Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 19, 1993 TAG: 9301190319
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
PROPOSED REFORMS NOT CARVED IN STONE
EDUCATION-reform efforts in Virginia are beginning to draw both positive and negative attention. The article by Nevin R. Frantz Jr. in the Roanoke Times & World-News on Dec. 28 would have to be considered criticism of the most constructive kind. Dr. Frantz is a professor at Virginia Tech and is a member of the statewide team of educators that is formulating part of the state's public-school reform agenda.Dr. Frantz addressed reform issues that are clearly substantive and that have not yet been resolved. As it is now proposed, students would have to master a "Common Core of Learning" by the 10th grade, as measured by a series of examinations. Beyond the 10th grade, students would be able to choose among alternatives (college preparation, technical preparation, apprenticeship, etc.).
His concerns, as I understand them, relate mostly to the choices that students would make at about 16 years of age. Fortunately, his fears are about issues that now exist only as concepts. In no place have the decisions about these concepts been carved in stone. He has provided a valuable contribution by lifting these concepts up into the light of further scrutiny, analysis and debate.
This is not to say that Dr. Frantz's article is accurate in every detail. For example, he asserts that the World Class Education reforms will force on every student choices that are irrevocable and make it "extremely difficult for students to make lateral moves among the proposed options." These statements make it seem that this issue is closed, and it is not. If lateral movement between options for students is necessary, ways will be found to make it possible.\ FRANK FULLER JR.\ Division of Adolescent Education\ Virginia Department of Education\ RICHMOND