In response to a message to Charles on ...
DT>CB>Regarding a debate we were having regarding "A Nation at Risk":  
DT>CB>I've just not had time to look into any of this stuff - too much 
DT>CB>work, not enough time.  I've written myself a note and if I get 
DT>CB>time, I'll try to hunt up some info.
DT>
DT>I've had the same trouble myself as I have many issues I am "discussing" 
DT>on several forums.  It is interesting how "experts" can arrive at 
DT>different conclusions when looking at the same data.  The book _The_ 
DT>_Manufactured_ _Crisis_ is an interesting read and now when I read 
DT>reports in the newspaper or hear something on TV regarding the state of 
DT>American education I listen with a bit of skepticism.  Who are we to 
DT>believe?
It is a matter of degree.  Even as I read your earlier post on 
_A_Nation_At_Risk_ and _The_Manufactured_Crisis, I was fairly 
comfortable that I could poke holes into nearly every argument.  For 
example, your post quoted an argument regarding SAT scores - noting 
that the decline in SAT scores can be attributed to changing 
demographics and changing population.  Fair enough - but the article 
never denied that SAT scores have fallen.  Isn't it fair for the 
public to expect that schools improve in their ability to educate 
over a 40-year period?  Isn't it fair to ask the schools and 
educators in general to learn enough about the way students learn so 
that they can respond to the need to get more of our children into 
college today than we did 40-years ago?  Why is it okay for us to 
expect that everything improve in our society and our economy except 
schools, which can remain unchanged?
I have long argued in this echo that we are doing as good a job 
today as we did 40-years ago - maybe better.  But it isn't good 
enough - we're failing to educate well as great a percentage today 
as we need to educate well.
As I said it is a matter of degree.  What you say is good enough is 
not good enough for those in industry and business who are hiring 
half their mathematicians from overseas every year.  It is not good 
enough for the colleges who are ready to educate more of our 
students but find that too many who WANT to attend college are 
simply not well prepared.
We can do better - we MUST do better.
Chuck Beams
cbeams@dreamscape.com
http://www.dreamscape.com/cbeams
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* UniQWK #5290* A mind is a terrible thing to lose.
--- Maximus 2.01wb
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