Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 16, 1993 TAG: 9309160098
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Critics of the proposal claimed it would "dumb down" the public schools by stressing self-concept over rigorous academic standards.
Wilder said the Common Core of Learning, the outcome-based aspect of Virginia's World Class Education initiative, "was introduced with the best intentions."
"Unfortunately, in formulating a new approach to Virginia education, our reform efforts have become tied to other fashionable approaches to curriculum reform," Wilder said in a news release.
"Make no mistake, I do not now, or have I ever, endorsed changing Virginia's education standards to encompass values-based education. Knowledge and proficiency of basic skills must remain the basis for education in our commonwealth."
Outcome-based education, which would de-emphasize standardized testing in favor of performance tests and portfolios that show how well a student masters information, has been criticized for including a section on "critical attitudes,`' such as honesty, to be taught in public schools.
Wilder's decision thrilled opponents of outcome-based education.
"I'm staggered," said Sharon Thompson of Chesterfield County, one of the organizers of Concerned Virginians for Academic Excellence. "I didn't expect it to happen this way."
"It's highly gratifying that the governor would follow the lead of most of the citizens who know anything at all about outcome-based education," said Kenneth White, president of the Virginia Taxpayers Association. "This is extremely important and a hopeful sign for good education."
Thompson said opponents of values-based education should not let down their guard. She said many components of that type of instruction already have been implemented by local school boards.
Maryann Drysdale, another organizer of Thompson's group, said she was "cautiously optimistic." She added, "I'm not convinced they aren't just falling back to regroup."
Anne Kincaid, spokeswoman for the Family Foundation, said her group is "thrilled to have this fast-track train derailed."
She speculated that politics may have played a role. Wilder plans to seek the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate next year, and outcome-based education has been an issue in this year's legislative and statewide races.
"Obviously the governor has seen the light," she said.
The Republican candidate for governor, George Allen, has said he opposed outcome-based education. His Democratic opponent, Mary Sue Terry, has expressed reservations.
Allen's campaign asked in a statement, "If Governor Wilder never supported outcome-based education, why then did he allow the state to waste hundreds of millions of dollars getting it started?"
The Terry campaign issued a statement saying Wilder "did the prudent thing." Terry "feels that we need to be focusing on raising academic standards and less concerned about shaping attitudes."
Joseph Spagnolo, state superintendent of public instruction and the leading advocate of the program, said he will comply with Wilder's request.
by CNB