q
GP>forward that the "first step to solving our nation's education
GP>problems is to substantially raise academic standards and verify
GP>achievement through rigorous testing."   Augustine also serves as
Hmmm, so riqorous testing proves achievement? Or does it prove that students 
learned to take a test?
Business has been great at telling educators where failings are, yet they are 
slow to help when they could (and in many cases it would be to their 
advantage). Very few businesses look beyond the bottom line and plan very far 
into the future-this is why many of them fail or are not as successful as 
they could be. The greed of CEOs is a great example. 
 
GP>     The report concludes that "the transformation of standards
GP>from rhetoric to reality does not occur by decree from above."
GP>It holds that parents, educators and students must "adopt, adapt
GP>and take ownership of their standards, and they must believe them
GP>to be worth striving for."
Great, after stating what businesses can do to set standards for educators - 
it concludes with what should have been the beginning statement, and even 
then it has a flaw - the standards will not be adopted, adapted, and owned by 
parents, educators, and students, the standards have to come from them, not 
from business - most educators I know are quite familiar with what most 
businesses need in the way of employees. 
 
Business needs to understand that regardless of the education of the incoming 
employee, constant training, empowering employees in decision-making 
processes, and building trust are items that need to be developed at all 
levels of any businesses (including education). Until educators and parents 
feel that they have a say in what goes on, not much changes.
 
Interesting post!
Thanks for putting it here.
--- Maximus 2.02
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