CHARLES BEAMS spoke of And Now This.. to DAN TRIPLETT on 11-25-96
CB>In response to a message to Charles on ...
CB>DT>I don't know that the State is the best ones to issue standards,
CB>DT>but in  this case it worked very well.
CB> 
CB>I don't understand this attitude.  Who do you think should be in
CB>control?
I think educators should have a lot to say regarding standards...that is 
all I meant by this comment.  I think that the configuration of who is 
making decisions that directly effect education is important.  
Educators, parents, businesses....all should have some part in 
determining standards.  But I also believe that educators have the most 
valuable input.  I wouldn't like to see this input become secondary.
  
cB>of our citizens distrusting government and calling for cuts in 
CB>  Don't you think the national call for 
CB>vouchers is really a call for privatization of education?  If 
CB>education were privatized, then tax support could be gradually
CB>withdrawn.
I don't think most people really understand the implications on 
education that vouchers would have.  I don't know that I would call it a 
national call either.  I think it is more a select group that is 
rallying support for vouchers.  Public education will always need to be 
supported by tax dollars in some way though.  How would privatization 
eliminate tax support?    
  
CB>How many districts are there in your state?  Do they all set their 
CB>own standards?  Are all of these standards high enough to ensure 
CB>that graduating students really can read, write and do math?  How 
CB>could you know?
I don't know the number of districts in our state.  As for setting their 
own standard the answer is no.  All districts will be responsible to 
meet the "Essential Learning" standards which from what I have seen are 
very high.  The change (in focusing on these standards and holding 
districts accountable) is a response to the need for higher standards 
and higher skills (reading writing and math) in our graduates.  Right 
now this is a pretty big deal here in Washington.  But as you are 
probably aware, any significant changes will take time to implement 
properly.  We have voluntary compliance dates set for districts and then 
mandatory compliance.  The "How to" meet those standards is most likely 
up to individual districts.  
Dan
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