THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 8, 1995 TAG: 9509070013
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
Regarding ``A radical Rx for dire ills'' (editorial, Sept. 2): After a couple of generations of liberal education policy has sunk the public-school system to such depths that its ineffectiveness is undeniable, the establishment is now ``downright gutsy'' according to you for mentioning ``ability grouping'' and accountability.
I suppose now that the former ``leadership'' has retired on comfortable pensions, it is safe to begin to rebuild the mess it left.
It is the same way in government: The liberals bring their policies which do not work, give away the accumulated surplus funds and experience. The conservatives have to come in and take the ``blame'' for the painful measures needed to try to fix things.
Ability grouping was in force in Norfolk County public schools in 1957-1958 in the seventh grade. I know because I taught part of that year. It worked. I had the only ``ungrouped'' class in the school. It was a mess, a dumping ground so that the other six classes could stay on track. I am not angry about that - it was just a fact. So also did phonics work in teaching reading. I know because I was taught by that method in 1941. Now it is again ``fashionable.''
Any competent and unindoctrinated teacher could have told anyone who would listen about ability grouping at any time. What is needed is what Governor Allen has been saying and trying to do: cut administrators and increase teachers, reduce their bureaucratic load and cut the social engineering.
So I am not impressed by this ``radical'' description. It is just common sense. That common sense is so rare as to make its public expression and espousal ``radical'' is a sign of the depth to which the institutions of public education have descended.
JAMES N. GARRETT JR.
Portsmouth, Sept. 5, 1995 by CNB