THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 26, 1996 TAG: 9608230365
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 33 lines
``School-reform critique'' (editorial, Aug. 19) brought some good news. One of the teachers' unions is finally supporting standards for education and enforcement. For decades these unions have dumbed down education and supported social promotion so that students can get a diploma without getting an education.
We had national standards set by the unions for years. To gain even more power, the unions had the federal Department of Education established and manned by union educators. Their goals were the same as the union goals which caused such damage over the years.
Gov. George Allen saw through all this and appointed Board of Education members who were ready to undertake the difficult job of setting goals and designating responsibility. This is the type of thing that can happen when there is the possibility of individual action free from dominance by those who want monopoly control.
If we have national standards, we assume that one group has all the wisdom necessary to do a good job. Our recent history indicates that this is not always true.
On the other hand, if several programs are developed, states can adopt the one they think best. You can be sure that there will be those who will endeavor to have the best standards, and this competition will improve standards. Of course the unions would be against such competition because they would lose their power.
EDWARD G. KREYLING JR.
Virginia Beach, Aug. 20, 1996 by CNB