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A DIFFERING VIEW/Why oppose reforms in ‘lower ed’?

Thursday, November 1 at 5:18 PM

In its editorial of Oct. 20, “Higher ed’s PR problem,” the Rocky concluded, in exasperation, that in universities there is “little talk of doing things differently” (Rocky’s italics).

But in 1993 the Rocky aggressively attacked high school reforms in Littleton that sought to raise standards, make schools competitive and build accountability into the system by doing things differently (my italics).

Even today legislators and bureaucrats refuse to correct problems of “lower ed” by letting high schools do things differently — and locally. But the Rocky doesn’t condemn the disastrous lack of imagination that has for decades prevented “lower ed” reform.

Where is the Rocky’s anger over legislators’ failure to encourage high schools to redesign themselves at the local level, where change ought to take place? Where is the Rocky’s anger over legislators’ continuing belief that seat time equals learning? Where is the Rocky’s anger over Washington-mandated straitjacketing tests that prevent doing things differently?

Why isn’t the Rocky angry that our public school communities might not make themselves inclusive and competitive in our society? What does the Rocky have against liberty, parental and teacher cooperation and real competition in public schooling?

Is it that the Rocky wouldn’t be the Decider?

Daniel W. Brickley is a resident of Littleton.

READER COMMENTS

Daniel,

The editorial staff at the RMN wants the public school system to fail and this would give them the ammunition to create it. It's a "see I told you so" kind of thing.

Oh, and demand they teach different languages so every teacher has to learn a new one. The more obstacles, the better. Yep, it's a self created prophesy, orchestrated by the very people who want it to collapse.

Posted by Stan B on November 1, 2007 06:21 PM

The Teachers Union wants to maintain their monopoly on their own terms and the RMN isn't interested in taking on this powerful steamroller .

Vouchers, competition and choice are the only escape from the continued lunacy of the failed public education monopoly. And its only getting worse.

Posted by Hank on November 2, 2007 08:09 AM

Whenever the SCHIP program is brought up people come up with a situation that would hardly apply. I am going to do the same thing with vouchers. I don't want my tax funds going to some lunatic like this:http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/waco/davidkoresh.html

Posted by just sayin' on November 2, 2007 09:34 AM

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/waco/davidkoresh.html

Posted by on November 2, 2007 10:16 AM