Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, June 29, 1993                   TAG: 9306290296
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TEACHERS WILL LOVE STATE'S INITIATIVE

It is obvious that Dr. Brackenrich's comments regarding Virginia's World Class Education are superficial at best and intentionally distorted at worst.

First, the World Class Education initiative is an outcome-based model, as opposed to an input-based model. The goal is to measure student progress by what students can actually do (outcome), instead of how many books are in the library or how many hours a class will meet (input). The idea is to have students who are able to demonstrate competency in all areas of their schooling, and to hold schools accountable for increasing student competency. Contrary to what was implied, this outcome-based concept has proved to be quite successful in some school districts. In others that were mentioned, many confounding variables were in place at the time. In Chicago, for instance, there was a massive and poorly planned decentralization of the school system. The massive failure of that effort was due to the poor planning.

It was also stated that the initiative changes the focus of assessment from objectives to outcomes. Good objectives have always been stated in terms of student outcomes, for assessing how well the goal had been accomplished. A good objective must be measurable.

Brackenrich also said that teachers will go nuts with this program. After 20 years in education, I believe teachers will love this concept. World Class Education calls for a research-base-driven professional practice with developmentally appropriate activities for students. This initiative will move education to a more professional position in the community. To say that teachers would have to give 2,000 to 3,000 formal outcome tests per year is a scare tactic that simply is not true.

The practice of education must change and advance to help children take their place in a competitive global economy. World Class Education is such an advancement.

I wonder if the good doctor would embrace the medical advances made in his profession, or if he still treats his patients with leeches. WILLIAM A. OWINGS LEXINGTON