Beyond the Strike--Setting Goals : Business and Political Leaders Must Act on School Problems

In the year 2000, the number of illiterate and unemployed teen-agers in urban California likely will be more than double the number today, according to PACE, a consortium of the education schools of major California universities. This means that the number of drug addicts, welfare recipients, homeless and criminals also could more than double.

If this waste of human beings does not bother you, then reflect on the fact that many of the jobs in the computer age will be unfilled because of a lack of young people who can read, write, do simple arithmetic and think.

We should not assume that settlement of the current Los Angeles Unified School District teacher’s strike is going to solve any of these problems.

The strike spotlights three troubling aspects of education in this community. First, we lack clear, publicly understood educational goals. In education, just as in business, we must set clear goals and be intolerant of people who fail to meet those goals (administrators, principals or teachers). As examples, all children should be able to read and write before they are out of the third grade, and at-risk children should be identified early and targeted for intensive remedial and counseling services.

The current flurry of prescriptions for reform, such as paying teachers more, cutting bureaucratic red tape and pushing policy decisions down to the teachers will not be sufficient to accomplish the more fundamental changes that must be made in our schools. Restructured curriculum and district reorganization, plus heavy use of computer technology are some of the more basic changes needed. We also need to avoid just pushing the problem-solving deeper into the bureaucratic system. After the strike, we will need a more far-reaching vision in order to achieve improved quality of education.

Second, improving the schools cannot be seen just as an educational issue. The children in Los Angeles need a broadly defined set of non-education services in order for them to use the opportunities of school. One in every six students in California was born in another country; most of these students are limited in English proficiency. Increasing numbers of students come from dysfunctional family situations. They suffer abuse and neglect, which are leading to a rising number of children affected by drugs, alcohol and suicide. Finally, the vast majority of students need after-school day care while their parents work. School reform and integrated social services for children must proceed hand-in-glove--otherwise we will defeat our investment in schools.

Third, parents and educators cannot bring about these changes alone, yet they seem to be the only parties involved. Los Angeles business and political leaders must set out the goals for the quality of education we demand. The city’s Los Angeles 2000 report reflected agreement among local leaders that the quality of our community in the next century directly hinges on how well our human capital is developed. Yet those leaders remain quiet and unconnected as the school system gets embroiled in a bitter strike that, when settled, will leave the big issues unaddressed.

In the past, Los Angeles benefited from the Committee of Twenty-Five, a key group of business leaders who once forged the private and public policies that contributed to the high quality of life here. In some way, that type of business leadership needs to be resurrected. This vibrant community needs a leadership core to share responsibility for improving the conditions of children. Since the problems will take years to resolve, our local leadership needs to be committed for the long haul to hold the process accountable. And when the politics get tough, business leaders must stay involved.

Finally, when the full costs of implementing the needed changes are known, business and political leaders must be willing to commit to the greater investments these reforms will require.

Services for children are in disarray and must be restructured. When the strike is over, let’s get on with the real issues of Los Angeles’ future and stop wasting the potential of young children.