Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 31, 1994 TAG: 9408240006
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: F2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Originally six, expanded this year to eight, the goals might seem ambitious. But they are so only in relation to the current, sorry state of schooling in America. Relative to the likely conditions for thriving in a knowledge-based global economy, they aren't wildly wishful. They're plainly necessary.
On today's Commentary page we've reprinted an outline of the strategies for pursuing four of these goals, unveiled earlier this year by "Roanoke Valley 2000," a group sponsored by the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce and the school divisions of Salem and Roanoke city and county.
Like many committee-crafted working papers, this stuff is a rough and unready mix, harboring some brainstormed fluff, vague exhortation, a confusion of tactic and strategy, and for every problem a program.
Discussion of goal No. 2 (high-school graduation rates to exceed 90 percent) is understandably theoretical, since valley schools already meet the standard. The task force on No. 5 (all adults literate, hence able to become competitive workers and responsible citizens) has opted to let literacy volunteers, with considerable experience in the field, run toward this goal.
The recommendations need a sharper edge. Also, a clearer assignment (and acceptance) of responsibility for implementation, and some way to determine whether strategies are being followed and having the desired effects.
A national, bipartisan panel monitoring this process across America has accurately called the current rate of progress "wholly inadequate" for achieving the goals by the year 2000.
Still, the local effort reflects toil and consensus-building, and remains a work in progress. It joins educators with business people and others who recognize common cause in a better workforce and citizenry. And it does contain practical ideas and sensible strategies. Among them:
Expand preschool options, and eliminate waiting lists for valley preschool and child-health programs.
Make better use of public school buildings for community services.
Identify at-risk children early, monitor their progress individually through their school years, and work closely with their families.
Encourage employers to provide mentors for students, and time off for parents to visit schools.
Work on unambiguous school-behavior policies and peer pressure to reduce drug-use and violence.
Roanoke Valley 2000 chose initially to focus on goals 1 (all children begin school ready to learn), 2, 5, and 6 (every school free of drugs and violence). Clearly requiring community involvement, these objectives were a good starting point for an effort initiated by the chamber of commerce.
But local schools also need to attend to, and be held accountable for, goals 3 (demonstrated competency in core subjects) and 4 (world-class science and math achievement). And sound reasons prompted President Clinton to add two goals this year: Nos. 7 (access to training for all teachers) and 8 (parents involved in every school).
Every one of these goals is appropriate for the localities, including Franklin and Botetourt, that are adopting them. The far right opposes Goals 2000 as an attempt to impose federal standards. (In fact, only the objectives are national; strategies for achieving them are supposed to be local.)
But the bigger barrier, which had better be overcome soon, is lack of public involvement. There's a limit to how many goal-setting exercises a community can absorb. But Roanoke Valley 2000 is the name, not 3000. The next century approaches.
by CNB