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February 28, 2005
Backing standards
I'm a loyal West Virginian, but I'll readily admit that prep school rescued me from West Virginia's public school system. So I'm sorry not to see WV in the list of states that are setting higher graduation standards: Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Texas. But then again, I'm not sure this effort is anything more than another if-you-set-the-standards-they-will-meet-them initiative—you know, one of those deals where legislators assume that teachers are slackers who must be whipped into shape, and that students will do eversomuch better if only they're given worthwhile goals to meet.
Achieving the goals the 13 states set may not be easy. Governors will have to negotiate with school districts, state university leaders, legislators and teacher unions to craft changes that can win approval in each state.
I wish somebody besides teachers understood that better education requires a lot more than "negotiations"—unless it's intended that these "negotiations" include negotiating state budgets, allocations of school funds, etc.
Posted by senioritis at February 28, 2005 07:02 AM
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