THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, April 8, 1996 TAG: 9604050006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
Regarding editorial page editor Keith Monroe's assessment of Goals 2000:
On the surface it is difficult to reason why we should not eagerly ``take the money and educate.'' However, had Mr. Monroe truly investigated the issue from the broader view, he would have learned that the funds offered in this program are merely puny gifts to seduce a cheap date.
The meager size of this program should cause many to question its effectiveness. We are witnessing the return of welfare activity to the local authority because the federal bureaucracy consumed two-thirds of the collected revenues. Do we think it will do better when it controls all our schools? You had better believe that the ``educrats'' in Washington and Harvard want the minds of the masses, because their agenda requires a ``cooperative'' population.
Mr. Monroe should remove his head from the sand and seriously look at the real agenda - total control of the minds of our children.
A few good questions to ask before we sell our schools for $2 a pupil:
1. Do we want national standards for curriculum, technology, teachers' salaries and spending?
2. Do we want a national school board?
3. When would ``voluntary'' become ``required''?
4. Do we want social engineering in our schools?
The problem is not just ``standards'' and ``curriculum,'' but 60 years of morally dysfunctional children who have been dumped into our school system looking for a miracle. I do not have all the answers, but I strongly urge our leaders to at least correctly identify the problem. Then perhaps we would have some chance of addressing these ``social problems'' apart from our schools.
I agree with Mr. Monroe's comment that we must ``focus where the problems are greatest.''
When will we learn that it's not the worm that will get us - it's the hook!
JIM MORRIS
Virginia Beach, March 28, 1996 by CNB