
more responsible for student learning.
of the district's extended-year program.
been set for Aug. 10 in state district
"That's why teachers are trying to work
court.
Besides, Texas already requires
from high school, she said.
a hook, but if there's no bait, the fish
students to pass an exit exam, first
She compared her district's use of
won't grab it. This is the bait."
given in the 10th grade, to graduate
tests to fishing: "You can have line and
54. Education Week
August 4, 1998
Despite National Defeat, NEA and AFT Work Toward
Mergers in States
By Jeff Archer and Ann Bradley
position."
unifications could "take the pressure off
New Orleans
In Minnesota's case, for instance, the
having a national merger."
A crucial vote here this summer
two unions are "living together" and
Culture Clashes
dashed union leaders' hopes for an
want permission to marry, Sandra
The debate over the "principles of
imminent merger, but in a shift of
Peterson, the president of the
unity" that would have created the 3.2
strategy, the two national teachers'
Minnesota Federation of Teachers, told
million-member so-called United
unions are working to allow their state
delegates to the AFT's convention here.
Organization underscored, meanwhile,
affiliates to unify while pulling together
"States who are ready must have the
the internal differences between the two
a process to guide future negotiations at
authority to begin to merge."
unions.
the national level.
Minnesota leaders had hoped to get
Within the NEA, a group of state
Delegates took opposing positions
the green light to consolidate by Sept.
and local affiliates organized this spring
on a blueprint for merging at their
1. State affiliates in Florida, Montana,
to defeat the document. Members sent
respective conventions held here last
and New Mexico also are in varying
out detailed objections to the principles,
month. The National Education
stages of planning for unification.
made one-on-one contacts with
Association rejected the plan, 57
Forging an acceptable plan for state
delegates here, and orchestrated a
percent to 43 percent, stopping it in its
mergers could be difficult.
sophisticated strategy for the two-hour
tracks. In a later, largely symbolic poll,
"The guidelines are not going to be
merger discussion held July 4.
97.7 percent of the American
easily arrived at because you get at the
They set the terms of the debate by
Federation of Teachers' delegates who
heart of what a national merger is all
highlighting all the ways the merged
voted favored it.
about," said NEA-New York President
union would depart from such
After the votes, though, delegates
Gregory Nash, a member of the NEA's
longstanding NEA traditions as
from both unions adopted similar
negotiating committee. "But I think that
secret-ballot
voting,
policies reaffirming their overall
it can be done."
minority-representation
guarantees,
support for unity and calling for
Negotiators will have to decide, for
term limits for officers, and
guidelines to permit state-level mergers.
example, how to structure members'
independence from the AFL-CIO.
Bob Chase, the president of the NEA,
dues to pay for the services both unions
("AFL-CIO Label Is Most Ticklish Of
said in a recent interview that he hopes
offer. In the past, state mergers were
Issues for NEA Members Deciding
his union's board of directors can take
barred altogether, in hopes that national
Union's Future," June 24, 1998.)
up the issue of guidelines for state
unity would smooth the way.
"We in Louisiana do fear that our
mergers at its October meeting.
Linda Bacon, the president of the
past beliefs are being diminished simply
"I think it's important that we deal
NEA-affiliated Pinellas County (Fla.)
for the sake of change," President Mary
with it as soon as possible," he said. "I
Classroom Teachers Association and a
Washington of the Louisiana
don't think we want to place those states
proponent of a combined national
Association of Educators said in a
[looking to merge] in a difficult
union, said she fears a flurry of state
thundering defense of preserving the
59
NEA. "This makes a mockery of our
perhaps that would have been
The principles of unity called for a
core beliefs."
acceptable."
blend of the two methods for the United
In contrast, proponents shied away
Philip Rumore, the president of the
Organization. Individual delegates'
from the details of the merger accord
Buffalo (N.Y.) Teachers Federation, an
votes would have been kept secret, but
and argued that unity would help the
nea affiliate, who helped lead the
tallies of how local and state affiliates
union defend public education against
opposition to the principles of unity,
voted would have been recorded.
attacks from conservatives and
said the anti-merger campaign wouldn't
Poor Organization?
advocates of vouchers for private
have worked without the secret ballot.
At the AFT convention, held July
school tuition.
In the 2.4 million-member NEA,
17-20, many speakers criticized the
In retrospect, Ms. Bacon of Pinellas
delegates vote their consciences in
NEA delegates for repudiating the
County said, delegates didn't see a
secret; in the 985,000-member AFT,
agreement reached by their top leaders
compelling need to change. "Maybe we
votes are reported to constituents. The
and failing to follow the wishes of the
bit off more than we could chew for the
secret ballot "allows for dissent," Mr.
association's members, whom they
first vote," she said. "If we could have
Rumore said. "That's the strength of the
asserted favor a merger.
found a way to do interim steps,
NEA."
Sandra Feldman, the AFT president,
aft said here, "because we just visited
"In the long haul, it has to happen,"
maintained that some NEA delegations
this process, and the only mandate we
said Bruce S. Cooper, a professor of
"did not come as a cohesive group,
really have right now that would be
educational administration at Fordham
accountable to the members." She also
mutual would be for state mergers to go
University in New York City.
called the sentiment in the NEA against
forward."
Despite the contention that public
affiliation with organized labor
It took more than three years of talks
education is under attack, Mr. Cooper
"old-fashioned snobbishness."
between the unions' negotiating teams
doubted that many NEA delegates felt
The aft has long been a member of
to hash out the merger principles. The
threatened enough to join forces with
the afl-CIO, the giant federation of
NEA's merger resolution, passed the
their old rivals in the AFT. But if
unions, and the United Organization
day after the unity vote, calls for future
school vouchers become more
would have kept that affiliation.
negotiations to be more strongly
widespread -and Mr. Cooper is
There was no mistaking the internal
directed by members' concerns.
confident they will -the old rivalries
political nature of the AFT, which has a
Specifically, it requires that NEA
will seem less significant, he suggested.
dominant caucus that moves issues
negotiators analyze a survey of this
"The press to unify will probably not
through the ranks and, in the view of
summer's delegates, and that they
come from the inside, but from
supporters, gets things accomplished.
regularly consult an advisory committee
without," Mr. Cooper said.
Detractors view the setup as less
to be made up of leaders from large and
Union critics hailed the rejection of
democratic than the NEA's and stifling
small state affiliates with varying views
the unity principles as a victory for
to opposing viewpoints.
of the principles of unity.
teachers because it will preserve a
Day Higuchi, the president of United
Mr. Chase, the union's president,
measure of choice in representation.
Teachers Los Angeles, attended both
said he hopes an advisory panel of
Gregory Fossedal, the chairman of the
conventions because his local is
about 15 members can be appointed this
Alexis de Tocqueville Institution in
affiliated with both national unions.
month. Its first task will be to review a
Arlington, Va., asserted that the focus
Many NEA delegates "didn't have a
draft of the survey, to be sent to
on merger misses union members' real
clue" about what the principles of unity
delegates this fall.
concerns.
meant, he told his AFT colleagues.
"It's going to complicate things, but
"There is dissatisfaction with what
"It was shocking not so much
it's going to do it in a helpful way,"
they're paying [in dues], a lack of
because the promotion of the principles
former NEA President Keith B. Geiger,
accountability for where it goes, and
of unity was badly organized, as much
a merger supporter, said of the survey.
with the single-issue fight against
as the perception that it didn't need to
"You've got to be constantly assessing
school choice and vouchers," he said.
be organized," he said.
how far your members are willing to go
Truce Lives On
AFT delegates at the convention
out on that plank."
Both union presidents pledged that
suggested organizing a caucus in
The new process is less cumbersome
their organizations would not go back
support of unity, drawing heavily on
than an alternative NEAdelegates
to fighting each other.
members from merged local affiliates
considered, which would have required
The NEA's merger resolution calls
such as the UTLA and from states with
future merger talks to "safeguard the
for reauthorizing the national "no-raid
good working relationships.
democratic,governance,
and
agreement" that had sought to end
In the other camp, Mr. Rumore has
representational structures of the NEA."
battles for representation. Approved in
pledged to continue dogging the merger
It called for a constitutional convention
1996, the agreement expired in May.
issue, including demanding budget data
to draft the United Organization's
Ms. Feldman said the AFT's executive
from both national unions to assess the
governing documents.
council would consider renewing the
financial impact of merger.
Faced with both proposals, NEA
agreement in October.
Rank and File Input
delegates voted 53 percent to 47 percent
"We certainly do not intend to go to
Although guidelines for state
in a rare roll-call poll to consider the
war," she told her delegates last month.
mergers could be approved within the
less restrictive merger policy, which
The unions will continue their Joint
next year, the forecast for national
they went on to pass by a wide margin.
Council, a committee of 15 leaders
unification remains hazy.
Most observers agree that the two
from each organization that was formed
"I think that it's not going to happen
unions are destined to become one. The
last fall to focus on teacher quality,
very immediately," Ms. Feldman of the
only question is when.
safety and discipline, and infrastructure
60
needs.
the merger plan could raise questions
said.
"The NEA and the AFT need to find
about members' support for Mr. Chase
Many of the NEA affiliates at the
more common areas to work together
and his push to link unionism with
forefront of those efforts, however,
in," said Mark Simon, the president of
concern for the quality of teachers and
lamented what they saw as a lost
the Montgomery County (Md.)
public schools. He is up for re-election
opportunity in the merger vote.
Education Association, an NEA
next summer.
"Our problem is that for a while
affiliate. "There were too many
But many observers doubted that the
we've been sort of a lonely voice within
delegates who had never met anyone
vote reflected dwindling support for
the NEA, but often the most receptive
from the AFT, and they were more
Mr. Chase or his reforms. "I think Bob
people we've found are in the AFT,"
likely to believe a lot of the
Chase's leadership cachet is very high
said John Grossman, the president of
misinformation."
even though he was defeated on this
the Columbus (Ohio) Education
As part of their cooperative work,
issue," Mr. Simon said.
Association. "And so we've been
the unions will sponsor a joint
After the vote, the NEA president
looking forward to a new day of
conference on teacher quality next
vowed that his advocacy for teacher
synergy."
month.
quality would continue. "We're not
The NEA's resounding rejection of
going to back away from that at all," he
55. Education Week
August 4, 1998
Schools Gear Up As Bilingual Ed. Law Takes Effect
By Lynn Schnaiberg
welcome the flexibility to set up
bilingual education do not learn English
Next week will be a busy one at
programs that they believe comply with
well or quickly.
Belvedere Elementary School in East
the law, they also wonder whether such
In recent years, one-third of
Los Angeles.
flexibility leaves them more vulnerable
California's 1.4 million LEP students
Nearly 500 of the multitrack school's
to legal challenges down the road.
were enrolled in bilingual education
1,300 students will return to school, and
Court Gives Green Light
programs.
administrators will have to carry out a
School boards looking for more time
Debating Language
new state law that calls for
to draw up their plans were blocked last
The state school board deliberately
limited-English-proficient children to
month.
drew its rules with broad strokes to
be taught in English-immersion
A federal district judge in San
grant districts maximum flexibility in
programs, rather than bilingual
Francisco rejected a petition from civil
carrying out the new law, said Bill
education.
rights groups seeking to block the law's
Lucia, the board's executive director.
The school must inform the parents
implementation. The plaintiffs have
But Proposition 227 backers say the
of its 1,000 LEP students of the
appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals
board may have overreached in the area
impending changes -and the
for the 9th Circuit.
of parent waivers, enabling districts to
opportunity to seek a waiver to exempt
U.S. District Judge Charles A. Legge
easily circumvent English immersion,
their children from English immersion.
ruled July 15 that there is no
said Sheri Annis, a spokeswoman for
"This hasn't really hit our parents
constitutional right to bilingual
the "English for the Children" campaign
yet. But it will," said Wil Shandy, the
education and that a denial of bilingual
that launched Proposition 227.
assistant principal at the predominantly
education on its face does not violate
Against such an uncertain landscape,
Hispanic school.
federal law.
districts need to make their own best
The law kicks in for school terms
The California law calls for LEP
judgment about how to proceed, said
that begin after Aug. 2, and year-round
students to be taught in "sheltered" or
Theresa Garcia, a policy analyst with
schools, like Belvedere, will be among
"structured"
English-immersion
the California School Boards
the first in California to translate
classrooms where "nearly all"
Association.
Proposition 227 into the classroom.
instruction is in English, but curriculum
The central question many districts
Other schools across the state's 1,000
presentation is designed for students
are now grappling with as they devise
districts open for business later this
learning English as a second language.
programs is how much teachers can use
month, and observers say the coming
In most cases, students will remain in
students' native languages without
school year will be filled with trial and
such programs for no more than one
violating the law. State officials and the
error.
year before moving into the
law's backers have declined to elaborate
California voters approved the
mainstream, according to the law.
on the law's requirement that programs
controversial ballot measure on June 2.
Under some circumstances, parents can
be conducted "overwhelmingly" or
And the state school board last month
receive waivers to enable their children
"nearly all" in English.
approved temporary regulations that,
to continue in bilingual education,
"It's a legal and a political issue for
for the most part, leave to districts the
where they are taught at least partly in
boards to make a determination of what
task of interpreting the sometimes
their native languages.
is 'overwhelmingly' or 'nearly all' in
open-ended terms of the new law.
Supporters of bilingual education
their community and what do they feel
("Uncertainty Follows Vote on Prop.
say the approach enables students to
is adequate educationally," Ms. Garcia
227," June 10, 1998.)
keep up academically while learning
said. "Districts are really all over the
While many administrators say they
English. Critics say students in
place."
61
Observers say the stakes could be
state's total LEP population -plans to
exemptions from Proposition 227.
high because the law allows parents to
offer parents four options. Parents
Charter schools, however, are
sue teachers and school officials who
could choose to place their child in a
exempt from much of the education
"willfully and repeatedly" refuse to
mainstream all-English class, a
code, including the provisions of
provide English instruction.
bilingual class -which would require a
Proposition 227, and observers point to
And Ms. Annis made clear last week
waiver - or in one of two versions of
such schools as a potential way to avoid
that backers of the measure will be
English immersion that offer varying
the law's intent.
watching for districts that "stretch the
degrees of native-language help.
The Oakland, Berkeley, and
law as far as possible and maybe break
Other districts are going to the courts
Hayward school districts have filed a
that rubber band."
for guidance.
petition in a state court to try to force
Making Plans
Lawyers for the state school board
the state board to consider its waiver
The 681,000-student Los Angeles
have determined that although the
proposals. The districts are scheduled
district, which educates 310,000
board generally has the power to waive
for a hearing in Alameda Superior
students with limited English
parts of the state education code, the
Court late this month.
proficiency -nearly a quarter of the
board could not offer districtwide
San Francisco officials say they will
grant them equal access to the curricula.
expecting
chaos.
The
add an English-immersion option while
"It is important for you to know that
English-as-a-second-language teacher at
continuing bilingual programs they say
our decision to continue our bilingual
Marshall Senior High School has
are required under a 1976 federal
programs is not a defiant act against
organized teacher resistance to
consent decree. The decree stems from
Proposition 227," Superintendent
Proposition 227.
the Lau V. Nichols case. In the
Waldemar Rojas said in a July 22 letter
"There's no question that there will
landmark 1974 Supreme Court
to parents and teachers.
be noncompliance," he said. "Teaching
decision, the court said the schools
But in Los Angeles, despite of his
is hard enough without all these
must offer LEP students special help to
district's plan, Steve Zimmer said he is
restrictions.'
56. Education Week
August 4, 1998
Black Parents Want Focus on Academics
By Ann Bradley
Still, both groups of parents said that
need for high-quality public education,
African-American parents, by an
integration remained an important goal.
common ground on what education
overwhelming margin, want the public
Eight in 10 black parents and 66
ought to look like, and common ground
schools to focus on achievement rather
percent of white parents said it was very
that standards and good teaching and
than on racial diversity and integration,
or somewhat important that their own
community support are essential," she
a survey released last week says.
child's school be racially integrated.
said.
When asked what the bigger priority
Nearly half of black parents said
'Lack of Passion'
for schools should be, 80 percent of
integration was very important,
The study concludes that both
black parents chose raising academic
compared with 28 percent of whites.
groups of parents show "a distinctive
standards and achievement, according
"School integration serves important
lack of energy and passion for
to the survey by Public Agenda, a
-mostly social -functions," the study
integration."
nonpartisan public-opinion research
concludes, "but academic achievement
Those attitudes stem from both races'
firm in New York City. Nine percent
is, for both groups, a separate and
doubts that integration improves
chose achieving diversity and
independent issue."
learning, the report says, and from
integration, and 11 percent said both.
The findings "challenge some
white parents' fears that they will have
Public Agenda and the Public
commonly held assumptions about what
to "forfeit the schools for which they
Education
Network,
a
African-American parents consider
searched long and hard."
Washington-based group of nonprofit
most important," said Deborah
"Time
to
Move
On:
local education funds, plan to use the
Wadsworth, the executive director of
African-American and White Parents
findings to engage Americans in
Public Agenda.
Set an Agenda for Public Schools"
conversations about race and education
While black parents bring different
presents the results of 30-minute
nationwide next year.
experiences to the issue of public
telephone surveys of 800 black and 800
White parents in the survey, whom
education from those of whites, she
white parents conducted March 26 to
researchers found "very reluctant to talk
said, "their concern about quality
April 17, as well as the findings from
about education in racial terms,"
education and academic standards and
eight focus groups and individual
expressed anxiety about integration.
their agenda for achieving these is
interviews with parents and 22 public
More than 60 percent of those polled
nearly identical."
educators. The margin of error for both
said they believed discipline and safety
Wendy D. Puriefoy, the president of
racial groups surveyed is plus or minus
problems, lower reading scores, and
the Public Education Network, called
3 percentage points.
social problems would follow if large
the results "exciting, affirming, and
The focus groups were separated by
numbers of black students began
hopeful."
race in an attempt to make participants
attending a mostly white school.
"There is common ground about the
feel more comfortable about what they
62
wanted to say. Public Agenda hopes to
black students are doing well in school,
No Test Bias Seen
conduct similar research with other
47 percent disagreed, saying that fewer
The survey also examines attitudes
groups of minority parents, such as
than half were achieving, the study
toward the issues of affirmative action
Hispanics and Asian-Americans.
found.
in school hiring and of alleged racial
Black parents' insistence on
Black parents believe the problems
bias in standardized testing.
academic achievement reflects their
facing black students are widespread,
Asked to choose among three ways
fears about how their children are faring
affecting even those outside inner cities
to hire a superintendent in a mostly
in schools, the report suggests. "In their
and without regard to family income.
black district, 76 percent of black
minds, the problem is at crisis point," it
In fact, 60 percent said they would
parents said the choice should be the
says.
switch their children from public to
best candidate, regardless of race. Only
Most black parents (56 percent)
private schools if money were not an
4 percent would have hired a black
estimated that fewer than half of black
obstacle; only 38 percent would stay
candidate even if it meant turning away
students attend good schools with good
with their public schools.
a better-qualified white candidate.
teachers. By contrast, 74 percent
White parents also saw problems
Three-fourths of black parents also
thought that white students attended
with the education of African-American
said that a mostly black district should
good schools.
children, but tended to believe the
hire the best teachers possible,
And while 48 percent of black
problems were confined to low-income
regardless of race.
parents thought that more than half of
families and inner-city schools.
"These findings are strong and
black parents believed that the tests
population at large and thus less likely
consistent
but
somewhat
"measure real differences in educational
to have experienced testing bias in their
counterintuitive," the report says,
achievement," while 18 percent cited a
own school years.
noting that 68 percent of black parents
failure of expectations for the gap.
"Parents are ahead of the politicians
thought that there was some truth to the
"A lot of parents don't lay down the
and the talk show pundits on the issue
statement that teachers and principals,
law with their kids," the report quotes
of test fairness," Mr. Johnson said.
because of racial stereotypes, had lower
one black parent in Cleveland as saying.
"They know what their kids are
expectations for black students.
"It's the quality and effort and training,
experiencing in terms of the quality of
The same proportion said that too
starting at home."
education, and these data suggest that
many white teachers didn't know how to
Indeed, 72 percent of black parents
they're proceeding with that
deal with black students because they
agreed that "too many black parents
information."
were from different cultures.
neglect to push their kids to work hard
Beth Dilley, the executive director of
Even though they believe black
in school," a statement supported by 59
the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Public
students "sometimes pay a price when
percent of white parents.
Education Fund, which is affiliated with
taught by whites," the study says, black
Neal Johnson, a senior research
the Public Education Network, said the
parents -and whites concur -think
partner with the Educational Testing
findings "absolutely mirror what we
that racial considerations divert schools
Service's Washington-based office of
hear here."
from academics.
public leadership, said the study's
"Everybody wants a really good
And although racial bias in
findings jibe with the testing company's
future for their kids," she said. "I think
standardized testing is a perennial issue,
own research, which has found that the
it is unfortunate that so many people
the study found that most
percentage of minority adults who
make judgments about parents of color
African-American parents reject bias as
believe testing is biased is dropping.
wanting less for their kids, when they're
a reason for black students' faring less
Ahead of Politicians
trapped in a system they can't
well than whites on tests.
But he cautioned that Public Agenda
control."I
Only 28 percent attributed such gaps
polled only parents, who would tend to
to cultural bias. Forty-four percent of
be younger than the African-American
57. Education Week
August 4, 1998
Researcher at Center of Storm Over Vouchers
By Debra Viadero
this political science professor with
choice program there.
Cambridge, Mass.
the dry Minnesota wit. Wherever
In Dayton, Ohio, New York City,
School is out on the Harvard
debate roils over statistics from
San Antonio, and the District of
University campus, and the atmosphere
school choice programs, Mr. Peterson is
Columbia, architects of privately
in Paul E. Peterson's book-lined office
usually at the heart of it.
backed choice plans have engaged
is calm, even serene. Footsteps echo in
In Milwaukee, he engaged in a
Mr. Peterson to evaluate their efforts.
the corridor. Small groups of visitors
verbal slugfest over the state-funded
And so far, wherever he has gone,
saunter across the lawn outside.
voucher experiment with
the
he and his colleagues have come to
But the eye of a hurricane is
researcher appointed to evaluate the
the same conclusion: Private school
supposed to be calm.
program. In Cleveland, he was at it
choice works. Students in such
And if any scholar is at the center
again last year, attacking the official
programs, his studies have found, fare
of a political storm these days, it is
evaluation of the
state-financed
better
academically than students
63
who attend public schools to which
the Cleveland program. "And that
Stanford scholar whose 1989 book,
they are assigned.
certainly dominates his perspective on
Politics, Markets, and America's
His findings have endeared him to
these evaluations."
Schools, written with John E. Chubb,
voucher advocates hungry for the
'Highest Repute'
helped propel the current movement for
credibility that his name and his
Critics have also attacked Mr.
private school choice.
university affiliation bring.
Peterson's penchant for bypassing
Mr. Peterson's resume includes a
But some opponents of such
scholarly journals to make his case in
long list of scholarly achievements, and
programs, as well as more
newspaper editorials, and the
his 1981 book about urban politics,
independent-minded
education
conservative funding sources behind
City Limits, was named the best book
researchers, suggest that Mr. Peterson
some of his research.
of the year by the American Political
lets his enthusiasm for vouchers creep
His supporters, however, say he is
Science Association.
into his work.
being demonized.
The 57-year-old researcher rejects
"There's no question that he's a
"It's sort of painful to see Paul taking
the notion that he is anything but a
passionate advocate for vouchers," said
potshots from people who question his
serious academic. If the criticism is
Henry M. Levin, a Stanford University
integrity and think of him as a kind of
sharp, Mr. Peterson says, it's because
professor of education and economics
huckster, when Paul is a scholar held in
the stakes are high: "When people
who sits with Mr. Peterson on a
the highest repute by political
address important topics, they are
committee advising the evaluation of
scientists," said Terry M. Moe, the
inevitably criticized."
In Mr. Peterson's case, the important
That led to a bitter feud between the
the site of the first state-funded voucher
topic is vouchers, one of the most
two men that endures.
program to include religious schools.
politically charged issues in education.
"It obviously went well beyond an
He and Mr. Greene, now an assistant
And many researchers worry that
academic exchange," Mr. Witte said
professor at the University of Texas at
outside pressures are interfering with
recently. "He and several other voucher
Austin, released data showing once
scholarship.
supporters have attacked me personally
again that students in the private
"Even when he has limited data, he's
and constantly misrepresented my
schools had an academic edge over
always squeezing out whatever data he
appointment as evaluator of the
those in the public schools.
can to arrive at a predetermined
Milwaukee program and my objectivity.
There were a couple of catches,
answer," contended Bruce Fuller, a
And I am afraid that led me to act a bit
though. The scores came from only two
researcher from the University of
like them."
of the 55 schools involved in the
California, Berkeley, who has written
Supporters of Mr. Peterson say the
program, although those schools
critically of voucher plans.
personalized tone was out of character
enrolled 15 percent of all the voucher
Personal Exchange
for him.
students.
Mr. Peterson says he was more of a
"Paul doesn't have a history of this
And, rather than being retested a full
skeptic than an advocate when he first
sort of thing," Mr. Moe said, "and I
year later, students tested in the fall
looked at statistics coming out of
don't think Witte does either."
were tested again in the spring -a
Milwaukee, where a pioneering voucher
When Mr. Peterson and Harvard
practice some researchers found
initiative created by the Wisconsin
colleagues Jay P. Greene and Jiangtao
questionable.3 Mr. Peterson has since
legislature to serve poor children was
Du finally got a chance to analyze the
accounted for that difference, and still
launched in 1990.
data in 1995, they reached the opposite
found the private school students
The official, state-commissioned
conclusion from the one they expected.
holding a slight edge.
study, conducted by John F. Witte, an
They found that, after three and four
Paul T. Hill, a University of
education professor at the University of
years, the voucher students
Washington professor and a Peterson
Wisconsin-Madison, compared students
outperformed their public school
supporter, says Mr. Peterson's initial
in the choice program with regular
counterparts in reading and
work on the Cleveland program "is not
Milwaukee public school students.
mathematics.
a persuasive study."
Though parents in the program gave it
But those findings were questioned,
But Mr. Hill, who has written in
high marks, Mr. Witte found that
too, by researchers who pointed out the
support of school choice, remains a
students using the vouchers to attend
high attrition rates at the private
proponent of the Harvard scholar's
private schools did no better on tests
schools. Were the scores higher because
work. "We do now have an
than their public-sector peers did.
the weaker students were leaving the
advocacy-oriented debate, and people
But when Mr. Peterson looked at the
program?1
on the negative side are going to
study's design, he saw what he believed
In an attempt to answer such
present their case any way they can," he
was a better control group: students
criticisms, Mr. Peterson and his
said. "I think Paul is in a position where
who by the luck of the draw did not get
colleagues later revisited the data to
he has to do the same thing or let the
into the private schools of their choice
explore the question of whether student
negative information out there go
and, as a result, remained in public
attrition had skewed the scores. The
unchallenged."
schools. Parents of those students, he
answer, they determined, was no.
Mr. Peterson acknowledges that the
surmised, would be just as motivated
What is more, the positive findings
demand for information on vouchers is
for their children to succeed.
from Milwaukee were later echoed by a
high. "Some data's better than no data at
But when he tried to do that analysis,
Princeton University researcher who
all," he said. "And that was the only
Mr. Witte would not immediately share
conducted her own analysis.
data available on Cleveland for people
the data, citing state-imposed
Critiques in Cleveland
who wanted to know whether it had
restrictions on access, privacy
Last year, Mr. Peterson raised
been working."
considerations, and other concerns.
eyebrows again, this time in Cleveland,
The debate in Cleveland flared up
64
again earlier this year with the release
and to state policymakers.
Harry Bradley Foundation and the John
of the official first-year evaluation of
Those tactics irk some researchers,
M. Olin Foundation.
the program. It found no academic
who contend that such debates are
"That's like the tobacco companies
differences between the 3rd graders in
better conducted in research journals or
sponsoring studies on the effects of
the program and their counterparts in
at conferences.
smoking," Mr. Fuller said.
the city's public schools.
But, said Mr. Peterson's research
Mr. Peterson says his funding
Mr. Peterson, part of a group of
partner Mr. Greene, "it's important to
sources do not influence the outcomes
researchers advising the state
continue to release information without
of his studies. He admits, though, that
evaluators, argued that those findings
going through a lengthy review process
the Milwaukee and Cleveland studies
were suspect, noting among other
when you're addressing real political
were not perfect. Yet they are better, he
criticisms that the study included scores
issues that occur in real time."
argues, than the state-sponsored
for only 94 students.
Eyeing N.Y.C.
evaluations.
Kim Metcalfe, the Indiana
Mr. Fuller of UC-Berkeley takes Mr.
Mr. Peterson's recent research has
University evaluator who conducted
Peterson to task for financing his
bolstered his belief that school choice
that study, defended the results, but Mr.
evaluations with grants from
works, suggesting that "it's having a
Peterson, unconvinced, took his
conservative supporters of voucher
choice that makes the difference rather
argument to newspaper editorial pages
experiments, such as the Lynde and
than which schools students go to."
He is hoping that an evaluation
to do their long-hoped-for randomized
action is so pressing. "I've definitely
under way in New York City may
experiment, in which enough schools
come to the conclusion that big-city
silence his critics for good. In that city,
and enough students will be involved to
school systems are in trouble and that
more than 20,000 applicants competed
overcome the problems with the earlier
something needs to be done," he said.
in a lottery last year for 1,300 privately
research. The first results are due out
"Choice is an option out there that
financed, three-year scholarships to
this fall.
needs to be investigated openly, fully,
about 215 private schools.
If he is dogged in his pursuit of the
and fairly.'
That setup. Mr. Peterson and his
definitive voucher study, Mr. Peterson
colleagues believe, gives them a chance
says, it is because the need for drastic
58. Education Daily
August 4, 1998
Funding Alert
by Staff Reports
[email protected]; or Eric Hamilton,
between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30; and
*
Systemic Initiatives Research: The
Division of Educational
System
between March 1 and April 30, 1999.
National Science Foundation is seeking
Reform,
(703)306-1684;
e-mail,
Funds: About $260 million for all
proposals that break new ground in
[email protected]; Internet:
programs was given in 1997. Grant
education thinking and advance
sizes vary.
systemic reform activities.
http://www.ehr.nsf.gov/ehr/rec/pubs/si-t
Eligibility: Educators, independent
Categories of interest include models
esearch.htm.
producers, public television stations,
of reform, teachers and curriculum
Educational Public Broadcasting:
public television organizations, national
implementation, leadership and
The
Corporation
for
Public
and regional organizations and
governance, and partnerships.
Broadcasting
(CPB)
supports
developers of new media, such as
Specific issues include successful
television,
radio
and
Internet sites and CD-ROMs.
approaches that have been used to move
telecommunications
education
Contact: Office of Education and
schools
or
districts
from
programming and materials. CPB funds
Programming, Corporation for Public
non-standards-based to standards-based
video, radio, new media and education
Broadcasting,
901
E
St.
NW,
science and mathematics education;
projects that focus on American art,
Washington,
DC
20004-2037;
how national standards and basic skills
culture and drama; America's
(202)879-9600;
Internet,
get translated into practice; and the role
international role; children; community;
http://ready.cpb.org/grants.
of district leadership in motivating and
economy; education; government;
Amoco Foundation: The Amoco
coordinating changes across classrooms
health; history; and societal issues.
Foundation supports elementary and
and schools.
All projects also must have high
secondary math and science education
Deadline: Oct. 15. A second
educational value; extend the project's
and gives grants to enhance new or
competition is planned in fiscal 1999.
value through non-broadcast
existing programs for students at all
Funds: $4 million for awards ranging
components or use of multimedia;
levels, including disadvantaged and
from $200,000 to $500,000 a year for
involve partnerships and collaborations
underserved youths.
one to three years.
among producers, scholars, cultural and
The foundation's Celebrating
Eligibility: Universities, colleges and
education institutions, corporations and
Science program brings in third- and
nonprofit, non-academic organizations.
other organizations; and reflect
fifth-grade teachers for free science
Contact: Bernice Anderson, Division
standards of excellence, expertise and
training at local plant facilities. It also
of
Research, Evaluation and
planning.
provides certain schools with needed
Communication, (703)306-1650; email,
Deadline: CPB will accept proposals
equipment such as balances, magnet
65
and electricity labs, microscopes and
program.
Eligibility: Individual schools and
publications. Other initiatives include
Funds: $19 million for 1998 and
school districts in Amoco communities
support of minority-retention programs
1999. Grant sizes vary widely from
nationwide.
at alternative schools for at-risk youths.
$500 to several hundred thousand
Deadline: Deadlines vary by
dollars.
59. Education Daily
August 4, 1998
News Briefs
by Staff Reports
voter-approved initiative to limit
injunction sought by civil rights groups
*
Federal Courts Reject Challenges
bilingual education in California.
to halt implementation of Proposition
To Prop. 227: Two federal courts on
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of
227. The initiative took effect Aug. 2.
Friday
refused
to
block
a
Appeals denied, without comment, an
U.S. District Judge Lourdes Baird
-Rebecca S. Weiner
The average Lone Star State teacher
also ruled on Friday -for the U.S.
*
Texas Teachers Want Fatter
made $32,426 in 1996-97, compared to
District Court for the Central District of
Paychecks: Texas could reap a $6
$38,436 nationally.
California -that Prop. 227 will not
billion budget surplus this year, and
Lawmakers of both parties are
harm students in the Los Angeles
teachers want it to go toward raises so
seriously considering the plan, but
Unified School District.
their salaries will meet the national
won't make any final decisions until
The Mexican American Legal
average.
next January when the state legislature
Defense and Educational Fund and the
Texas teacher unions say a uniform
meets.
American Civil Liberties Union had
pay hike of $6,000, plus incentives to
But budgeters in the state senate
sought to block the measure on both
lure teachers into shortage areas, would
warn that this summer's severe drought
fronts (ED, Aug. 3).
cost $3 billion over two years -but
in Texas could affect how a surplus is
Prop. 227 limits students to one year
help raise teacher quality in the state,
spent. -Jonathan Fox
of bilingual education, with an
where many teachers aren't certified to
emphasis on English immersion.
teach in their subject areas.
60. Education Daily
August 4, 1998
Initiative Spurs Math, Science Teaching Via Laptops
by Rebekah L. Stivers
and K-12 informal settings -will
NSTA's associate executive director
The Laptop Learning Challenge,
receive
Toshiba
laptops
and
Marily DeWall.
sponsored by the National Science
expense-paid trips to NSTA's national
The program deadline likely will be
Teachers Association (NSTA) and the
convention in Boston next March.
in mid-January. "We want to be as
Toshiba America Foundation, aims to
At the convention, finalists will
non-specific as possible with the
increase laptop computer use in
demonstrate their winning laptop lesson
criteria," DeWall said, "so that teachers
teaching math and science both in and
plans, which NSTA will publish on its
have more room for creativity."
out of the classroom.
Web site.
Informal educators, such as museum
K-12 educators are eligible to apply
A book on how to adapt the K-12
and nature center instructors, also are
for the program, which runs during the
laptop lessons for pre-service teachers
encouraged to apply, she added.
1998-99 school year. They must submit
will be published and include a disk of
NSTA will administer the program,
innovative ideas for using laptops both
lessons.
splitting the cost with Toshiba, which
in classroom and informal education
NSTA's board meets next month to
awards grants to middle and high
settings.
review and finalize program guidelines,
schools for projects serving students in
Twenty lesson-plan winners from
which will be available with
grades seven through 12.
four grade categories -K-5, 6-9, 10-12
applications Sept. 1, according to
61. Education Daily
August 4, 1998
Job Training Bills Would Allow Joint Voc Ed Plans
by Gina Farrell
job training legislation that would
joint plans for vocational education, job
Congress has given final approval to
allow, but not mandate, states to submit
training and adult education.
66
The Senate approved the conference
lets adults enroll in family literacy
September from a month-long recess.
committee report, H.R. 1385, by voice
programs.
After the Senate followed the
vote last Thursday. The House followed
One major sticking point for
House's lead by separating job training
suit Friday. President Clinton has
conferces was whether states would be
from voc ed reauthorization, some were
indicated his support for it.
allowed to submit combined plans for
concerned it might mean voc ed would
The legislation would merge 60
job training, voc ed and adult ed. The
be pushed aside this year.
programs into three block grants to
final compromise will allow, but not
But Joe Karpinski, spokesman for
states and localities, while reducing
mandate, these joint, two-year plans.
the Senate Labor and Human Resources
federal involvement; puts training
Now that lawmakers are finished
Committee, said plenty of time remains.
providers in competition with each
with job training reform, they are
"Voc ed shouldn't be affected at all," he
other; gives those seeking training more
expected to take up voc ed
said.
information about program quality: and
reauthorization after returning in
62. Education Daily
August 4, 1998
House Consolidated Loans Spell Trouble In Congress
For ED
by Eli J. Lake
Goodling and other GOP leaders on
consolidated loans at the July 1 rate.
House and Senate lawmakers are
the House education committee are
But GOP staffers point out that ED's
raising a number of concerns with the
concerned that ED loan consolidation
decision has hardened relations between
Education Department's recent
may shut down as it did last summer
the Clinton administration and the
decision to lower interest rates on loans
when the loan volume increased.
committee.
consolidated through its direct student
House staff say they will decide soon
And according to several House staff
loan (DSL) program.
on the feasibility of holding an
members, ED's decision to lower the
House legislative staff contend that
oversight hearing on ED's loan
consolidated DSL interest rate on its
ED's decision has weakened its hand for
consolidation.
direct loan program will have serious
the upcoming conference on the Higher
Goodling cites an ED report that
repercussions in conference.
Education Act (HEA) reauthorization
found the department's completion rate
ED "lost a lot of its leverage on a
bills.
was a paltry 58 percent for
number of issues. We'll think twice
Legislators are worried that ED's
consolidation applications between
about how we deal with them now,"
contractors won't be able to handle the
December 1997 and June 1998.
said Vic Klatt, the House education
increased volume of loan applications
ED argues that this statistic is
panel's majority education coordinator.
that may result from ED's decision to
misleading. In fact, for the 49,900
While Klatt hopes ED will support
offer better rates. But ED officials say
applications turned in to ED between
the final HEA bill and says the
that recent efforts to modernize its DSL
Dec. I and April 30, fewer than 5
committee still will listen to ED's
consolidation operation has prepared it
percent remain unfinished, ED says.
concerns, he doesn't anticipate
for an onslaught of applicants.
In a July 28 response, Riley noted
conferees moving closer to the
Last month, ED established the
that ED has taken a number of steps to
department on the consolidation issue.
lower interest rate for loans
expand and improve the efficiency of its
ED's assistant secretary for
consolidated through DSL to take effect
consolidation operation, including:
postsecondary education David
July 1 and run through Oct. 1. Students
*
A reengineered process by which
Longanecker doesn't think the decision
who got loans at higher interest rates
borrowers certify their loan balances;
on loan consolidation had nearly as
now can refinance them with the
Verifying all information through the
chilling an effect with Congress as
government (ED, June 25).
National Student Loan Data System;
House staff does. In an interview,
In a July 22 letter to Education
Placing a number of new management
Longanecker said the administration is
Secretary Richard Riley, House
and quality assurance mechanisms into
currently developing proposals to either
Education and the Workforce
the consolidation process; and
Hiring
subsidize private lenders or reduce their
Committee Chairman Bill Goodling,
new consultants and systems engineers
consolidation fees in order to keep the
R-Pa., wrote that the education panel is
to handle any increased loan volume.
FEL community in the consolidation
"greatly concerned about the possible
ED desperately wants Congress to
business if the interest rates are
effect on borrowers it claims to want to
set the interest rate on both Family
reduced.
assist."
Education Loan program and direct
63. Education Daily
August 4, 1998
Revised IDEA Quashes School District's Help For
67
Student
by Rob Jennings
services to a child whose parents have
program at a Catholic school.
The nation's updated special
chosen to enroll her in private school.
The three-judge panel now has
education law has not brought good
Two years ago, that same court
determined that IDEA, as amended,
tidings to one upstate New York family.
ordered the Watervliet, N.Y., school
requires school districts to provide to
In a major about-face, the U.S.
board to foot the bill for Colleen
private school students only those
Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled
Russman, a mentally retarded student
services that can be purchased with a
July 24, in Russman V. Mills (95-7756),
who is now 16 years old (ED, June 26,
proportionate amount of federal IDEA
that public school districts are not
1996). Her parents wanted Watervliet to
funds.
required to provide on-site special ed
apply her individualized education
"School districts have discretion to
services on-site." the court wrote.
assume to pay their own legal fees.
determine whether to provide such
The court also ordered both sides to
64. Education Daily
August 4, 1998
Tracking Isn't A Bogeyman, Harvard Professor Says
by Jonathan Fox
change will boost overall achievement,
tracks when they outgrow the pace of
Tracking students by ability level
while some states are offering
instruction, Loveless said.
and prior achievement may not be so
incentives to discourage the practice.
But one criticism of tracking still
bad after all, a controversial new study
The argument against tracking is that
seems valid to Loveless: Low tracks
says.
it dooms minority and poor students to
rarely offer preparation for college, a
While tracking often is blamed for
a life of low-skilled, menial
factor that particularly hurts poor and
shunting disproportionately large
employment.
minority students disproportionally
numbers of poor and minority students
On the other hand, teachers say
assigned to bottom-tier tracks.
into low-octane classes, the real culprit
heterogeneous groups are impossible to
Reformers complain of poor students
is inferior teaching, says a new study by
teach without dumbing down
making it through high school relegated
Tom Loveless, a Harvard University
instruction for brighter kids.
to general or remedial classes, never
professor, who advocates a more
Meanwhile, parents of students who
advancing to higher-level classes such
demanding tracking system.
normally constitute the faster tracks
as algebra and trigonometry, which are
The report "raises some serious
support tracking because it ensures a
necessary for college admission.
doubts about what educators think is
better education for their children.
The lack of rigor endemic to these
conventional wisdom," said Chester
Rhetoric aside, Loveless said
courses proves the system needs a
Finn, president of the Washington,
research "fails to support the
shake-up, advocates say.
D.C.-based Fordham Foundation,
indictment" on tracking, which he
Too often, all U.S. high schools do is
which supported the study. "Poor and
charged is part of a "dubious social
track, condemning needy students to
minority kids can thrive in this
agenda."
subpar achievement, said acting Deputy
regimen."
Instead, coursework tailored to
Education Secretary Marhsall Smith at
But one anti-tracking advocate said
ability level stimulates achievement for
a recent educational researchers
Loveless's thesis amounts to a pipe
all levels, he said, especially in Catholic
conference. The Clinton administration
dream. "The sad reality is the tracking
schools. The current anti-tracking
wants more demanding coursework for
he advocates is not often found in
sentiment seems to be directed more at
all students (ED, April 15).
American schools," said Kati Haycock,
past tracking than its current state,
But Loveless and Finn say the new
director of the Washington, D.C.-based
Loveless said.
study is proof that better teaching and
Education Trust.
"Today, schools rarely assign
higher standards are needed, not an end
Continuous Controversy
students to a regiment of college or
to tracking.
The issue of tracking has been a
vocational courses across subject
Public schools should look to
political hot potato for decades, and
areas," he said. Instead, students are
Catholic schools for ideas on how to
some schools have switched to random
assigned to math or reading tracks, and
accomplish this, Loveless said.
groupings of students. hoping the
students do move up and down in the
65. CongressDaily
08/03/98Section: APPROPRIATIONS:
Clinton Threatens To Veto Labor-HHS Bill In Current
Form
68
Accusing House Republicans of
which provides aid for paying heating
legislation to boost discretionary
putting "polities ahead of people" by
and cooling bills.
spending - proposals that have not been
failing to fully fund a host of his
Clinton also appeared to indicate a
enacted. "Appropriators are dealing in
education initiatives, President Clinton
willingness to wage war with Congress
reality and we have to mark up our bills
today vowed to veto the FY99
this fall across the entire budget
based on real numbers," she said. The
Labor-HHS appropriations bill if it
battlefront. "So far, Congress hasn't
aide said the Labor- HHS bill pending
remains in its current form. "If a bill
passed [my] budget, or one of its own,"
in the House provides a $1.2 billion
that is proposed by the House
Clinton said. "Because of the delay,
boost for the National Institutes of
Republicans passes, I will veto it,"
they may decide to send me a
Health. "More and more people are
Clinton said. For the second time in less
bare-bones budget that fails to expand
realizing this bill has provided a huge
than a week, Clinton pounded
the critical investments we need to
increase in health [funding]," the aide
Republicans for not agreeing to funding
make from education to summer jobs to
said.
levels he has proposed for the Summer
school modernization to child care. But
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader
Jobs initiative, the Head Start program,
the last budget of the 20th century
Lott and House Speaker Gingrich
voluntary national testing, the America
should be preparing our nation for the
Friday sent Clinton a letter challenging
Reads initiative to hire tutors, after- and
challenges of the next. I will not accept
him to assure the American people that
before-school programs, plans to place
a budget that fails to do this."
he is not committed to a shutdown
more computers in classrooms and to
However, a Republican House
strategy by vetoing several of the
decrease the size of classrooms, and the
Appropriations
Committee
aide
annual funding bills. "Before the
High Hopes mentoring and tutoring
defended the FY99 Labor-HHS
members of Congress return home for
program. Addressing a group of
spending bill, arguing that last year's
the August recess, we want to publicly
children enrolled in a summer jobs
budget deal forced appropriators to set
reaffirm our determination to keep open
program, Clinton also demanded
priorities. "We had to live with the
the vital functions of the federal
Congress add to the bill his $180
budget agreement that the president and
government at the end of this fiscal
million proposal to improve health and
the Congress set last year." the aide
year," the two leaders wrote
safety standards at childcare facilities.
said. "The funding levels were tight."
Clinton. - by Keith Koffler and David
In addition, he slammed the GOP for
The aide said the Clinton
Baumann
seeking to eliminate the Low Income
administration's FY99 budget used $9
Home Energy Assistance program,
billion from user fees and tobacco
66. Education Daily
August 4, 1998
House Again Uses D.C. Bill For Pet Education Policies
by William J. Cahir
are approved by Congress. The bill
Act (IDEA), which are required before
House Republicans are dabbling in
would provide a 14.3 percent increase
parents may file special ed lawsuits.
education policy again for the District
over fiscal 1998, according to the
When cases do go to court and
of Columbia.
spending panel.
parents win, the bill would limit
The
House
Appropriations
Last year, the GOP tried to authorize
attorney fees to a rate "prevailing in the
Committee last week approved a fiscal
a $45 million, five-year school choice
community."
1999 spending bill for the nation's
program that President Clinton vetoed
The bill takes up the issue of tuition
capital that would:
(ED, May 26).
for nonresidents because House aides
*
Limit attorney fee awards in local
Sky High Special Ed Costs
believe Maryland and Virginia residents
special education disputes; Bar the
In a report accompanying the bill,
are taking advantage of free child care
use of federal funds for nonresident
the
Appropriations
Committee
in the capital.
students attending school in
complains that District schools fail to
Schools in Washington provide child
Washington, D.C.; and Direct more
adequately serve disabled students,
care before and after school, and a
than $744,000 in school funds to a
sparking lawsuits and exorbitant costs.
House aide complained yesterday that
regional chapter of the Boy Scouts.
The city is proposing to spend $156
up to 4,000 Maryland and Virginia
The bill, which the spending panel
million on special ed in 1998-99, nearly
residents drive into the city each day to
endorsed by voice vote on Thursday,
twice what it requested a year earlier.
enroll children in the program
would provide $793.7 million to
That would include $71 million for
-without paying local taxes or tuition.
District schools, including $640 million
1,451 placements in regional private
The committee's bill also would give
from local taxes, $130 million in federal
schools, at an average cost of $48,600.
$244,078 to the Bethesda, Md.-based
funds and $22.9 million from other
Trying to combat such costs, the bill
National Capital Area Council of the
sources.
would bar attorney fees for
Boy Scouts for services to 12,600
Locally collected tax revenue cannot
administrative hearings under the
students at 39 public schools last year.
be spent on schools until funding levels
Individuals with Disabilities Education
These services included "staff,
69
curriculum and support materials." the
program.
children of broken families, and this is
bill says. The measure also would give
House aides said the Boy Scouts
providing a critical resource at nominal
the Boy Scouts' chapter another
provide ethics and citizenship training.
cost," said a staffer who requested
$500,000 in fiscal 1999 to expand the
"The city has a huge problem with
anonymity.
LOCAL
67. The Washington Post
08/04/98; Edition: FINAL; Section: Metro; Page B01
Back to Class
Already?
Fairfax School Starts Year-Round Schedule
By Victoria Benning
Superintendent Daniel A. Domenech.
year-round school, too, even though
Washington Post Staff Writer
"Giving children two months off at a
they were going back to class a full
Timber Lane Elementary School in
clip in the summer is not an effective
month ahead of friends at other schools.
Fairfax County yesterday became the
use of time. All the research shows it."
"I was eager to get back,"
first Washington area public school to
While many Washington area school
sixth-grader Anna Delgadillo said. "I
begin year-round classes, an experiment
districts have considered moving to an
won't have to be bored sitting around
that will be watched carefully by
extended school-year calendar over the
the house. Most of my friends [at other
districts across the region as they work
years, they all decided against it until
schools] say they wouldn't like it, but I
to boost student achievement.
now, mostly because of parents'
think it's going to be fun. I'll be learning
"This is an historic occasion and a
complaints that the change would
more than them."
great day in -the commonwealth,"
disrupt family schedules.
Many educators and officials believe
Virginia Secretary of Education Wilbert
Nationwide, the number of schools
such a change in the school year is long
Bryant told students, parents and
with year-round schedules has grown
overdue, pointing out that the
teachers during opening-day
from about 400 schools in 14 states in
traditional school calendar dates to the
ceremonies.
1986 to more than 2,700 schools in 41
19th century, when children spent July
Timber Lane's calendar will feature
states today.
and August harvesting crops.
the same 180 days of classes offered by
Officials say most Timber Lane
The Fairfax School Board, which has
other Virginia districts, as required by
parents support the idea. Only a
struggled with ways to increase
state law. But the school days will be
half-dozen families have chosen to
instructional time, hopes the Timber
more spread out over the year, so that
leave the school because of the calendar
Lane program is the first step toward a
the students will attend nine-week
change. Another half-dozen have
longer school year. Many teachers say
sessions followed by three-week breaks
expressed reservations to administrators
that 180 days is too short a time to
in October, January and April. Students
but have chosen to remain. More than
cover all the material students need to
will not attend school in July.
two dozen students from outside the
learn each year. Most other
Proponents of the modified calendar
attendance area are on a waiting list to
industrialized nations have school years
say the shorter summer vacation will
get into the school.
that are two weeks to 10 weeks longer
help students retain more of what they
"It's a way to get the general student
than the U.S. school year.
learned during the previous school year,
population working on a higher level,"
"This will teach us much about how
so teachers won't have to spend as much
said parent Christine Katcher, who has
our schools should be shaped for the
time in the fall reviewing old material.
two children at the school. "We feel that
21st century as we try to develop
During the breaks, students will have
by the time our kids are in the sixth
schools and education environments
the option of attending two-week
grade, they're going to be a lot more
based on year-round learning," said
classes on such subjects as Web page
competitive than those at other
School Board Chairman Mark H.
design, outdoor science and
schools."
Emery (At Large).
architecture, along with remedial
Parent Rebekah Clement will have
Nearly a decade ago, when James
courses in subjects such as reading and
children at three different schools this
Dyke was state education secretary, he
math. Students who enroll in the
fall, including five at Timber Lane. But
called for "radical educational reform"
courses will get up to six more weeks of
the benefits of the program outweigh
in the form of an extended school year.
schooling in each academic year than
any scheduling inconveniences, she
The idea did not catch on.
students on a traditional calendar that
said.
During the 1970s. Prince William
gives them the summer off.
"This just seems like such a natural
County moved to a "multi-track"
"Our theme is we're building
way of doing things," Clement said.
year-round schedule, with students
21st-century schools; and in doing that,
"There will be more continuity and their
attending school on staggered
one of the things we have to do is make
downtime will be shorter."
schedules. The change was needed after
more time for learning and make better
Most students interviewed yesterday
rapid growth in the castern part of the
use of our time," said Fairfax
were excited about the prospect of
county made it impossible for the
70
district to build schools fast enough.
evolved from a grass-roots movement
"We're looking for increased
The schedule was phased out as
of the school's teachers.
learning." Lewis said. "Of course higher
construction caught up with enrollment
Lewis and other school officials will
test scores would be great and I'll take
growth.
be keeping track of student achievement
them, but test scores don't necessarily
The Timber Lane change was made
to gauge the program's success,
drive increased learning."
solely to boost academic achievement,
although she cautioned that higher test
Principal Donna Lewis said, and it
scores are not her main goal.
ART
ph,,LUCIAN PERKINS
during their first assembly of the new
greets her
CAPTION: Students at Timber Lane
school year, which began yesterday.
students, who will attend classes in
Elementary School salute the flag
CAPTION: Principal Donna Lewis
nine-week sessions.
68. Austin American Statesmen
August 4, 1998
Record number of Texas schools given top grade
15 percent rated exemplary for TAAS results; less than 1 percent
low-performing
By A. Phillips Brooks
three through eight are required to take
.
The average SAT verbal score for
American-Statesman Capitol Staff
the exam, and high school students
Texas high school students, 494, fell
A state report card sent home
must pass an exit-level TAAS to receive
one point in 1997 from the previous
Monday showed that a record high
their diplomas.
year. The average SAT math score, 501,
number of Texas public schools got the
Bush's re-election campaign includes
improved by one point. Those scores
highest grade and a record few got the
a plan to use the TAAS test to
were below the national averages, 505
lowest.
determine whether students in grades
for verbal and 511 for math.
Fifteen percent --- 1,042 - of the
three, five and eight are promoted.
Texas students in 1997 scored
state's 6,654 public school campuses
Third-graders would have to pass the
slightly below the national average on
were rated exemplary as a result of their
reading section to be promoted.
the American College Testing Program
performance on the Texas Assessment
Fifth- and eight-graders would have to
exam, or ACT. The average composite
of Academic Skills exam given last
pass all sections. Robert Schaefer,
score for Texas students was 20.2; the
spring. Last year, 683 campuses were
executive director of FairTest in
national average was 21.
rated exemplary.
Cambridge, Mass., cautioned against
Scores on college entrance exams are
Less than I percent - only 60
drawing broad conclusions from a
affected by the number of students
schools, including Austin's McCallum
single test. Instead, Schaefer said
taking the test, Schaefer and others said.
High - were rated as low-performing.
parents and others should look to what
Texas scores are better than they
The previous low was 67, last year.
he called neutral measures, such as the
appear, Schaefer said, considering that
The rankings, mandated by
National Assessment of Educational
48 percent of high school students in
lawmakers, have been announced
Progress, given to students in almost all
Texas took the exam last year.
annually since 1993.
states. The test is given every other year
Neill, the State Board of Education
"We raised the bar for Texas schools
to a random sample of students,
member who cautioned against reading
again this year," Texas Education
allowing a state-by-state comparison.
too much good news into the new
Commissioner Mike Moses said in
FairTest used that and other
results, has called for a review of the
announcing the results at a Fort Worth
benchmarks in a 1997 testing survey
TAAS results at the board's September
press conference. "They not only met
that included Texas.
meeting.
the challenge, most exceeded it."
Texas public schools still show
Moses and Bush said this is the
But as Gov. George W. Bush and
progress when using the NAEP or other
fourth consecutive year public schools
school officials across Texas touted the
assessments, though it is far less
have shown marked improvement. For
improved ratings as proof that Texas
dramatic than shown by TAAS scores.
the first time, the statewide report card
public schools are improving, others
Between 1992 and 1996, the most
included independent charter schools,
questioned whether the improvement is
recent year for NAEP results, the
which are financed by public tax dollars
as indicated by the TAAS scores.
percentage of Texas fourth-graders
but are free of many state regulations.
"I have some major concerns about
achieving at or above the NAEP's
Rankings for 10 of 20 charter schools
the TAAS," said State Board of
proficiency level in math rose from 15
were released Monday along with those
Education member Richard Neill,
percent to 25 percent.
for regular public schools. Ratings were
R-Fort Worth. "It's not a true reflection
In 1996, Texas minority students
mixed for the charter schools: one
of how students are doing."
outscored their peers nationally on the
received the recognized rating, seven
State accountability ratings are based
fourth-grade NAEP math exam. A
were acceptable and two were
on the state achievement exam that
significant number of minority students,
low-performing.
measures basic skills in reading, writing
however, still fell below proficiency
Austin area charters were not ranked.
and mathematics. Students in grades
levels.
The American Institute For Learning, a
71
dropout recovery charter, is under an
District and campus ratings are
to pass all sections of the TAAS, a
alternative rating system. The Texas
based on student passage rates on the
dropout rate of no more than 1 percent
Academy of Excellence is not eligible
TAAS, dropout rates and attendance.
and attendance of at least 94 percent.
to be rated because it had no grades
The state not only looks at overall
In all, 120 districts and 1,042
above second grade last year. Students
student performance but at specific
campuses were rated exemplary, up
begin taking the TAAS in grade three.
student groups - African American,
from 65 districts last year and 683
Seven charter schools will be rated
white, Hispanic, Asian and
campuses that earned the highest rating
later, on Sept. I, while three others have
economically disadvantaged.
last year.
not been operating long enough to be
The state's highest rating, exemplary,
rated.
requires at least 90 percent of students
David Dunn, a spokesman for the
criticism that progress may not be as
standards were toughened. He noted
Texas Association of School Boards,
dramatic as the TAAS projects,
that a record number of students this
said that while there is some truth to the
improvements have taken place while
year passed the TAAS: 72 percent.
69. Ft. Worth Star Telegram
August 4, 1998
Pay raises proposed for some teachers
By Martha Deller
receive the top rankings when
teachers with more than 31 years'
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
year-round school scores are released
experience will receive raises ranging
FORT WORTH - Rookie teachers
this summer.
from 11 percent to 13 percent, he said.
in Fort Worth schools could earn some
Tocco said district officials slashed
"That's been our plan in
of the highest salaries in the state, and
the proposed budget several times to
compensation the last three years - to
veteran teachers could get pay raises of
balance revenue and expenditures
give senior teachers substantial
more than 10 percent under a salary
without a tax rate increase. Finally, he
increases," Ross said.
proposal announced yesterday by
said, he decided to recommend the
The district is also boosting pay for
school officials.
salary package even though it meant a
nonteaching staff on the low end of the
The $12.7 million salary package
tax rate increase.
pay scale, including secretaries, clerks,
would include pay raises averaging 5.3
"You deserve more than only verbal
teacher assistants and custodians. Some
percent for 4,500 teachers and 4.5
thanks for laboring assiduously in the
of them will receive more than the
percent for 4,500 other full-time
vineyards. You deserve a raise," Tocco
minimum 4.5 percent salary increase,
employees, including administrators
told teachers in a speech telecast from
Fortenberry said.
and support personnel. School board
Greenbriar Elementary to all schools.
Bus drivers will get the percentage
President Gary Manny announced the
The final budget proposal is $384
increase in addition to a $1- per-hour
pay boosts at the district's fall
million. It projects about $13.9 million
increase approved last month to fill
convocation as teachers returned to
more in property taxes next year,
driver vacancies. Substitute teachers
their classrooms to prepare for the start
finance director Steve Fortenberry said.
will receive a $2- per-day increase, to
of school next week.
About $7.5 million of the increase
$62 a day.
Manny said district officials are
comes from higher property values and
Teacher representatives applauded
proposing a 3-cent tax rate increase to
the rest from the 3-cent tax rate
the salary proposals, which they say
pay for the salary increase. The increase
increase, he said.
were close to what they were seeking.
- to $1.485 per $100 of assessed
But the higher local revenue will be
"We asked for 7.5 percent. To
property value - would be the first
largely offset by a $5.6 million loss of
receive 5 percent is excellent," said
tax increase in four years.
state aid and a $3.1 million loss in
Rubidel Peoples, president of the Fort
"We're probably crazy to do that,"
federal revenue, according to budget
Worth Education Association. "We
Manny said. "But we feel it's necessary
projections.
appreciate the good job the school
to do what's best for continued growth
The salary proposal includes
board and superintendent do on our
of students and teachers. We'll have to
$30,050 for a beginning teacher, the
behalf."
convince the public that a tax increase
highest rookie pay in the area and
Judy Luttrell, ]deputy executive
is justified."
perhaps the state at this point, officials
director of United Educators
Superintendent Thomas Tocco said
said. Birdville recently adopted a
Association, said Fort Worth school
the salary proposal was linked to the
$30,000 beginning salary.
officials have set a standard for other
district's
"stellar"
academic
The pay plan assures all teachers a
districts to follow.
performance, which was also
raise of at least 5 percent, with the least
"I'm very pleased with what Fort
announced yesterday at a news
experienced and most experienced
Worth has done. They've done their
conference with Texas Education
teachers getting the higher percentage
very best to be fair across the board,"
Commissioner Mike Moses.
raises.
Luttrell said. "They're trying to tell the
Twelve of the district's 112 schools
Teachers with one to seven years'
upper end teacher we need you here.
were rated exemplary or recognized
experience will get raises ranging from
"And they have to do that with the
based on state test scores. District
5.1 percent to 6.9 percent, Assistant
beginning end or people won't go into
officials expect four more schools to
Superintendent Joe Ross said. And
teaching."
72
A public hearing on the budget will
Tuesday. Trustees likely will adopt the
proposed tax rate Aug. 25. The tax rate
be held at the board's regular meeting
budget and hold a public hearing on the
is set for adoption Sept. 8.
70. Columbia (SC) State
August 4, 1998
Schools plan what to do in case of shootings
By KAREN E. YORK Staff Writer
including:
Henderson the need to plan for the
Fire and tornado drills are standard,
What areas of the school are used for
unthinkable.
but it's a sign of the times when
student evacuation?
"As a result of what happened across
teachers and principals plan for the
How are parents notified about the
the country last school year, I just didn't
possibility of gunfire on school
incident?
want us to begin school thinking it
grounds.
Who communicates with the media?
couldn't happen here," he said.
Richland County Emergency
Will students be dismissed for the
The reality is that it has happened
Preparedness Director Greg Sox told
rest of the day? How will they get
here and in other parts of the state. A
Richland 1 school administrators
home?
student gunned down another student in
Monday that they can't wait until
Local school districts are already
the halls of Columbia's Eau Claire High
something of that magnitude happens to
being proactive with peer mediation
School in 1994. A year later in
figure out what to do, especially when
programs, conflict resolution and anger
Barnwell County, a Blackville-Hilda
children are involved.
management counseling.
High student killed a teacher and
"It's terrible we have to sit here and
"The guidance counselors do play a
seriously wounded another before
talk about this, but it's already
key role in dealing with some of these
killing himself.
happening in several places around the
students who are frustrated and angry
Sox will conduct a similar session
country," he said. "It's kind of like we're
and who don't feel anybody else is
with administrators in School District 5
waiting our turn."
listening," said Richland 1 spokesman
of Lexington and Richland Counties
Sox used a mock shooting scenario
Greg Plagens.
today. He'll meet with Richland 2
involving A.C. Flora High to emphasize
But while they work on preventing
administrators next month.
the importance of planning ahead. In
school violence, administrators must
Jim Foster, spokesman for the state
the scenario, two students are shot the
still plan for the worst.
Department of Education, said students
morning of the third day of the school
Sox decided to meet with Richland
can help prevent violent acts from
year; one of those hypothetical students
County local school leaders in the wake
occurring at their schools.
later dies.
of last year's shootings at schools in
"If the children are aware of their
The Richland 1 principals and other
Oregon, Kentucky, Pennsylvania,
surroundings and they detect a problem,
school officials were asked to consider
Mississippi and Arkansas.
they need to notify an adult so these
several logistical questions associated
The incidents also emphasized to
situations can be diffused before they
with responding to such an incident,
Richland
I
Superintendent
Don
become dangerous."
71. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
August 4, 1998
Doyle unveils effort to avert pupil violence
By Daniel Bice
to raise his visibility in the months
"It's not until he has an opponent
of the Journal Sentinel staff
before the election. He said "only the
that this comes up," said Van De Water,
Responding to a spate of high-profile
most cynical" people would see it as
a former Waukesha County prosecutor.
school shootings in other states, state
such.
"Doyle's been more concerned with big
Attorney General Jim Doyle announced
"I don't think it's particularly an
corporations - Microsoft, tobacco,
Monday that his office will sponsor a
option for me to say, 'Well, I'm going to
whatever. He hasn't focused on criminal
series of training sessions next month to
wait until after the election year before
justice."
try to prevent similar incidents from
taking on what is a very important
The sessions will be held next
occurring here.
project,' " Doyle said during a news
month, with the first one taking place
Doyle said the sessions will bring
conference in Milwaukee.
Sept. 14 in Milwaukee. Others will be
together police officers, teachers,
But Linda Van De Water, Doyle's
in Madison, Green Bay, Eau Claire,
school administrators and student
Republican opponent, said the
Wausau, La Crosse and Superior.
leaders to discuss ways to make public
Democrat was holding the training
Doyle held the news conference at
schools safer in Wisconsin.
sessions to make it appear that he is
27th Street School, which has been a
Although currently campaigning for
interested in fighting crime. She said he
participant in the Peers in Education
a third term, Doyle dismissed any
had not shown much interest in the
Addressing
Conflict
Effectively
suggestion that the initiative is intended
issue until she began emphasizing it.
program since 1996.
73
The program, sponsored by Doyle's
helps schools develop peer mediation
conflicts peacefully.
office and the State Bar of Wisconsin,
projects to train students to resolve
In making the announcement, Doyle
the best ways to quickly end a violent
threats of violence" by students.
cited the recent school shootings in
incident and minimize injuries.
"If you make a joke about a gun,
Springfield, Ore.: Edinboro, Pa.:
Information on some of the latest legal
we're not going to treat it as a joke,"
Jonesboro, Ark.; and Paducah, Ky.
decisions on school searches and
Doyle said. "We're going to treat it as
He said 40 people lost their lives in
student privacy will also be provided.
serious. One of the lessons we've
school shootings during the 1997-'98
He said schools should provide
learned
is to treat every statement
school year. Over the past six years,
students with safe ways to report
about violent behavior not as just
there have been 226 deaths because of
potential problems to school authorities.
playful playground chatter but as a
school shootings, he said.
School officials everywhere, he said,
serious matter to be looked at and to be,
Doyle said the sessions will examine
need to learn to have "no tolerance for
hopefully, avoided.'
72. Detroit Free Press
August 4, 1998
New leader says Detroit presence is a possibility
BY PEGGY WALSH-SARNECKI
improvements this early in his
Henderson, N.C., and said he still
Free Press Education Writer
presidency. WMU is one of the few
remembers having to sit in the
On his first official day on the job,
universities that has not chartered
segregated balcony at the movie theater.
Western Michigan University's new
schools.
The paved part of the street in his
president, Elson Floyd, said he wants
"I think we have a responsibility to
neighborhood ended at the last
the Kalamazoo campus to have a
make sure we have the strongest public
white-occupied house.
greater Detroit presence.
schools that we can," Floyd said. "The
He said he is thrilled to have the
He also talked about helping public
development of charter schools, quite
WMU job and aching to get into his
schools face competition from charter
frankly, came out of people being
presidency. A career university
schools and said he wants to help
disillusioned with public schools."
administrator, he came to WMU from
students and their parents get a handle
He also wants to avoid any sudden,
the University of North Carolina at
on WMU's tuition hikes.
big tuition increases, although he said it
Chapel Hill, where he was executive
It was too soon for Floyd to be
was impossible to predict whether or
vice chancellor and in charge of
specific about plans for a Detroit
how much tuition would go up next
business, finance, human resources and
presence, but other outstate universities,
year. WMU students have faced some
student affairs.
such as Central Michigan, offer courses
of the highest tuition increases in the
"I've trained for this all my life," he
in the area.
state for two years in a row.
said recently. Michigan is a great state
"Detroit is too big a market not to
He described himself as someone
in which to be a university president, he
have a presence," Floyd said during one
who goes to bed at 10 p.m., then rises
said, because there is no state system
of his first public forums. About 40
in the middle of the night to work.
overseeing decisions.
percent of WMU's 26,000 students
Although his official starting day was
"You make your own calls," he said.
come from metro Detroit.
Monday, he was already on the job
"Success or failure is really on your
"I would be satisfied with a
full-time Saturday.
shoulders and the trustees."
collaborative presence in Detroit," he
In his spare time, he golfs and tries
Floyd was also a finalist for the
said, adding that he plans to talk about
to run every other day. Weekends are
presidency of the University of
possible ventures with his counterparts
reserved, when possible, for family
Wisconsin at Milwaukee, but the WMU
at Wayne State University and other
activities. His wife, Carmento, is an
offer came in first and he liked the
local colleges. "I don't envision, at this
accounts manager for Metropolitan Life
university.
point in time, a satellite campus in
Insurance and will continue to work
He already knows that the big game
Detroit."
when she moves to Kalamazoo from
is against Central Michigan University.
Floyd also talked about helping
North Carolina in mid-August.
And the weather doesn't scare him.
public schools improve, especially
The Floyds have two children. Son
"It'll be a change," he said, after
when faced with competition from
Kenny will be in ninth grade, and
moving here from North Carolina. "But
charter schools. He stopped short of
daughter Jessica will be in the eighth.
that's OK.
being specific about making
Floyd, who is black, grew up in
73. Boston Globe
August 4, 1998
Communities, school districts to see record increases in
state aid
74
By Associated Press
commitment to more than double state
how much aid they will receive.
Massachusetts cities and towns and
spending on education over a
Just seven or eight years ago,
regional school districts will get $368.1
seven-year period" and to increase the
municipal officials awaited the arrival
million more from the state this fiscal
return of money from the state lottery,
of the state aid figures with dread, said
year over last year, a 9.7 percent
said Senate President Thomas
Geoff Beckwith, executive director of
increase that will bring the total aid to
Birmingham, a Chelsea Democrat.
the
Massachusetts
Municipal
nearly $4.2 billion, state officials said.
"These funds help fulfill a promise
Association.
The record-breaking levels of local
made to our public schools and to our
Those were lean years when cities
aid come because the state is nearing
children," said Acting Governor Paul
and towns, short on funds, might have
the end of a multiyear program to
Cellucci.
to cut back on police officers or
increase education funding.
As recently as fiscal year 1993, the
firefighters or in other areas.
The state is also returning more
state was sending back only about $2.5
"For those who remember the bad
money from the lottery to cities and
billion in local aid.
old days, it's an extremely welcome
towns.
The Department of Revenue is in the
turnaround," Beckwith said.
"The
Legislature
made
a
process of notifying communities of
74. Richmond Times-Dispatch
08/03/98; Edition: City; Section: Prime Living; Page E-1
THE OLD COLLEGE TRY SCRAMBLE FOR
TUITION IS EASIER THE EARLIER YOU START
SAVING
By Darwin Abrahamson
average $189,200 for public schools
plans are numerous. In a series called
Do you wake up in the middle of the
and $373,000 for private schools,
"Higher Education, How High the
night in a cold sweat wondering how
according to the authors of "Paying for
Price," The Philadelphia Inquirer
you're going to pay for your children's
College: Planning for Your Child's
cautioned: "Financial advisers warn
college tuition?
College Costs."
prepaying your child's education
You are not alone.
Obviously, good financial planning
locks your child into attending a school
College
costs
have
risen
is essential. Several targeted investment
he or she may not get into or want to
astronomically over the last 20 years,
programs are available, including: (a)
attend."
with no slowdown in sight.
prepaid tuition plans; (b) education
If your child isn't admitted to or
According to The College Board,
IRAs (EIRAs); (c) Uniform Gifts to
ultimately decides not to attend one of
"The basic cost of education has been
Minors Act (UGMA), also known as
the participating schools, the plan's
rising much faster than inflation. For
Uniform Transfers to Minors Act
value is significantly reduced. In that
each of the last 20 years, tuition
(UTMA); (d) your 401(k) plan.
event, most plans allow the family to
increased 5.8 percent or more. During
A prepaid tuition plan is guaranteed
redeem their shares, but at a lower rate
the same period, the Consumer Price
to rise in value at the same rate as
of return.
Index rose less than 3.5 percent
college tuition. A family purchases
If your child decides not to attend
annually."
shares that are worth a year's tuition at a
college altogether, the family will get
Today, public colleges cost
state college. The shares will always be
back only its original contribution, with
approximately $8,000 per year. Private
worth a year's tuition, even 10 years
no interest added and possibly a
schools cost an average of $19,000 per
later, when rates have probably
cancellation penalty to pay. As The
year, with selective private schools such
doubled. The main benefit of a prepaid
Inquirer reports, "You will get a refund,
as Ivy League colleges costing even
tuition plan is that it allows the
but it might not equal what you would
more.
student's guardian to lock in tuition at
have made on another investment."
By the year 2015, your child's
current rates.
four-year college education will cost on
The drawbacks to prepaid tuition
When starting a prepaid tuition plan,
included several provisions relating to
with reductions in the allowable amount
parents may not consider or even be
college savings. Among them was the
for a single taxpayer earning more than
aware of its negative impact on
establishment of EIRA trusts, the
$95,000 per year and for joint filers
eligibility for federal student aid. If you
purpose of which is the exclusive
earning more than $150,000. This can
have a prepaid tuition plan in place,
payment of higher education expenses
be an excellent starting point for saving
every dollar saved in prepaid tuition
for the beneficiary of the trust.
for your child's education. For example:
reduces eligibility for student financial
Contributions to an EIRA can't be
Saving $500 annually for 18 years and
aid by a dollar. In contrast, assets saved
excluded from gross income; however,
earning 10 percent interest would
in the parents' names reduce aid
earnings accumulate tax-free and
accumulate
$25,079
in
the
eligibility by at most 5.6 percent.
distributions are tax-exempt.
fund - although this is still short of the
The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997
You may contribute $500 per year,
expected future college education costs.
75
The main downside to an EIRA is
taxes."
that the "contributions" are not
Check with your human resources
*"Paying Less for College," financial
tax-deferred. And if the distributions
manager at work to see if your 401(k)
information on 1,700 schools from
are not used for educational expenses,
plan's rules will allow you to "borrow"
Peterson's Book Order Department,
they will be taxed and subject to an
plan funds to pay for your children's
P.O. Box 2123, Princeton, N.J. 08543.
additional 10 percent tax penalty. Also,
college education and then slowly repay
Call (800) 338-3282.
contributions to an EIRA and a state
"yourself" - with interest.
prepaid tuition program are not
Another advantage of maxing out
*Virginia
Prepaid
Education
permitted in the same tax year.
your 401(k) savings: Financial aid
Program, P.O. Box 607, Richmond, Va.
UGMAs or UTMAs are simple trust
officers often exempt retirement savings
23218-0607. Call (888) 567-0540;
accounts that can be set up without
from calculations of the parent's worth.
TTD: (800) 253-0737; or e-mail:
complicated legal documents. They
So putting money into your 401(k) plan
[email protected].
offer tax advantages for the
may help your child qualify for
VIRGINIA'S PLAN
accumulation of unearned income
financial aid by shielding your 401(k)
within the accounts. A custodian named
savings from prying eyes.
The Virginia Prepaid Education
by the donor usually manages the
When should you start saving for
Program, called VPEP, lets you lock in
account until the child reaches the age
your children's college education?
the current cost of tuition and fees at
of majority - 18 in most states.
There is only one answer: yesterday.
Virginia public colleges and
All principal and any earnings in the
MORE INFO
universities. Contracts are also available
account belong to the minor. Since.
for Virginia private and out-of-state
these accounts are irrevocable gifts, a
*"Paying
for
College:
A
schools, which pay the actual earnings
donor cannot change his or her mind
Step-by-Step College Planning Guide,"
on the savings less an administrative fee
later if the child decides to use the
free from T. Rowe Price. Call (800)
and capped at the highest tuition
funds for another purpose.
638-5660.
charged by a Virginia public college or
If the money is used for education,
university.
colleges consider up to 30 percent of
*Financial Aid Information Page
VPEP covers tuition and fees, but
the money in the trust when calculating
Web site: http:// www.finaid.org A
not room and board or other expenses.
financial aid. If your child might qualify
free, comprehensive, independent guide
There's an $85 application fee. Plans
for financial aid, you may be better off
to student financial aid created by Mark
include a lump-sum payment, a
keeping the savings in your own name.
Kantrowitz, author of "The Prentice
five-year plan for children who have not
Barry Sullivan, a vice president and
Hall Guide to Scholarships and
yet completed the seventh grade and a
financial consultant with Merrill Lynch,
Fellowships for Math and Science
monthly installment plan.
counsels: "One of the most common
Students."
The deadline for signing up every
mistakes young parents make is to
year is Feb. 28, and the first payment is
avoid building up their tax-advantaged
*"Planning for College," free general
due that May 1. Only children who are
savings accounts - such as 401(k)
guide from Investment Company
currently in the ninth grade or younger
plans - until they've saved a full college
Institute, 1600 M St. N.W.,
may enroll in the program.
fund."
Washington, D.C. 20036.
For more information, call (888)
Sullivan advises clients to "max out
*"Parents' Guide to Paying for
567-0540 or e-mail: [email protected].
on their 401(k)s" because "retirement
College (006046)", available in late
ART PHOTO, CHART
savings provide an indirect way of
September from The College Board.
saving for college while deferring
Call (800) 323-7155.
75. Richmond Times-Dispatch
08/03/98; Edition: City; Section: Prime Living; Page E-2
CONFUSED ABOUT HOW TO PLAN FOR TUITION?
By Ross And Kathryn Petras
astronomically in the last 20 years, and
Here are some tips to help ease the
College costs have risen
it appears they will continue to rise.
confusion:
School type. Have a rough idea of
number of years between the time you
over time into a large one. Don't make
what kind of college your child will
begin saving for college and the time
the mistake of thinking that savings will
attend so you can estimate what you'll
your child will enter. Divide the total
eliminate your child's chances of getting
be paying for. The costs between a state
into the number of months left to get
financial aid. It won't.
school and an Ivy League or private
the amount you need to invest each
Get the savings habit. Set up a
college vary dramatically.
month. Consult a reputable accountant
formal savings plan that you'll stick to.
Project college expenses. Like
or financial planner for a worksheet to
If you're not good at sticking to a
planning for retirement, you need to
pinpoint the exact figure.
budget or schedule, sign up for
have a general idea of the total. This
Start saving. Even if college is a long
automatic payroll deductions at
will tell you how much to put aside
way off, the sooner you start saving, the
work - that way there's no way you can
each year to meet your goal.
less outlay you'll have to make.
blow it.
Divide and conquer. Figure out the
Compounding lets a small amount grow
Free planners. Even if you don't own
76
a mutual fund, many big mutual fund
supplies money for education and a tax
but they're a great way for your child to
companies will send you a free detailed
break for grandparents. Grandparents
get a cheaper - or free -education. Of
planner that lets you plug in numbers
can set up trusts or life insurance
course, you should encourage your
and come up with a monthly amount to
policies naming your child as a
child to do well in school and so
save. Their hope is that you decide to
beneficiary.
increase the chances of scholarships or
invest with them. But even if you don't,
Loans are a tried-and-true way of
grants. But do your homework as well:
they'll send you the planning booklet. T.
raising money for college but,
Read up on the different sources of
Rowe Price has a particularly good one.
unfortunately, one of the most costly
funds and explore investment strategies.
Possible money sources. Usually,
since interest payments take years to
Worried about money? Once your
you'll rely on more than one.
pay off. This doesn't mean you
child nears college age, start shopping
Typical sources are savings and
shouldn't consider loans. Your child can
around for the best possible college at
investments, probably the biggest chunk
get a student loan - or, if necessary, you
the lowest possible price. Think of
of college money. Your income is likely
can take advantage of other loans to pay
lower-cost alternatives. Some ideas:
to go toward support such as room and
off tuition bills, or even borrow from
Start in community college, then
board and part of the tuition while your
your 401(k). (Some planners advise
transfer to a four-year school:
child is at school. Also available will be
against dipping into retirement savings.)
work/study programs; ROTC: and
your child's income from jobs or
Financial aid is not always easy to
commuter schools.
work-study.
get, but it is possible even for
Remember it's worth it. A
Grandparents' gifts and inheritances
middle-class families. Likewise,
better-educated child will get a better
are an increasingly common source that
scholarships aren't always easy to get,
job and have a better income.
76. The Pueblo (Colo) Chieftain
08/03/98
Magnet School Ready to Open Doors
By Mary Jean Porter World Reporter
teacher preparation, student catch-up or
"There had been problems with
School District 70 has gained
extra work - the school will be open
scheduling, transportation, program
another high school.
and some teachers will be present -
offerings, conflicts with courses there
Starting Aug. 31, Pueblo Technical
classes at the University of Southern
and at County," he said.
Academy will open its doors as a
Colorado or Pueblo Community
Amman is not sorry to lose the
technology-science magnet school that
College, or jobs for the students who
Technical Academy.
is independent of Pueblo County High.
have them, Muckel said.
"I think it has merit on its own. With
its former parent.
Students may be excused from the
the staff and leadership it has, I look for
The Technical Academy already has
eighth period of the school day to
it to blossom. And students still will
its own administration - lead teacher
participate in athletics at the other
participate in extracurricular activities
Kent Muckel was reassigned as
District 70 high schools or in ROTC at
with kids at County High."
principal in early June - and will issue
County High, but they won't be allowed
Vicki Walter, who has been a
its own report cards and transcripts.
to take elective courses at the other high
teacher aide at the Technical Academy
Students no longer will return to
schools, Muckel said.
since it opened in 1994 and who will do
County, Rye or Pueblo West high
The District 70 school board
her student teaching in physical science
schools for certain required courses, but
approved the Technical Academy's
there this fall, thinks the changes are
will be able to fulfill all graduation
four-day week in June, with the
good.
requirements at the academy.
provision it be monitored for the first
"I think it gives them more
"We are no longer affiliated with
semester.
ownership of the program," she said. "It
County High or Rye," said Muckel.
The decision to separate the academy
feels more like a neighborhood school.
"We will take care of our own
from County High came last spring
"I think it's going to be good for the
attendance and paperwork."
after a long series of meetings involving
kids but hard work."
The school will have a four-day
central administration, the school
John A. Musso, head of technology
week; students will be in classes from 8
board, staff and, finally, Technical
at the academy, agreed.
a.m. to 4:10 p.m. Monday through
Academy students, said County
Thursday. Fridays will be reserved for
Principal Dick Amman.
"It's going to be a full teaching load
he's interested in computers.
the idea of a four-day week because
- eight periods in a day," Musso said.
"I want to be something like a CIS
she'll have Fridays to work on projects.
"I think it's great since the workload
(computer information systems)
She said she might miss a few
here is a lot compared to all other
technician, which they offer at USC
friends at County High.
schools," said Tony Carleo, a junior.
(University of Southern Colorado). All
Muckel said the academy is "pretty
"Friday gives us the chance to get to the
the computers they have here and the
rigorous. Students do work pretty hard.
work or to get to sports."
integration with USC - I'll have a leg
It's upper-level technology. Students are
Tony plays baseball and might go
up on the other students.
expected to do some homework every
out for football and golf so he likes the
"I do well enough in English but I'm
night.
eighth-hour arrangement.
much more interested in technology."
"We try to keep very strict
He's at the Tech Academy because
Kristin Walter, another junior, likes
discipline; we feel it's very safe. We
77
haven't had too many problems because
provided by County High and bus
additional staff if an increased number
of the open space (one huge room)."
service.
of students warrants it.
Core classes at the academy include
The Technical Academy has five
For more information or registration
English and math at each grade level,
teachers and an aide and, at the present,
papers, call Muckel at 564-5928 or Ms.
social studies and science. Electives
103 students.
Walter at 547-9041.
include advanced technology, Spanish,
"We still want 20 or more students."
beginning
and
advanced
Muckel said. "We're taking all levels. If
Visit The Pueblo Chieftain Online at
computer-aided drafting and design,
they're interested in technology or
http://www.chieftain.com/
advanced math, field experience and the
computers they can give me a call at
world of work.
home."
The school will have food service
Muckel said he's been promised
77. Houston Chronicle
08/02/98; Edition: 2 STAR; Section: A; Page 10
Public schools crumbling as tax money hard to find
By DEB RIECHMANN
education budgets, rising enrollment
safety problems - dry rot, not a proper
WASHINGTON - Millions of
and a reluctance among voters to pass
foundation, paper insulation," says
America's children will return to class
tax hikes and bond issues have left
Martin Jones, a teacher in Lebanon,
this fall in shabby schools with leaky
districts with little money to repair and
Ore. "The sixth-graders were moved
roofs and toilets, aging furnaces,
refurbish the nation's schools.
back into modular buildings at the
cracked foundations and peeling paint.
More than 14 million
elementary. The seventh- and
Deplorable conditions exist in
children - about a quarter of all school
eighth-graders are in modular buildings
hundreds of the nation's 80,000 public
children in the nation - go to school in
on the front lawn."
schools - in rural towns, suburbs and
buildings that need significant repairs,
"My husband and I are very
inner cities. They are literally falling
Riley said in a speech at School No. 16
concerned and bothered about the
down in some communities. And with
in Paterson, N.J., which was built over
condition of public schools in Austin,
no funds, boilers and windows remain
100 years ago, around the time the first
especially those old schools in old inner
broken, and fire code violations are not
immigrants arrived at Ellis Island.
city neighborhoods," says Nina
corrected.
"The overall situation has become so
Schenck, a parent in Austin, Texas.
A chimney dropped into a school
bad that the American Society of Civil
"The new schools in the subdivisions
library in South Dakota last year while
Engineers has said that our schools are
look so pretty from the street and their
students were away on a long
our nation's No. I infrastructure
playing fields and grounds are enviable
President's Day weekend. Dry rot, weak
problem," he says.
to us who live in town."
foundations and insulation problems
Riley doesn't have to tell the parents
Money to build, repair and refurbish
forced officials to condemn an Oregon
and teachers:
schools comes primarily from local and
middle school. Students now attend
"Thirty-two of our buildings were
state taxes, but in 1994, Congress
class in trailers set up on the front lawn.
built before Charles Lindbergh flew the
approved grants totaling $100 million
Computer wire is simply draped
Spirit of St. Louis (in 1927)," says Jan
to help. The money was slashed in
along ceilings at an aging school in
Olson, a high school counselor in Sioux
1995, however, to help balance the
Iowa as students wait for a new school
City, lowa, where voters were to vote
federal budget.
to be built.
on Aug. 11 to approve a 1-cent sales tax
This year, the Clinton administration
"It's not unheard of to find a school
for school construction and repair. "We
announced a school construction
in a state of disrepair, while just down
have one middle school that was built
initiative where states and school
the road there is a state-of-the-art
for 450 students that has 750. There are
districts would share $5 billion in
prison," Education Secretary Richard
actually more students in the portables
construction seed money that would
Riley says.
outside than in the building."
spur construction worth as much as $20
It's a problem that can only be
"Our one middle school, built before
billion over two years.
corrected with money. But tight
World War I, was condemned by the
city two years ago. They found a lot of
The federal money would help lower
the price tag to patch the nation's
schools report at least one inadequate
the cost of financing the needed repairs.
schools is $111 billion, according to the
building, compared with 30 percent of
Not everyone thinks it's a good idea.
government's most recent survey on the
schools in rural areas and 29 percent in
Some conservative members of
condition of schools.
the suburbs. An estimated 67 percent of
Congress argue that if federal dollars
The General Accounting Office, the
inner-city schools, serving nearly 10
are used, the cost of the repairs will be
investigative arm of Congress, surveyed
million students, report the need to
inflated because of laws that would
10,000 schools in 1995 and reported
repair or replace plumbing, heating or
require districts to pay union wages to
that one-third serving 14 million
foundations.
workers doing the work.
students needed extensive repair or
"The facts of the matter are not in
The proposal, which has not yet
replacement of one of more buildings.
dispute at all. America's schools are in
cleared Congress, would be a start, but
The GAO says 38 percent of big-city
serious disrepair," says Michael
78
Casserly, director of the Council of the
construction and renovation in several
in a totally new environment. It
Great City Schools, which represents
large cities, including a $2.4 billion one
changed the mood and tone. You could
the nation's 50 largest urban school
in Los Angeles - the largest ever passed
see the pride in the school."
systems.
for a school district in the nation; and
Educators are crossing their fingers
He suspects politics is holding up the
$483 million in San Antonio - the
in San Diego, Calif., hoping for the
federal initiative as legislators find ways
largest ever passed in Texas.
passage of a $1.5 billion bond measure
to stall the president's domestic agenda.
In San Jose, Calif., voters passed a
that will be placed on the Nov. 3
Also, some lawmakers in Congress
$42 million bond measure after
general election ballot.
think fixing schools is the responsibility
teachers, administrators and parents
"Our schools are in desperate need
of state and local officials - not the
went door to door, made telephone calls
of repair," says Ron Ottinger, president
federal government's.
and pushed hard for the money.
of the Board of Education. "Roofs are
Local bond issues to help schools
"We took charge and ran it through,"
leaking, pipes are bursting and many
were failing around the nation in the
says David Hernandez, a kindergarten
classrooms cannot accommodate today's
1980s and early 1990s as people moved
teacher who is president of the local
computer technology.
out of the cities and there was a
chapter of the National Education
"We have playground equipment that
declining confidence in public schools,
Association.
needs to be replaced to meet safety
he says. This trend began to turn around
"My school was one of the first to
standards, and we have schools without
a few years ago.
get a face lift - new lights, new cabinets,
standard libraries and science labs. The
Last year alone, the council reports
new furniture, paint, new cafeteria,
list goes on and on."
that voters passed bond issues for
wiring for technology. I felt like I was
ART Mug: Richard Riley
78. The Washington Post
08/02/98; Edition: FINAL; Section: Sports; Page D10
To a Degree, Darrell Green Has Filled the Last Hole in
His Life
By Jennifer Frey
finished college. He walked out of
of science degree.
For almost as long as he can
Texas A&I University (now Texas
"When I graduated," Green said this
remember, Darrell Green has been able
A&M-Kingsville) in 1983 as a
past week, his face breaking into a
to get up in the morning filled with the
first-round NFL draft pick, a player the
smile at the mere memory, "I finally felt
faith that he is a good man. He knows
Redskins jumped at with the 28th pick.
confident that there was nothing
he loves and respects his wife, Jewell.
He also walked out without getting his
missing. My son didn't have to look
He knows he is a good father, a good
degree.
anywhere else for an example to follow.
Christian and a responsible member of
No one ever faulted him for it. No
That was a very proud time for me."
the community. He knows he is good at
one, that is, except Green. So this past
In an era when professional athletes
what he does for a living - even now,
spring, he enrolled in a special program
increasingly dot the police blotter, when
at age 38, Green commands tremendous
at Saint Paul's College in
parents often fear - rather than hope
respect at cornerback for the
Lawrenceville, Va., paid his tuition,
- that their children will emulate a
Washington Redskins - and, more
attended his classes - some in person,
favorite sports figure, Green went back
important, he knows he is good in the
some by correspondence - and
to college for one simple reason: He
way that he lives.
accumulated the final credits he needed
wants to be a good role model. He
That said, there was one thing that
to be a college-educated man. And this
wants to be able to stand before anyone
nagged at him, one element missing,
past Mother's Day, he walked across the
- most importantly his own children
one aspect of his life that was
stage in Lawrenceville, his heart filled
- and be confident that he sets an
incomplete. Green, you see, never
with pride when he received a bachelor
example of which he can be proud.
"It was important to me," Green said,
one of the best cornerbacks in the game,
One of the centerpieces of that
"that I can say to my son, 'Be like
with a guaranteed ticket into the Hall of
foundation is the Learning Center, out
Daddy,' and I don't have to be insecure.
Fame. He also met and married Jewell,
at the Franklin Commons Housing
He can see that I love his mom, I love
and they had three children, who are 12,
Complex in Northeast D.C. Green
him, I work hard, I try to reach out to
9 and 7 years old.
wants the center to be a model for a
the community, and I have my degree.
His life, though, was far from limited
series of centers throughout the country.
I'm not perfect. I just want to know that
to football and family. Green constantly
Education, Green always tells center
if my children say they want to be like
says "I don't want to sound prideful,"
visitors, is a key to the future. They are
their daddy, they won't be going
but it is clear that he is deeply proud of
the same words he has long told his
wrong."
the work done by the Darrell Green
children at home.
Fifteen years passed between the day
Youth Life Foundation, which he
So Green's incomplete education
Green left Texas A&I and the day he
founded and funds. The charitable
bothered him. It's not that he felt like a
received his diploma. In that time, he
foundation provides financial,
fraud when he stood before groups and
played in three Super Bowls and seven
education and social assistance to
preached the value of schooling. And,
Pro Bowls, and established himself as
inner-city children and their families.
in 16 years, no one ever called him on
79
it. No reporter, no teacher, no
staff caught him at the local bus depot,
but Hawkins convinced him that they
administrator, and certainly no child
preparing to turn the money over for a
could make the system work.
ever asked him, "So, Mr. Green, where
one-way ticket home.
So Green went back to school.
did you get your diploma?"
The coach took the $20 away from
About once a month, he drove down to
And it's not that he kept it a secret,
Green, and escorted him to practice. It
campus, and the other days he met with
either. The adults he hired at his
was only a temporary fix. When he
advisers in Northern Virginia and did
foundation - adults with masters'
went home for the holidays that winter,
work through a correspondence
degrees and advanced educations -
Green didn't come back. He didn't come
program. In the evenings, his kids
were well aware that Green had not
back for more than a year - he drove a
watched him struggle to finish all his
finished college, and if they were not,
delivery truck instead, attended some
assigned reading, and his papers, and
they found out quickly, when Green
night classes at the local high school,
the work he had left behind so long ago.
made a point of leaving the heavily
tried to figure out what to do with his
His kids were there, too, on May 10 in
academic areas of his programs to their
life. When he finally went back, when
Lawrenceville, when Green put on a
guidance and discretion.
he "grew up and matured," as he puts it,
cap and gown and received the one
Still, it bothered him.
Green became a football legend at
missing piece in what has clearly been
"It was hard for me," he said, "to tell
Texas A&I and a decent student. But he
an exemplary life.
these kids to finish their educations
was too far behind in his classes to
"My kids saw me walk across that
when I hadn't finished mine."
catch up. And when the Redskins came
stage, they saw me at night trying to
Green didn't complete a single class
calling after his senior season, he left.
type my papers, they see my wife now
his freshman year at Texas A&I. He
He left, but he kept looking back.
- she's going to school, finishing up
didn't even enroll in any that first
Green tried a few times to return to
her degree, too - and I like that,"
spring. Back then, he was a homesick
his schooling, but it never seemed to
Green said. "I like that we're not afraid
kid from Houston, so miserable that
work out. Finally, Ernie Turner, who
to say to our kids, 'Be like us.'
even his love for football could not
works with the Redskins' players on
ART
ph,,JOEL RICHARDSON
overcome his desire to return home. His
educational opportunities, introduced
CAPTION: Darrell Green has found
mother sent him off to college with a
Green to Billy Hawkins, the vice
happiness in pro football, but he has
$20 bill in case of an emergency, and it
president of academic affairs at Saint
found fulfillment by getting his college
wasn't too far into the fall when a
Paul's. Lawrenceville is nearly three
diploma.
member of the Texas A&I coaching
hours from Green's home in Ashburn,
79. Chicago Sun-Times
August 3, 4998
Feds probe suburb teacher pensions
BY MARK SKERTIC
managers were given free private jet
discuss the nature of the investigation
SUBURBAN REPORTER
trips to Key West, Fla., and tickets to
or say how long the probe, which began
A federal grand jury is looking into
the Indianapolis 500 by firms that
last year, is expected to continue. State
the investment practices of the pension
wanted to invest the teachers' money.
Police are assisting the FBI and the
system that covers every suburban
Robert Schau, the system's former
U.S. attorney's office, said Mark
public school teacher.
real estate analyst, told authorities about
McDonald, spokesman for the Illinois
Records from firms investing money
what he believed were questionable
State Police. "We're conducting
for the Illinois Teachers Retirement
investment decisions, including
interviews, examining records and
System -used by all Illinois public
contracts awarded without bids and
evidence," he said.
school teachers outside Chicago -have
deals made on the basis of personal
The State Journal-Register in
been subpoenaed by federal and state
relationships.
Springfield has reported that the
investigators.
``It appeared to me the wrong sort of
subpoenas have sought investment firm
At least one source has told
things were driving decisions," he said.
records but have not required company
authorities that key retirement system
Authorities declined Sunday to
officials to appear and give testimony.
An Illinois auditor general's report
Robert Daniels, then the system's
responsibilities, he said. "There
last year criticized the system's
executive director, said the system lost
appeared to me many instances when
investment practices. Lawmakers were
only $46 million.
they were putting their own interests
upset to learn about a contract the
Daniels retired in January. When he
before the investors'," he said.
system had with Chicago-based
made the announcement in August,
Under pressure from Zimmerman,
Zimmerman Investment Management
Joseph Spagnolo, chairman of the
who was chief investment officer and
Co., which is headed by Thomas
retirement board and state school
acting executive director at the time,
Zimmerman, the retirement system's
superintendent, said it had nothing to
Schau said he resigned in 1992 for a
former
$106,000-a-year
chief
do with the auditor's report.
"low five-figure" severance payoff. But
investment officer.
Schau, a former real estate analyst,
last spring he wrote to a number of state
The audit found his firm was paid
was among those intrigued by the
officials, including lawmakers and the
$5.4 million to make investments that
auditor's findings. Too often, some
governor, detailing what he felt were
lost $266 million in less than two years.
managers ignored their fiduciary
questionable motives by some making
80
retirement fund investment decisions.
stuff."
active and inactive members and 59,352
"I've never asked anybody to take
The retirement system includes all
receiving benefits.
my word," said Schau, now an analyst
full-time, part-time and substitute
The system's investments had a
for the Kansas Public Employees
Illinois public school employees in
market value of $18.1 billion as of June
Retirement System. "Go ahead and dig.
positions requiring state certification. In
30, 1997.
There's plenty of evidence of all this
the 1997 fiscal year. there were 192,219
INTERNATIONAL
80. BBC News
August 4, 1998
Bilingual ban takes effect
Schools in California are coming to
practised since the 1960s, had allowed
Monday for almost 20,000 children.
terms with the reality of a controversial
them to be taught primarily in their first
Less than half are fluent in English.
new law ending bilingual education.
language and encouraged to pick up
At Theresa Hughes Elementary
The law, resulting from voters'
English gradually.
School, where the student population is
approval in a ballot in June of what is
Critics say the new law is the latest
99% Latino, children in an immersion
known as Proposition 227, means the
attack on immigrants in California.
class began the day learning English
state's public schools must conduct
Others say that bilingual education
through words and pictures on the
lessons primarily in English - whereas
simply did not work and resulted in
walls, role-playing, puppetry and
in many of them that is not the pupils'
Hispanics in particular being
hearing lessons read aloud.
first language.
condemned to "ethnic ghettos".
"Children are very, very resilient,"
Under the law, children with limited
'They're resilient'
said Victor Chavira, a fourth-grade
English can be put in a one-year
As elsewhere, most California
teacher at the school.
immersion course. After 30 days,
schools are closed for the summer but
"They will adapt. But how well they
parents can get a waiver to put their
in the Los Angeles Unified school
adapt remains to be seen. It's a grey
child back in bilingual education under
district the pressure on accommodation
area.
limited conditions.
has led to a year-round staggering of
Bilingual education, which had been
classes and a new term began on
COMMENTARY
81. Daily Texan
August 3, 1998
Education debates ignore real issues
By Corey Young
Although Bledsoe's evidence is
NAACP need to do a little more
Daily Texan (U. Texas-Austin)
staggering, a new study by the research
grass- roots research before marching
(U-WIRE) AUSTIN, Texas -
group Public Agenda makes one
up to Washington D.C.
Tuesday Gary Bledsoe, president of the
wonder where, exactly, the NAACP is
The Public Agenda study does more
Texas NAACP, will go before the U.S.
coming from. It seems only 28 percent
than weaken the position of the
Department of Education to complain
of black parents think standardized tests
NAACP on the issue of standardized
about the "bias component" of Texas
are "culturally biased against blacks."
tests. It reveals a disturbing trend in the
standardized testing. He and his
What's more, the Public Agenda's
debate over race and education. The
organization firmly believe that these
research found an issue in education
loudest people in this long and painful
tests are easier for white children to
that white and black parents can
fight are starting to lose contact with the
take and unfairly stigmatize African
actually agree on. It seems 73 percent of
people they are trying to help and
Americans. Bledsoe's voluminous
black and 77 percent of white parents
supposedly represent. Countless talk
evidence for this harsh accusation was
think their kid's education is too often
shows and protests present angry and
captured in a July 29 USA Today
sacrificed for the sake of racial
uncompromising voices from both ends
article. He says persuasively, "There is
diversity. Only 9 percent of blacks want
of the political spectrum. Jesse Jackson
definitely a bias component, although
schools to focus more on diversity. It
wants to make UT Law School
its difficult to show."
looks like Bledsoe and the Texas
professor Lino Graglia a "social
81
pariah." Many conservatives dismiss
parents.
The
educational,
involvement in the legal system, with
affirmative action as pointless
administrative, and political elites have
prominent lawyers winning important
educational welfare. What gets lost in
turned a deaf ear to those whom they
cases and forcing the desegregation of
the flood of arguments and attacks are
"represent." And let's admit it,
schools across America. This, of course,
the actual children being argued over.
standardized testing conspiracies and
is to be applauded. The problem is, the
The needs and desires of the students
multicultural sermons are sexier than
NAACP has been elitist from its
and their parents should always be held
the drudgery of actually fixing a flawed
beginnings. Du Bois called for the
as the starting point for discussion of
education system. Taking the politics
"talented tenth" of African Americans
educational concerns.
out of education and focusing on the
to rise up. But what about the rest? In
The Public Agenda research reveals
difficult task of real reform would be a
its beginning, the NAACP neglected the
that only a small minority of parents
big step for many of the people
many poor southern sharecroppers and
care about the supposedly insidious
debating public school reform and
factory workers who knew nothing of
plots of standardized test makers. Most
affirmative action.
the "talented tenth" - some things
parents, black and white, just want their
As to where Bledsoe and the
never change. Today the parents of
children to have the best quality
NAACP are coming from, history clears
black school children must bide their
education possible. And for them, that
a few things up. In 1909, when W.E.B.
time as the NAACP and others fight a
does not mean "diversity" or an attack
DuBois founded the NAACP. his aim
battle that, if won, will not help them
on the TAAS test. So why is no one
was to harness the power of the most
- or any one else, for that matter.
listening to their requests? Apparently
influential African Americans in order
Young is philosophy senior.
leaders like Bledsoe think they
to effectively protest. The history of the
understand the problem better than
NAACP is highlighted by its
82. Christian Science Monitor
August 4, 1998
Getting Beyond Cramming for Exams
Evangeline Wheeler
was only mildly surprised to hear two
the evening. I had already stuffed my
TOWSON, MD. - One afternoon
new messages from frantic students.
bag with the books and papers I would
last semester as I prepared to leave my
"Can I please take the make-up exam
need for working at home after dinner.
office, I went through the ritual: with
tomorrow?" asked a senior in my
It was late and I was tired after a
one hand I switched off the computer
cognitive psychology class. "Dr.
long day explaining the concept of
on my desk while with the other I
Wheeler, I lost my study guide!"
sampling distributions to my restless
picked up the telephone receiver to
exclaimed a sophomore in statistics.
statistics classes. Their questions were
check my voice mail one last time. I
I decided to return their calls later in
still reverberating in my head.
"Does the size of the sample really
end-of-semester panic by sharing with
literature) leads to more learning than
matter?" "Are all sampling distributions
them my own experiences as a college
cramming ("massed practice").
the same?" "Will this be on the exam?"
student stressed out about grades.
With each cycle of
It was this last question that upset
Who could forget those all-nighters
beginning-of-semester-excitement,
me. I saw it as a loaded question
spent writing a term paper or
midterm
doldrums,
and
because I knew that behind it lay the
completing a lab assignment? Although
end-of-semester panic, I face a personal
fact that my students hadn't been
I counsel my students about the
challenge to help my students succeed.
keeping up with their regular studying.
wastefulness of procrastinating on their
When former students rush into my
They were going to cram for the final
assignments, I also share with them that
office needing advice on statistics
exam.
I did the same thing more than once
problems assigned to them by their
End of semester. Everyone was
when I was a student.
current professors, or others oversleep
looking forward to summer internships,
I am always conflicted at this point.
and stumble late to class; when they
beach jobs, or as some students say,
Cramming sometimes works, I did it;
ask, "Will this be on the exam?", I tell
"just chillin." My students were so
yet I tell my students not to. During an
them gently to calm down and to focus.
anxious and distracted during lectures,
office visit one student plopped down
I remind them that with careful
when a few weeks ago they were
in a chair and sighed, "I stayed awake
organization and regular study they will
animated by interest.
all night to study for your exam!" It
survive the panic. Then I reach over to
The refrain, "Is this going to be on
worked for her; she earned a solid B+, a
my stack of journal articles and hand
the exam?" rattled me as a college
significant improvement over the C- she
them a copy of the scientific study so
teacher, just as cries of, "Are we there,
made on the previous exam. I was
they can check out the research
yet?" assault the sensibilities of patient
satisfied that she improved her grade,
themselves.
parents on long car trips with bored
but I was disturbed by the cramming.
*
Evangeline Wheeler is an assistant
children.
All the research on memory shows
professor of psychology at Towson
I do well remember my student days.
that continued study over time (called
University in Towson, Md.
I
commiserate
with
their
"distributed practice" in the academic
83. Los Angeles Times
82
* 08/04/98; Edition: Home Edition; Section: Metro: Letters Desk; Page B-6
Lengthening Class Time
Adrienne Mack wrote an essay about
work in the early morning and late
half an hour is sufficient. History for
55 minutes being too restrictive for
afternoon to help slop the pigs. harvest
one hour and science for 1 1/2. These
learning (Commentary, July 23). She is
eggs and milk the cows. They were
are arbitrary times but the idea is should
right.
needed to clean barns and help cook.
be clear.
However, she has missed an
In today's world those needs are no
Along with additional hours of
opportunity that cannot be overlooked.
longer in demand. Thus our children are
instruction, we need to measure
Learning over longer periods cannot be
available to go to school from 7:30 a.m.
teachers for qualification and pay,
limited to language arts. We must look
until 5 p.m. just as they might do when
based on student test results, not on
deeper into the real workings of our
they go into the workplace.
tenure, how many papers they write or
schools and make radical changes so
The resultant benefits are huge. We
how many extra courses they take.
test scores will go up dramatically. The
could change the length of classes
JUDD WENNER
start and finish times for our schools are
based on the intricacies of the course
Los Angeles
based on the agrarian economy of our
material. Math should be taught for two
past. Those times required children to
hours while teaching penmanship for
84. The Wall Street Journal
08/04/98
ESAs Don't Divert
Public School Funds
In her July 9 editorial-page
description of the legislation could not
dollars. The buildup of interest within
commentary "The Next Big
be more inaccurate. While I support
the account is tax free if used for the
Free-Market Thing," Amity Shlaes
vouchers, Education Savings Accounts
child's educational expenses, such as
describes my proposed education
are not vouchers. They simply allow
home computers, tutoring for children
savings accounts (ESAs) as "federal
parents, grandparents or any
with special needs, uniforms,
vouchers." Although I appreciate her
scholarship sponsor to save up to
transportation, SAT prep courses, or
attention to this meaningful debate, her
$2,000 per year, per child in after-tax
tuition for a private or religious school.
Vouchers allow a transfer of federal
no federal funds from public schools
power to make decisions for their
funds; ESAs use private after-tax
and, in fact, would pour billions of new
children.
dollars, not government money, to help
dollars into American public education.
Sen. Paul D. Coverdell (R., Ga.)
parents give their kids the best
ESAs, most importantly, give parents
Washington
education possible. The accounts divert
- not the federal government - the
85. Boston Herald
08/03/98; Edition: Al; Section: EDITORIAL: Page 026
Principals can help ed success
Regarding "Mass. colleges faulted for
been offered about the teacher test. I
state Senate, in the 1960s, I filed and
low teacher scores" (July 24):
think this test is faulty because I know
won passage of one of the first pieces of
We have the means for removing
highly literate students who "failed" it.
anti-ocean dumping legislation. During
incompetent teachers: principals. Let
Clarke Fowler, Professor of Education
the same period I fought for and won
them evaluate competency based on
Salem State College Salem
passage of legislation to bring the
first-hand knowledge of teaching
Moakley has rep as preservationist
Boston Harbor Islands under the
ability. Hold them accountable for
I read with great interest David
jurisdiction of the commonwealth of
student performance. Reject any
Eisen's article, "Bridge too far" (July
Massachusetts so that the islands would
big-government proposal to have
23). I was, however, appalled by Eisen's
not be ruined by development.
anonymous test-making bureaucrats fire
statement that "preservationists and
During the last Congress, I, along
anyone who can't define a preposition.
harbor activists are on one side, and the
with Congressman Gerry Studds, filed
But if we must test, don't use the
city and U.S. Rep Joe Moakley are on
and won passage of federal legislation
Massachusetts test. Suppose that a
the other."
creating the Boston Harbor Islands
doctor, after examining you with a
My preservationist credentials speak
National Park, bringing federal money
newly invented instrument, said: "You
for themselves. I have secured over $50
into the island system and to make the
need open-heart surgery. Tomorrow."
million for many sites in Boston. My
Harbor Islands more accessible to the
Would you go ahead without proof that
Harbor Island credentials also speak for
public. Additionally, to date, the
this instrument works? Well, none has
themselves. During my years in the
Massachusetts delegation has secured
83
over $600 million for the clean up of
concluded a poll asking the public to
left alone when not in uniform. Get rid
Boston Harbor.
determine the most important event of
of Duquette and get back to baseball.
The debate over the fate of the Old
the 1950s, in order to determine the
Ed Fitzhenry, Dedham
Northern Avenue Bridge is not a battle
events to be put on new stamp designs.
Gun license helped Capitol slay
for historic preservation, it is a debate
Fifteen events were listed as top
suspect
over public safety. According to the
vote-getters. The first was the drive-in
Supporters of gun ownership have
city's Public Facilities Department, the
movie; the second, television's "I Love
been quick to point out that, in regard
estimated cost of making the bridge safe
Lucy."
to the recent tragic Capitol shooting, the
for pedestrian traffic, and in compliance
Number 15 was the Korean War.
gun laws in Washington, D.C., were
with Coast Guard regulations, would be
This Korean "police action" resulted in
ineffective. They forget that the
approximately $15 million, and, as
over 50,000 killed and missing
suspect didn't purchase the gun illegally
such, would not be feasible.
Americans. Number 15? This is truly
and wasn't a criminal until he entered
Without demonstrated interest of any
the "forgotten war." Andrew J. Pullo,
the Capitol and snapped.
public or private concern to shoulder
Member Korean War Veterans Assoc.
Gun bans had nothing to do with
the heavy burden of repair, maintenance
Boston
this incident, since the weapon was
and preservation of the structure, the
GM, not Vaughn, causes Sox trouble
indeed purchased by a "law-abiding gun
solution is clear. Public safety dictates
I agree with Joe Fitzgerald ("Mr.
owner." This type of Second
the bridge should be taken down. John
Nobody' gives up, and the Red Sox
Amendment flag-waving makes the rest
Joseph Moakley, U.S. Representative
lose," July 24). Fans should recall this
of us "law-abiding" non- gun owning
9th District
trouble started with the arrival of Dan
citizens sick. Robert Murphy,
Stamp poll shows Korea's forgotten
Duquette. You can't blame Mo Vaughn.
Peabody
The U.S. Post Office recently
He had his private life and should be
86. Worcester Telegram & Gazette
08/02/98; Edition: ALL; Section: INSIGHT; Page CI
Are education schools lost among trends?
By JOHN LEO
it's odd that they are rarely
Then the students split into small
A reader sent in a list of teacher
front-and-center in our endless debate
groups and talked about their feelings.
education courses at the University of
about failing schools.
"It shifted the comfort zone," said
Massachusetts at Amherst, along with a
STANDARDS VS. ESTEEM
one student, already fluent in ed-speak.
note: "This explains why 59 percent of
The right talks about striving and
Another said: "I felt really comfortable.
prospective teachers in Massachusetts
standards, the left talks about equal
I had trust there."
flunked a basic literacy test."
funding and classroom size, but few
"Let's talk about that," said the
The courses listed were: "Leadership
talk much about the breeding grounds
teacher. "We are building trust in this
in Changing Times," "Social Diversity"
for school failure - the trendy,
class."
(four different sections), "Embracing
anti-achievement, oppression-obsessed,
But what they were not doing was
Diversity," "Diversity and Change,"
feel-good, esteem-ridden, content-free
talking about anything in the real world,
"Oppression and Education," "Intro to
schools of education.
or about how to teach real lessons to
Multicultural Education," "Black
For an article in City Journal,
real children.
Identity,"
"Classism,"
"Racism,"
writer||reporter Heather MacDonald
The credo for education schools,
"Sexism," "Jewish Oppression,"
recently visited New York's City
MacDonald says, is "Anything but
"Lesbian||Gay||Bisexual Oppression,"
College, to see how a modern education
Knowledge."
"Oppression of the Disabled," and (get
school manages to fill its class time
"Once you dismiss real knowledge as
this one) "Erroneous Beliefs."
without making the dread professional
the goal of education," she writes about
The reader was referring to a basic
mistake of having any actual content or
the make-work silliness in education
10th-grade test in language, math and
clear purpose.
classes, "you have to find something
other subjects, given to 1,800 would-be
She found the teacher talking about
else to do."
teachers in Massachusetts.
"building a community, rich of talk"
The education schools take for
Among other things, the 59 percent
and how ed-school students should
granted that education must be
who failed often couldn't spell simple
"develop the subtext of what they're
"child-centered," which means that
English words such as "burned" and
doing."
children decide for themselves what
"abolished."
Each student wrote for seven
they want to learn.
Apparently they went into ed school
minutes on "What excites me about
Heavy emphasis is put on feelings
without knowing much about anything,
teaching," "What concerns me about
and the self.
then came out the same way. But at
teaching" and "What was it like to do
An actual curriculum, listing things
least they are prepared to drill children
this writing."
students ought to know, is viewed as
in separatism, oppression and erroneous
After the writings were read aloud,
cramping the human spirit.
beliefs.
the teacher said, "So writing gave you
Ed-school students are taught to be
Our schools of education have been
permission to think on paper about
suspicious of authority and the notion
a national scandal for many years, but
what's there."
that teachers might be expected to know
84
more than the children they teach, so
of education schools, "Ed School
professionals in other fields to switch
the word "teacher" is in decline.
Follies": "What happens to those more
into teaching from other careers simply
The fad word is now "facilitator,"
capable or motivated students is hardly
by taking an eight-week summer course
part guide and part bystander watching
anyone's concern."
and a test.
the self-educating child.
BEST STUDENTS IGNORED
In New York, the Teach for America
The traditional ed-school hostility to
This lack of concern for achievement
program produced a sudden infusion of
achievement currently hides behind the
now has a racial cast. Asian and white
very good teachers into public schools,
word "equity" - bright students must be
children are often depicted as somehow
also by bypassing the ed-school swamp.
tamped down so slower learners will
out of step if they work harder and
But the hidebound education
not feel bad about themselves.
achieve more than blacks, Hispanics
industry is digging in to close these
Smuggled in along with equality is
and other minorities.
loopholes and protect its closed-shop
the notion that performance and
Instead of working hard with
monopoly.
learning shouldn't really count - they
children to reduce the racial gap, school
It makes no sense to force teachers
elevate some children at the expense of
of education theory calls for strategies
through schools as bad as these.
others. Grades and marks are bad, too,
to conceal it under group projects or
People should be able to qualify as
because they characterize and divide
simply to demonstrate that achievement
teachers simply by passing rigorous
children.
doesn't matter.
tests in their area of competence.
The result is that the brighter
Various experiments are under way
Scrapping the school of education
students get little help and are often the
to let bright college graduates bypass
requirement is clearly the way to go.
target of teacher resentment.
education schools.
John Leo is a syndicated columnist.
Rita Kramer wrote in her 1991 study
Connecticut has a program allowing
87. Harrisburg Patriot-News
08/02/98; Edition: FINAL; Section: EDITORIAL; Page B14
Other needs supersede 4-year university
Pennsylvania needs another institution
capable of producing the computer
between Harrisburg and Boston.
of higher education like it needs another
engineers and high-tech personnel
In the words of our first lady: `give
law school. Your assertion (Editorial,
needed in Dauphin County. Or do you
me a break.' Maybe the commonwealth
July 22) that in higher education `more
feel the post-graduate relocation of such
could purchase Harvard U. and relocate
is better' is ludicrous.
individuals to central Pennsylvania
it to Dauphin County. The cost of such
Did you ever hear of saturation
would be an inhumane hardship?
an endeavor should be no greater than
levels? If memory serves me correctly,
Your allegation about the turf
what it costs to build a sports palace in
Pennsylvania already has more
consciousness of the existing order of
Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.
four-year institutions of higher
higher education and the damaging
Health care, day care and mass
education than any other state.
effect it has on the economic and social
transit are where the money is needed.
Your argument on behalf of a
potential of Dauphin County sounds
We have a sufficient supply of sports
Harrisburg University implies that the
like a George Costanza outburst. But
emporiums and institutions of higher
university-saturated
areas
of
the humor really emerges when you
learning.
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh aren't
contrast the higher education disparity
- Barry Ochs Shippensburg
88. Greensboro News & Record
08/02/98; Edition: ALL; Section: EDITORIAL; Page F3
SCHOOL YEAR'S FIRST CHALLENGE
GETTING AND KEEPING GOOD TEACHERS ATTRITION HAS BEEN
HEAVIEST AT "LOW-PERFORMING" SCHOOLS, BUT THE
ATTRITION STARTED BEFORE THE DESIGNATION.
By Philip J. Kirk
classroom.
from trained, paid mentors. But, many
A new school year is beginning, and
The teachers who are starting work
of these teachers will leave the
some 10,000 new teachers are starting
had to meet more rigorous standards to
profession after a few years for jobs that
work in classrooms across this state.
enter the profession, they are receiving
are less frustrating and more lucrative.
Another 70,000 teachers are returning
better orientation to their new jobs and
The challenge for education
to their classrooms for another year.
they will earn more money during their
administrators is to recruit and retain
But, in some schools, administrators are
careers.
competent, effective and caring
struggling to find teachers to staff every
They also will receive assistance
teachers.
85
Rural areas traditionally have more
the ABCs.
employ well- prepared, talented
of a challenge, but large urban systems,
In some of the low-performing
teachers because teachers who
which pay attractive supplements, also
schools, the turnover rate was 50
graduated the year before already have
are experiencing problems in retaining
percent in one year.
jobs.
teachers and filling vacancies.
Just imagine a work situation of 30
This may result in our least
The State Board of Education is
co-workers where 15 of them leave in
experienced teachers or substitute
particularly concerned about the large
one year.
teachers teaching students with perhaps
number of teachers who are leaving
Besides the extra work of
the greatest needs at a critical time
schools that need experienced
administrators who have to search to
during the school year.
teachers - mostly "low-performing"
replace staff, there's the emotional
Students taught by a succession of
schools.
upheaval for students, as well as
teachers are simply not going to learn as
An analysis of teacher turnover in
learning time lost during the transition.
much as other students.
schools designated low- performing in
The higher turnover in these schools
Teachers leaving low-performing
1997 showed that teacher turnover in
during the instructional year is
and other schools is not just a North
those schools was three times higher
especially disturbing.
Carolina problem.
than in other schools statewide.
It is likely to mean that students have
School systems in the United States
Some might question if the
been taught by substitute teachers while
will need to hire some 2 million
designation of the school as
certified teachers were recruited and
teachers in the next decade, according
low- performing resulted in the higher
hired.
to U.S. Department of Education
turnover rate; it is important to note that
An added difficulty is that the first
estimates. In North Carolina, we'll need
this was the rate before the
semester of the year is typically the
an estimated 72,000 new teachers in the
announcement of school status under
most difficult time of all to recruit and
next seven years.
We want these teachers to know how
compensating teachers for meeting
play.
to teach so students will want to learn
higher standards.
When asked what would help retain
and to know their subject matter.
Several of the components of the
high quality teachers, local school
The more our teachers know, the
Excellent Schools Act will make a
administrators cite parent involvement
more our students can learn.
difference in our attempts to keep
and community support and respect for
We also want these teachers to be
teachers from leaving the profession,
teaching as key factors.
committed to continually learning more
including the low-performing schools.
Restoring respect for the teaching
and improving their teaching style.
The Excellent Schools Act will move
profession is one of my personal goals
Gov. Jim Hunt has lead the national
North Carolina's teachers to the national
as chairman of the State Board of
effort to study teacher quality.
average in teacher pay in the next three
Education.
As chairman of the National
years through across-the-board raises
As a new school year begins, I
Commission on Teaching and
and additional pay for advanced
encourage you to call your local school,
America's Future, the governor was
certification and degrees and for
ask what you can do and then follow
instrumental in the development of two
additional responsibility and work.
through on your commitment.
national teacher quality reports that
While that will help, a Public School
Our teachers have a very important
outlined steps to be taken to improve
Forum study found that more than 40
job.
teacher quality and quality teaching.
percent of teachers leave their
They deserve higher pay, better
The governor also initiated North
classrooms before they complete their
working conditions and the support of
Carolina's bold Excellent Schools Act
fifth year because of a lack of discipline
the entire community.
in 1997. This act enjoys bipartisan
in the classroom and a lack of support
That's where you can help in
support from the Legislature because it
from administrators, school boards, and
recruiting and retaining excellent
is focused on increasing standards for
parents, in addition to low pay.
teachers in all schools in North
teachers and students while
Parents and citizens have a role to
Carolina.
89. The Washington Times
08/03/98; Edition: 2; Section: A;COMMENTARY;EDITORIALS;LETTERS Page A16
Keeping science education on the cutting edge
As president of the world's largest
informational disadvantage.
They
prestigious scientists, and included
scientific society - the American
should know the facts:
members of our society and many other
Chemical Society, which represents
Scientists did set the nation's science
learned organizations.
more than 155,000 chemists and
education standards. Your article states
What's more, scientists participated
chemical engineers - I read "Science
that the National Science Education
fully in every stage of the development
aversion looms as serious threat to U.S.
Standards were written by groups
of these standards. Science educators
economy" (June 19) with initial interest,
"made up primarily of educators, not
were also involved to ensure the
but growing concern. This article
scientists." In fact, they were developed
success of these new standards in the
contains many errors of fact,
under the aegis of the National
classroom, as well as industrialists, who
implication and omission, thereby
Academy of Science, whose elected
eventually employ the products of our
putting your readers at a distinct
membership constitutes the most
educational system.
86
Providing access to science for all
science, but also helps retain students'
better than the world average, and in the
students does not mean dumbing down
interest in science. We cannot teach
eighth grade were about at the world
the curriculum. Your article implies that
science to students who have opted out
average.
wider access means watering down the
of the pipeline, nor can we build jobs
Many involved with TIMSS are
curriculum. but ignores several facts:
and keep our research enterprise vital
trying to explain why U.S. children
First, as we approach the
without training as many bright young
perform worse on these measures the
millennium, science is a basic subject
minds as we can reach while they are
longer they are in school, relative to
that needs to be taught in a fashion that
still in school.
other countries. Here is one
makes it accessible to all students.
The standards are moving us closer
explanation: When comparing science
Second, the standards help all students
to the performance level other nations
curriculum content around the world,
to think more, rather than less, by
enjoy in science education. In the
you can see that our students, especially
emphasizing understanding and
article, you briefly mention the results
as they get older, are exposed to a
applying science knowledge rather than
of the most recent report from the Third
curriculum that has been described as "a
just memorizing science facts. They
International Mathematics and Science
mile wide and an inch deep." The
demand that students think in a
Study (TIMSS). While it is true that, in
standards, with an emphasis on fewer
scientific fashion and engage in the
general science literacy and physics, our
concepts taught in greater depth, helps
kind of inquiry that engages the
graduating students did very poorly
to address this issue and moves closer
working scientist - not an easier task,
compared with those of the other
to those nations that outperformed us
but a harder one. Finally, this approach
countries participating in the study,
on TIMSS.
not only shows students the real
your article failed to mention that our
excitement and challenges of doing
students in the third grade did much
Finally, the article implies that
incomprehensible. As a college
to do: Make sure that more students in
notion that only bad-tasting medicine is
professor for much of my professional
more classrooms learn more science
good for you. I became a chemist
life, I can tell you that nothing is more
than they do now.
because I enjoyed chemistry in school;
rewarding or fun - for both teacher and
PAUL H.L. WALTER
to me, it was fun to learn chemistry. I
student - than the moment when both
President
would not have become a chemist if the
realize that learning has taken place.
American Chemical Society
subject were dull, irrelevant and
That's what the standards are attempting
Washington
90. Raleigh News & Observer
08/03/98; Edition: Final; Section: Editorial/Opinion; Page A10
Student courts must be free to punish campus crime
Your July 29 editorial "Crime under
essentially would not allow a university
take.
wraps" argued that records of student
community to set standards that are
Furthermore, when the public learns
judicial matters should be open to the
higher than those of society at large.
that a student has broken the law, not
public. The editorial ended by stating
As students at UNC-Chapel Hill, we
only do other members of the university
that cases of a "criminal" nature should
find that being part of a safe, honest
community look to the university to
not be heard by "campus courts" at all.
university community is vital to our
take action, but the public does as well.
If your suggested policy were
education. The community has the
We encourage The N&O to consider
followed, universities would be unable
responsibility to set high expectations
the ramifications of your suggestion,
to sanction students who engage in
for its members, one of which should
not only for universities but also for the
underage drinking, vandalism, fighting,
certainly be to uphold North Carolina
communities surrounding them.
hazing, theft of community members'
laws. When a fellow student chooses to
Sabrina K. Presnell
property or breaking into another
break the trust established within our
Student Attorney General
person's computer records. Such a
community, as student judicial leaders
Gerald C. Andrady
policy would greatly impede the role of
we take action to ensure that integrity is
Undergraduate Honor Court Chair
universities in educating students about
maintained, in addition to whatever
UNC-Chapel Hill
their civic responsibilities and
action criminal courts may choose to
Chapel Hill
91. The Sacramento Bee
08/03/98; Edition: METRO FINAL; Section: EDITORIALS; Page B7
`LOOPING' KEEPS KIDS, TEACHERS TOGETHER
FOR MORE THAN 1 YEAR
By Michele Fuetsch
hailing a teaching strategy as old as the
fast-spreading as a new Disney video.
Educators across the country are
one-room
schoolhouse
but
as
Called
looping,
or
multiyear
87
assignments, the strategy keeps a
problems and the number of students
secret of success is simple: When a
teacher with the same group of children
held back in a grade while improving
teacher stays with the same youngsters
for more than one academic year. Some
test scores, the emotional health of
for two years, they say, about six weeks
educators say the idea is the most
students, the involvement of parents
of instruction time gets added to a
effective, profound innovation to enter
and the academic performance of
two-year academic cycle. No time is
American schools in decades.
students. In Attleboro, school officials
lost at the start of the second year, they
Unlike smaller classes or all-day
say that over two years, looping
say, when a new teacher would have to
kindergarten, which require sizable
increased the daily attendance rate from
spend time getting to know the names,
financial investments, looping is an
92 percent to 97 percent, while
personalities, strengths and weaknesses
educational reform that "doesn't cost a
decreasing the number of students held
of the students and their families. There
penny," says Ted Thibodeau,
back by 43 percent and referrals to
is no need for a teacher to assess what
superintendent of public schools in
special education by 55 percent.
the students learned in the previous
Attleboro, Mass., where all first- to
Looping, the superintendent says,
year, because the teacher knows and
eighth-graders are in a looping program
has earned Attleboro consistently
can immediately begin to individualize
that has them spend two years at a time
higher scores on state proficiency tests
instruction.
with teachers. The program is seven
than other districts with comparable
Teachers at Glendale Elementary
years old.
family incomes and parental education
School in Bedford, Ohio, say having the
Educators who are trying looping
levels.
same children for two years increases
credit it with reducing discipline
Those familiar with looping say the
their performance.
Karla Robinson says a looping
the academic success of looping lies in
clashes carried over from year to year,
teacher has a hard time blaming anyone
more than extra instruction time. "We
said school board President Janice
else if a child fails to do well after two
think it's about relationships more than
Marquardt.
years.
anything else," he says, pointing out,
Robert Lincoln, principal of Tolland
"You have to be sure you've done
for example, that people don't want to
Middle School in Tolland, Conn.,
everything you can to help him,"
go to a new doctor every year.
where seventh- and eighth-graders loop
Robinson says.
"Significant relationships are where
with a team of four teachers, says he
"It's intense," says 20-year teacher
it's at," said James Grant, the New
solves personality clashes by moving
Lynn Beveridge. "I find myself working
Hampshire educator who popularized
the student to another class the second
harder at this."
the term "looping." "Parents like it,"
year.
Bedford school officials say that
said Grant, founder and executive
In the first year of his school's
when they evaluated their 3-year-old
director of the Society for
3-year-old program, Lincoln said, 12 of
looping program, they discovered
Developmental Education, "because
about 200 students asked to be moved,
something other educators have
they want to have a predictable adult in
while only four asked this year. Lincoln
noticed: that parents overwhelmingly
their children's lives for more than 36
attributes the drop in part to the
support looping and the teachers.
weeks."
growing cooperation he says looping
"Parents thought it was tremendous,
Indeed, the Journal of the American
produces between parents and teachers.
the bond that was established between
Medical Association last fall published
"There's an increased commitment
the parents and the teacher and the
the findings of a longitudinal study on
both ways, and that's a very potent
child," said Linda A. O'Neill, the
adolescent health that found the first
factor here," Lincoln said, explaining
district's elementary curriculum
line of defense against such
that it's hard for students to elude
supervisor.
self-destructive behavior as drugs,
responsibility when the authority
Students whose young lives have
alcohol and early sex was a youth's love
figures in their lives are united.
been scarred by poverty or family
for his or her parents. The second line
Lincoln said looping is a hot topic
collapse are the youngsters many
of defense was a strong attachment to a
today in middle school circles as
educators believe could benefit most
teacher.
educators and others seek ways to
from looping.
Grant acknowledges two pitfalls in
connect youths more securely in
"The comfort level with the teacher
looping: personality clashes between a
relationships with adults.
is so important for some kids," says
student and a teacher so that both dread
The academic benefits are high too,
Delores Vehar, principal at Oxford
a second year together, and the
Lincoln said, pointing out that his first
Elementary School in Cleveland
tendency of administrators to overload
eighth-graders to complete a two-year
Heights, Ohio, "especially if a child has
looping classes with children who have
cycle with the same team of teachers
been moved around from one place to
special needs.
scored higher on state proficiency tests
another."
One school in Ohio's Mayfield
than any other Tolland eighth-graders
Looping began at Oxford last year
School District dropped its first- and
had ever scored before.
with selected classes in which teachers
second-grade looping program, in part
Michele Fuetsch is a reporter with the
asked to continue on with their classes,
because some teachers and parents
Plain Dealer, in Cleveland. Distributed
Vehar said.
reported doubts about having the same
by Newhouse News Service.
Attleboro's Thibodeau agrees that
behavior problems and personality
EDITORIAL
88
92. Investors Business Daily
August 4, 1998
Education Reform In Black And White
Americans spend a lot of time debating
More than nine of 10 black and
chose their neighborhood based on the
race issues. But a new poll from Public
white parents agree it is absolutely
quality of its schools. This is de facto
Agenda shows that black parents and
essential that schools "make sure
school choice - an option that many
white parents are united on education
students master the basics such as
lower-income and minority parents
reform. Both groups want public
reading, writing and arithmetic."
don't have.
schools to raise their standards and
Kids must learn and be challenged.
While Democrats oppose any school
demand the best from kids.
More than eight in 10 black and
choice or education reform efforts,
New York-based polling firm Public
white parents say it is absolutely
black parents grow impatient. Fully
Agenda asked 800 black parents and
essential that schools "promote kids to
60% of black parents say they would
800 white parents about their views on
the next grade only after they show they
switch their kids from public to private
public schools. Here are some of the
have learned what they were supposed
schools if money weren't an issue. Such
results:
to."
Public Agenda findings jibe with the
Good schools must focus on the
Having a choice matters.
other polls we've seen.
basics.
Fully 61% of white parents say they
Learning begins at home.
Parents are critical of the schools,
quickly." Another 28% think it is a
from Pennsylvania.
but they also think a strong family plays
"serious problem."
Even though parents decry the state
a bigger part in success than any school
These views are creating pressure.
of schools, their dissatisfaction contains
can.
"Although advocates of voucher
some good news. As the interest of
Almost two of three black parents
programs sometimes point to the power
parents grows, the system will be forced
think a student from a stable and
of the free market and need for
to change.
supportive family who goes to a poor
competition as persuasive arguments,
Schools must be more competitive,
school is more likely to succeed than a
this study suggests that most parents
responsive, accountable and free to seek
kid from a troubled family who attends
come to the issue from a different
tough curricula to challenge students
a good school. More than three of four
perspective," write the Public Agenda
and demand the best from them.
whites parents agree.
authors. "They are frustrated with
Teacher unions and educators must
In short, what parents
public schools, want results and are
be part of this solution. Their low
want -regardless of race - is higher
desperate to give their children the best
expectations of students has hurt all
standards.
possible chance."
kids.
More than half of black parents
"We've spent a lot of time on the race
To better educate our children,
agreed with the statement that when
issues, and we need to redirect some of
schools must change. Parents of all
black kids aren't doing well in school,
those energies to getting our children a
colors should demand it.
"It's a crisis, and must be addressed
better education," said one black parent
93. New York Times
August I, 1998
Keeping the Census Fair
In 1990, for the first time in decades,
missed about 8.4 million people in
mini-census. The two results will be
the Bureau of the Census produced a
1990, most of them residents of rental
compared, and the bureau will try to
count that was less accurate than the
housing. About 4.4. million others -
reconcile the differences.
one that preceded it. Under
many of them college students and
Sampling techniques are the state of
Congressional direction, the agency
people who owned two homes- were
the art in statistics, but Republicans
consulted the National Academy of
counted twice. The results were
contend that they violate the
Sciences and came up with a new, more
disturbingly skewed along racial and
constitutional mandate for "actual
statistically sophisticated procedure.
ethnic lines. One in 10 black males
enumeration" of the population. The
But Republican leaders have declared
were missed by the census, and 1 in 20
party actually fears that since poor and
war on the plan. In effect, they are
Hispanics. About half the Americans
minority Americans tend to be
fighting for a census in which some
who never got counted were children.
Democrats, correcting the census will
Americans count for more than others.
To keep the same thing from
help the opposition.
Changes in American life style, in
happening in the year 2000 census,
The Republicans are attempting to
which families double up, children
officials decided to use statistical
starve the Census Bureau into
shuttle among relatives and adults move
sampling techniques to check the
submission. The proposed
into and out of relationships make the
accuracy of the count. Field workers
appropriations bill for the Commerce
population increasingly hard to pin
will be dispatched to 750.000 randomly
Department contains funding for census
down. The Census Bureau estimates it
selected houses to perform a second
preparations for only the next six
89
months. If the bill becomes law, next
veto a budget bill that endorses such an
The Republicans have challenged use
March President Clinton will have a
unfair procedure. To avoid that, the
of sampling in court, and in the unlikely
choice of accepting the Republicans'
House should adopt a Democratic
event the Supreme Court decides to
demands for a less accurate count or
amendment to the Commerce budget
take up the issue, the judicary can
allowing preparations for the census to
that would finance the census for the
decide the matter.
Otherwise,
come to a halt.
entire year, and direct the bureau to be
Congress must stop trying to politicize
The President may feel obliged to
prepared to use either counting method.
the census.
94. The Washington Times
08/03/98; Edition: 2; Section: A;COMMENTARY:EDITORIALS: Page A16
The stakes for the economy
As expected, the economy slowed
eighth year of expansion, the third
two weeks. Whatever one's views are
considerably during the second quarter.
longest since World War II. Despite last
regarding whether or not the U.S. stock
The annual rate of growth for the
quarter's slowdown, U.S. economic
market is overvalued, the fact remains
April-June period decelerated to 1.4
fundamentals remain strong. The
that the bull market has been an
percent from a roaring 5.5 percent
federal budget is now in surplus, the
important factor behind strong
during the first quarter, according to the
first time that has happened since 1969.
consumer spending, which has been the
Commerce Department's preliminary
And future budgets are projected to
backbone of the economic expansion.
estimate of gross domestic product
generate ever-larger surpluses. In 1996
And now would not be the time for a
released Friday.
and 1997, productivity increased
Fed-induced stock market correction.
The slowdown had several causes.
sharply, suggesting that the recent
A double whammy of rising interest
Some are surely temporary, but others
increases in wages and benefits will not
rates and falling household wealth,
may be longer-lasting. The general
be inflationary. The unemployment rate
which would result from a declining
consensus among economists is that the
has been consistently declining since
stock market, could very well be
General Motors strike, which began
1992, reaching 4.9 percent last year, the
enough to tip the U.S. economy into a
June 5 and ended last week, shaved I
lowest rate since 1970. And today's 4.5
recession, notwithstanding its sound
percentage point off the
percent rate is nearly half a percentage
economic fundamentals. With 13 of
second-quarter's growth rate. And a
point lower than 1997's. In the face of
Asia's 19 largest economies already
sharp, but welcome, decline in the rate
declining unemployment, meanwhile,
mired in recession, the U.S. market
of inventory investment knocked off
inflation continues to fall as well.
must continue to remain sufficiently
another 2 percentage points. A huge
Indeed, as the Commerce Department
strong in order to absorb Asian exports,
and disturbing 8 percent decline in
also reported last week, an
regardless of the effects upon the U.S.
exports, reflecting the impact of Asia's
economy-wide inflation index declined
trade deficit. Despite the central role
economic crisis, and a sharp increase in
once again, reaching an annual rate of a
that Japan ought to play in Asia's
imports, also Asia-related, together
miniscule 0.8 percent. For all practical
recovery, the likelihood that it is
chopped another 2 to 3 points off the
purposes, the Federal Reserve has
capable of meeting its regional
second quarter's growth rate. Yet all
reached its goal of price stability.
responsibilities was dealt a major blow
these deleterious effects, which together
Last week's news of a slowdown in
last week. U.S. officials, it was
might have resulted in an actual decline
economic growth and a decline in
reported, have concluded that the
in output, were offset by substantial
inflation suggests that the Federal
bad-debt problem from Japan's banking
increases in other areas. Consumer
Reserve will continue to find no need to
crisis now approaches $1 trillion,
spending, for example, increased by 5.8
raise short-term interest rates in the near
almost double Japan's low- ball official
percent, only slightly below the first
future. And that is very good news, both
estimate. Thus, for the sake of the
quarter's rate. And private investment
for the U.S. economy and the global
global economy, in both the short term
continued to surge, rising by nearly 12
economy. In addition to dampening
and long term, it is extremely important
percent, thanks in large part to a 17.8
consumption and investment, rising
for the U.S. locomotive, fueled by
percent increase in capital spending by
interest rates would adversely affect the
strong consumer demand and business
businesses.
stock market, which has already
investment, to continue surging
The U.S. economy is now in its
declined nearly 5 percent in the past
forward.
95. Los Angeles Times
* 08/03/98; Edition: Home Edition; Section: Metro; Editorial Writers Desk; Page B-4
The Internet and Child Safety
What thread links an Illinois
kindergarten teacher and a California
child pornography over the Internet in
preacher, a Virginia pediatrician, a
Border Patrol officer? All have been
recent months. The teacher (who has
Dutch justice minister, a New Jersey
charged with receiving or distributing
pleaded guilty to pornography charges),
90
the preacher and the border patrolman
been used to commit or facilitate crimes
already filed twice as many Net-related
were also charged with soliciting
involving children.
child crime cases this year as it did in
minors over the Internet. These are
Here, for instance, Los Angeles
1997.
examples of the growing number of
Police Chief Bernard Parks reported
cases in which the Net has allegedly
recently that the Police Department has
Penalties are sufficiently stiff and
can never be recovered.
child's cyber friends, and limit hours
laws are generally adequate. State and
More ways should be found for
online.
federal fines and prison terms are hefty.
police agencies to get better computer
Vice President Al Gore said Friday
The problem is that local law
hardware and software, through
that the federal government will seek to
enforcement, like the LAPD, is often
purchase or receiving donations, to help
implement safeguards against the
technically outmatched. with their aged
suppress these nasty crimes.
collection of personal information from
computers, slow modems and a lack of
In the meantime, experts have
children who use the Net. That's a smart
access to sophisticated software
suggestions for parents: Put the family
move. Some Web sites that attract
programs that can pull supposedly
computer in a high-traffic area, like the
children encourage them to post their
deleted images out of a computer. That
living room, where its use can be easily
names and addresses. Preventing these
gap figures to grow wider now that any
observed; warn youngsters against
postings would help limit the
pedophile with a few bucks can buy
revealing personal information on the
opportunities of those who troll for
new software programs that promise to
Internet; warn them to drop out of chat
young victims, a hidden horror of the
erase files-in these cases, child
room talk that turns to body parts or
cyberworld.
pornography files-so completely they
underwear: insist on knowing your
96. The Salt Lake Tribune
08/02/98Section: Opinion; Page AAI
Give Charter Schools a Try
Aside from radical reform, like
Nationally, charter schools are the
subsidies following students into
strapping per-pupil state education
product of rising parental frustration
private schools. Charter schools are a
subsidies to the backs of students and
with public schools, especially those in
reasonable compromise between stand
letting the money follow students to
the nation's inner cities where large
pat public education supporters and
whatever public or private school they
numbers of students seemingly are
those who believe the best way to
and their parents choose, Utah's most
written off by educators too busy, too
improve public schooling is to let it
promising education reform lies in
demoralized or even too lazy to reach
compete head-to-head with private
charter schools.
them.
schools.
Just recently, a State Board of
The charter schools movement is
Nevertheless, charter schools offer
Education committee approved start-up
popular. They are in 29 states and the
considerable educational promise and
financing for two charter schools, one
District of Columbia. Even allies of the
deserve a chance. Their success rests
geared toward the arts near St. George
traditional public school system and its
with results - reaching agreed upon
and the other for deaf students in the
teacher unions, like President Clinton,
performance standards. The freedom
Salt Lake Valley.
back charter schools. The president last
and flexibility they have is to better
It is about time. Charter schools
year announced $40 million in grants to
enable them to reach their students and
offer parents, students and teachers a
help charter schools open, and said he
achieve agreed-upon results.
variety of options that could energize
wants to see more than 3,000 of them
Utah is to be congratulated for
and improve learning. Charter schools
nationwide by the year 2000. Now there
joining the charter school movement.
have more autonomy from the often
are 780.
There is little, if anything, to lose and
hidebound rules of traditional public
Part of the motivation for all this
much to gain.
schools so they better can tailor their
backing, of course, lies in staving off
curriculum around student needs.
just such a scenario as public education
97. San Diego Union Tribune
August 4, 1998
Too good for the job
School superintendent set high standards
Any parent with a kid in Escondido's
black armband tonight when the high
superintendent.
four high schools - or any with kids
school
board announces the
In her eight years in the post,
about to enter one - should don a
resignation of Jane Gawronski as
Gawronski has demonstrated the kind
91
of
leadership. competence and
She upgraded the summer school
She was the first person from the
principles that most superintendents can
program so that more than four times as
CIF-San Diego section ever elected
only dream about. Among other
many students in the overcrowded
president of the CIF State Federated
things, she was instrumental in the
district could attend (and take the
Council, and last year was named the
district's successful effort to pass a
courses they needed), expanded the
top superintendent in the state by the
$43 million bond in 1996, resulting in
adult education program to nearly
Association of California School
badly needed face-lifts for the four
double its size and encouraged more
Administrators.
schools as well as the construction of a
migrant students to attend school by
new high in Valley Center.
adding extra buses.
But,
despite
all
her
cream at tonight's meeting. Board
when the new Valley Center high
accomplishments. Gawronski had one
members will fall all over themselves
school opened.
major flaw: She was a strong leader in
praising Gawronski's success during the
Never mind that Gawronski was
a city which just about always elects
last eight years. But at least three of
successful in her independence. She
small-town politicians to its school
the five will be laughing to themselves.
always seemed to overshadow the
boards; politicians who can't stand
Make no mistake: Gawronski is
board, despite her best efforts to the
being upstaged by competent
being fired. She was just too
contrary. She was too good in an
administrators. And, as in a lot of other
independent for the board to tolerate.
arena where only somewhat good was
county school districts, when school
Some board members didn't like it
demanded.
board members find themselves
when she supported an advisory
It would be unfair to hold her
upstaged, they do something about it.
panel's recommendations that the
successor to the standards that she has
It happened in Vista. It happened in
nationwide Peer Helpers counseling
set, and virtually impossible for any
Chula Vista, in Coronado and in
program be revised, when she
successor to equal those standards.
Escondido's elementary district. And
conducted her fiscal analysis of a
Escondido will miss her badly,
now it has happened in Escondido's
charter school and when she pushed
particularly since she is departing only
high school district.
for creation of a new, unified Valley
because of the spitefulness of the
Oh, everything will be peaches and
Center/Pauma Valley school district
school board.
98. The (Boulder, Colo.) Daily Camera
August 4, 1998
Media bias distorts affirmative action debate
Astrange thing happened to news
often seemed to have the momentum of
reponded last week with an explanation
coverage of affirmative action in the
an unstoppable freight train." But when
that amounted to a semi-apology. Under
city of Houston. When the issue was on
the surprising brake proved faulty, the
the headline "Times Gave Story on
the city's ballot last fall, national news
story seemed surprisingly minor. This
Houston Ballot Measure Short Shrift,"
media gave the story lavish attention.
seems true of the three major network
the executive editor of the paper,
Houston Mayor Bob Lanier led a fight
news shows, too. A computer search of
Michael R. Fancher, said the story had
to defeat the Houston Civil Rights
transcripts turned up no evidence that
been overlooked in an awkward
Initiative - a measure challenging the
they reported the overturning of the
weekend news cycle. It had come to
city government's race and gender
Houston vote.
The Associated Press from Texas late
hiring policies and contracting
Michelle Malkin, a columnist at The
on a Friday, and the AP had not
set-asides. When the measure went
Seattle Times, decided to make an issue
included it on the wire report sent to
down to defeat by a 54-46 margin, once
of the media performance on this story,
Washington state.
again TV, newspapers and magazines
at least in her hometown. She wrote a
The Times missed it, Fancher said,
played the story big.
column criticizing her own paper: In the
because the first version of the judge's
But a month ago, when a judge
10 days between the judge's decison
ruling that moved on the AP wire
threw out the results of the Houston
and her column, The Seattle Times
received at the Times was available for
election and ordered a new vote, the
hadn't printed a story. She had learned
Saturday evening papers, but the Times
media weren't very interested. In Texas,
about the judge's ruling from friends in
doesn't publish on Saturday evening,
the story was well covered, but outside
California.
No
newspaper
in
and the editors working on the Sunday
the state there was very little media
Washington state carried the story, even
paper focused on the Sunday material,
attention, and in some areas, none at all.
though an upcoming statewide vote on
not the stories in the previous day's
The New York Times, for example,
a measure similar to Houston's is a hot
package.
gave it six sentences on Page 13 in the
political issue now.
Well, OK. People make mistakes,
last edition of a Saturday issue.
"Given its exhaustive coverage of the
and the AP feed to the Northwest was
In contrast, when the referendum
Houston election in 1997," Malkin
partly responsible for the sloppiness.
results came in on Nov. 6, the Times
wrote, "the Times' absolute silence is
But what about the national media?
trumpeted the story on Page One. A
extraordinary.
Sins of omission can
Many have specialists who are
long report said, with some zest,
be as damaging to the news media's
supposed to follow issues as important
"Houston's voters have put a suprising
credibility as sins of commission."
as affirmative action. For many
brake on a national movement that has
To its credit, The Seattle Times
newspapers, the story may have fallen
92
into the crack between Saturday and
a full report later in the week. And it
affirmative action preferences had
Sunday papers, but where was the
didn't take much news judgment to see
tinkered with the language on the ballot
follow-up? A computer search shows
that this was an important story: A
to make sure the voting went their way.
only one major non-Texas daily -
judge canceled the results of the
The Washington Times - publishing
referendum because supporters of
This linguistic tampering has failed
affirmative action for women and
that a lot of reporting on the subject is
to survive judicial review in California,
minorities ").
simply unreliable.
Washington state and now Houston.
In admitting its mistake, The Seattle
The same is true on other hot-button
Judge Sharolyn Wood said it was unfair
Times acknowledged the issue of press
social issues. Particularly on the two
to remove the original wording, taken
bias: "Failing to come back with a
coasts, journalism is becoming an
from the 1964 Civil Rights Act ("The
complete story about the Houston
upper-class occupation. It attracts and
City of Houston shall not discriminate
ruling feeds that perception, which
trains people who come to share the
against, or grant preferential treatment
critics use for partisan gain."
social views conventional among our
to, any individual or group on the basis
Yes, bias is an issue. More and more
elites. These opinions are pumped into
of race, sex, ethnicity or national origin
people now understand that the
news coverage, first by osmosis, then
...") ") and to replace it with language that
selection and treatment of news stories
through a determination to do good by
seemed to state that all affirmative
often reflect the social views of
doing journalism. It's widening the gap
action efforts were being banned, not
reporters and editors rather than any
between the media and the rest of us.
just clear race and gender preferences
non-partisan or allegedly objective
("Shall the Charter of the City of
standard. Our newsroom culture is so
Houston be amended to end the use of
strongly committed to affirmative action