District Officials Defend Education ‘Restructuring’

Saddleback Valley Unified School District officials defended educational reforms to about 500 parents and teachers during a meeting that lasted into early Wednesday in response to comments made earlier by a school board member that such changes would move the district away from traditional teaching techniques.

School board members last month requested the forum after a public uproar erupted when board member Debbie Hughes criticized a state and federal reform movement known as “restructuring” during a speech at the Saddleback Valley Community Church.

During the six-hour forum at El Toro High School, teachers and district officials said restructuring is nothing more than a broad-based effort to improve schools and better meet the needs of diverse groups of students, something that can be done in a variety of ways.

District officials said reform efforts are working well in the district, pointing to La Paz Intermediate School, the recipient of a state restructuring grant and recent finalist in the prestigious 1992-93 National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

But Hughes criticized restructuring and the California Learning Assessment System (CLAS) as a dramatic shift from traditional education to methods she believes are subjective and psychological rather than academic.

She also claimed the CLAS test given to students violates the privacy of families by compiling test scores and personal records that could easily become available to businesses and universities through a computer network.

District and state education officials refuted her claims. They said they could find no evidence that confidential information from the CLAS test was being released to businesses and universities.

They also stressed that basic academic skills such as reading, writing and mathematics are still at the core of all district schools and the state testing system.

“I can assure you that students are still being taught that two plus two equals four and that they are given credit for correct answers,” Supt. Peter A. Hartman said.

Although the forum was called to address restructuring and state testing, the meeting also included presentations from teachers about other school programs and curriculum, including so-called “character education,” which fosters such qualities in students as respect for family and marriage, honesty, self-discipline, respect of authority and respect for others.

Teachers also discussed state policies involving the teaching of evolution and the teaching of sexual abstinence in health classes.

While several parents shared similar questions as those raised by Hughes, the overwhelming majority of those in attendance said they were happy with their public schools and the direction of the district.

“I have ultimate faith in the public schools, in this county, in this district and in this state,” said Brenda Ellowitz, a Mission Viejo parent of two school-age children.

Board members said they welcomed the chance to address the concerns raised by Hughes and others in the community and praised the commitment of local teachers and parents to public education.

“From this point on, we have to come together as a team in this school district so we don’t get bogged down in the issue of restructuring,” Trustee Dore Gilbert said. “The vast majority of us out there are thrilled with our school district. . . . Now we move on.”