School Plan Bypasses Real Problems
* Delaine Eastin, the new state superintendent of public instruction, has just unveiled her new educational plan, and not all of us are applauding.
While touting to free districts from much of the education code’s red tape, perhaps her real intent is to free the state’s Department of Education from the code so it can go full force into the new non-academic educational reforms--reforms that have always waived the code because they violate parental rights and are psychological and social manipulations.
We have only to look at last year’s California Learning Assessment System (CLAS) tests, the foundation for the new reforms. The tests are subjectively graded by teachers and covered the new 3 R’s: Racism, Reproduction and Recycling. Sadly, these tests traumatized students with strong emotional and often violent readings to find out how the children think and to learn about their home experience. And bypassing parents, incredibly, 9-year-olds were asked to give their written consent to have their answers released.
Is it any wonder that these tests are produced by the Psychological Corp.?
Her plan also bypasses all elected officials, taking control from local school boards and state legislators. Don’t be deceived. The education code is not the problem. It is the only protection we have against the tyranny of the state and federal Departments of Education.
The problem in education is the micromanaging of local districts, with state and federal categorical programs, administered by these departments. With categorical, state-prescribed programs, local districts have to hire more and more administrators to oversee their implementation. This is a drain on education dollars from the classrooms and the children.
Why would any district give up its freedom to become a charter district under Eastin’s new plan, only to be put under the thumb of the Department of Education?
The people know what our children need, a solid foundation in basic academic skills, not more new, failing experimental schemes. Let’s keep education in the hands of the people and their representatives, not state bureaucrats who take their marching orders from federal social planners.
While some may applaud this new educational plan, to some of us it is nothing more than a new power grab by the very ones who have failed our children.
ROSEMARIE AVILA
Board Member
Santa Ana Unified School District
