Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 30, 1995 TAG: 9506010004
SECTION: EDITORIALS PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The state's Board of Education finally has voted - narrowly - to adopt the national education goals, which would make Virginia eligible for millions of federal dollars to spend in pursuit of the goals. Allen has balked, fearful of federal strings - though such fears are vague and without basis except, perhaps, a kneejerk distrust of all things emanating from Washington.
The goals, in fact, did not come down to the states on tablets chiseled on the roof of the Department of Education. They were agreed upon by the states' chief executives. Six of only eight Goals 2000 were adopted in 1989 at an educational summit attended by the nation's governors and President George Bush. Two goals were added by President Clinton after his election. All are broad objectives that do not attempt to tell states or school districts what they must do to achieve them.
Instead, the goals set voluntary national standards in areas crucial to having a literate, competent workforce to compete in a global economy - not to mention a literate, competent citizenry to vote in the world's most powerful democracy. The nation as a whole has a vital interest in seeing that every state's population can meet these standards. The economic and political health of all depends on progress toward these goals.
And, the nation's governors agreed in 1989, public schools have been doing a mediocre job of working toward them.
So, while leaving to states and localities the decisions on how to get there, the federal government agreed to provide money to help move toward goals that should not be controversial:
All children will arrive at school ready to learn; at least 90 percent of high school students will graduate; students will demonstrate competency in challenging subjects when they leave the fourth, eighth and 12th grades; U.S. students will rank first in the world in science and math; all adult Americans will be literate; every school will be drug- and violence-free; teachers will have access to training; schools will emphasize parental involvement in their children's education.
Several school districts in the Roanoke region have been involved, with the business community, in a planning effort to work toward these goals locally. It would be demoralizing to them if the governor refused funds that might otherwise be available for this purpose. It should be demoralizing for everyone if the governor would make a silly ideological point at the expense of Virginia schoolchildren's educational needs. Which of these goals would he disagree with?
The state is likely to get an extension of its June 30 deadline to apply to participate. But it shouldn't need more time. These are good objectives. Let's get started. Only 4 1/2 years to go.
by CNB