State Trustees Hear Concerns on Curriculum

Nancy Torbitt’s son cannot speak, read or write, but the 13-year-old boy--born with a chromosomal abnormality--has discovered a meaningful way to express himself through dancing, painting and drawing.

Torbitt, who works as a program coordinator for the Orange County Performing Arts Center, told visiting state Board of Education trustees Monday that her severely retarded son would languish without the arts because he would have no other means of communicating. She urged board members to continue supporting public school arts programs as core subjects, rather than as frivolous extras.

“The point I’m trying to make is that arts is critical for my son,” Torbitt said after addressing the board. “That’s his academics.”

Torbitt and about 70 other parents, community leaders and educators took advantage Monday of a rare opportunity to speak to trustees about state education guidelines and rigorous curriculum standards planned for the state’s elementary and secondary students.

The Orange County meeting was the first of eight regional hearings scheduled to elicit public comments or suggestions. The hearings are mandated by state law.

The Orange County hearing emphasized math and the visual and performing arts. Some educators stressed the need for teachers to be better trained in computers, while others said teachers must continue teaching higher-level thinking skills, despite the state’s recent reemphasis on basic skills.

This past fall, state Supt. of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin agreed to implement recommendations from two task forces that called for California teachers to return to teaching basic reading and math skills, in addition to teaching more complex critical thinking skills.

The reading and math task forces--appointed by Eastin after California’s students performed dismally on state and national tests--concluded that many language arts and math programs have shifted too far away from direct skills instruction.

This year, Eastin also announced a bold reform plan that would free school districts from state education requirements in return for a commitment from the districts to meet higher standards.

Greg Geeting, executive director of the state Board of Education, said trustees hope to learn how California residents regard these reform plans and whether the state’s curriculum framework works at local schools.

“The state framework serves as the basic glue for schools to follow,” Geeting said. “It’s not mandated that schools follow them, but the guidelines are basically accepted by all schools.”