Show Standard-Examine- Saturday September r 17 1988 1 1 A Education reform ideas haven’t made lasting improvements Beck CHICAGO — For an enterprise that spends $308 billion every year and directly involves 62 million people the paucity of good research in education is astonishing That helps explain why the schools have been subjected to waves of education reform ideas that have washed over them and eventually ebbed without leaving much of a trace of lasting improvement in the achievement of students Progressive education reshaped the nation’s schools decades ago but its failures renewed interest in basics Look-sa- y reading methods superseded phonics but is losing out again Enthusiasm for “new math” crested and ebbed Two decades of concentration on desegregation dismantled the racially separated school systems but haven’t produced much equality of achievement Special education was developed to help children who couldn’t learn well in the classroom but dissatisfaction with results is shifting emphasis to Tracking by ability has been in and out and edging back in favor Now the hot concept is school-basemanagement main-streami- ng d The idea is that if a local council of parents and community leaders work with a school’s principal and teachers to manage and improve the school they can make good things happen for students The stifling central bureaucracy will be out-fi- - Joan nessed Teachers who know best will be able to run classrooms their way Parents will get more involved in children’s learning Achievement will go up Best of all school-base- d management needn’t cost more in tax dollars Enthusiasm for school-base- d management comes more from wishful thinking and anecdote than from valid research and experience Without a strong knowledgeable group of parents and community leaders it’s easy for a local school council to fall under political or union domination or simply to drift At best what is just a switch in management is only indirectly related to children’s ability to learn Even so it looks as if much of the reformist energy good will political capital and caring that education can command will be spent on school-base- d management efforts in the next few years Meanwhile evidence of the failures of American education keeps accumulating Illiteracy is mounting Millions of men and women are unemployable because they lack basic academic skills Students in other industrialized countries regularly outscore Americans on academic tests The American share in several vital technological fields has almost vanished Foreign inventors are getting almost half of all American patents Other countries are developing more new drugs About 40 percent of graduate engineering students in the United States are foreigners The shortage of engineers and scientists is expected to reach half a mil- lion by 2010 There isn’t time to waste another decade or two — and another generation of children — on a education reform theory just because it has political or populist appeal or doesn’t cost much money or is being pushed by an education guru What could actually make a major direct difference in children's ability to succeed in school is to make good use — finally — of the sound new research on how the brain learns and develops and what helps it to be “smart” and competent half-bake-d Research in neurology and related sciences shows indisputably that the most critical period for learning is when the brain is growing and changing most rapidly — the first several years of life Whether a child’s brain is malnourished or receives optimal stimulation during these vital years makes a lifelong difference in the level of his intelligence whatever his genetic potential The challenge to education now is to develop programs that would assure all youngsters of getting enriched mental nourishment from birth to age 6 so they can start formal schooling eager and able to their brains optimally developed by approopportunities learning priate The most promising pattern is for local public school districts to provide outreach programs for parents beginning at a child’s birth Visiting teachers help mothers and fathers understand the learning needs of their baby and how to satisfy them A drop-i- n childparent center offers mentally stimulating play gives parents opportunities to exchange ideas and talk to education specialists and helps reduce the isolation some parents of young children feel At age 2 or 21: a youngster would begin a halfschool coordinated with a day day Montessori-typ- e care center if necessary By 3 or 31: he would be Head Start program or ready for a more advanced Montessori By 5 he would start y kindergarten where the curriculum has been adjusted to build on his enriched early experiences By 6 he should be confident and competent able to succeed in 1st grade and the rest of his schooling Such a pattern works excitingly well in research programs But it is costly It requires revising some traditional ideas about children's “readiness to learn" But it would work And in the long run it would be a lot less expensive than wasting more decades with theories that clearly won’t help much — if at all Chicago Tribune succeed learning-oriente- d full-da- Letters Attending ‘Jesus’ film is stamp of approval In the new film being released by Universal Studios Jesus after dreaming of marrying Mary Magdalene and having sex with her denies his own deity as he says “now I understand that this is the road the road on which the mortal becomes immortal” Outraged Christian leaders well aware that this depiction of Christ will insulate many against the Gospel are looking for ways to counteract it “There is nudity lasciviousness implied homosexuality the denial of the authenticity of Christ being the son of God” said Joe Riley national director of Morality in Media The film also contains the following blasphemies to confuse millions: Mary the mother of Jesus calls him “crazy" and “not well in the head” Jesus is depicted as “struggling over his sins” and driven by lust for Mary Magdalene Jesus suffers with “nightmares and hallucinations” is confused about his identity and shocked by his powers Jesus is shown waiting in line at Mary Magdalene’s brothel and entering the darkened room where she lies naked Jesus actually convinces Judas to betray him Universal attempted to prevent a public outcry by hiring Tim Pen land a professed Christian to placate Christian leaders Penland claims he was promised that the film would not be offensive and assured Christian leaders they need not worry On June 12 when the true nature of the film became public Penland resigned A major concern is the proven ability of the media to change the thinking of millions A diet of TV programs in which virtually everyone even the “good guys” are shown committing fornication or adultery has resulted in a frightening national epidemic of divorce perversion and wickedness beyond description TV and movies truly shape this society Convinced that the furor over the release of the film will actually make millions more want to watch the film Universal has made prints of the film in 70 millimeter instead of the usual 35 millimeter so it could be shown in the biggest theaters in America They are expecting a box office smash That people will pay money to see this film “to find out for themselves” they are in fact putting their stamp of approval on it and paying the cost to make it Lisa Bates Mantua Choice for president is obvious I feel the time has come to address the candidate the Democrats have nominated to be the leader of the free world I have yet to hear of one single point andor trait that qualifies Michael Dukakis to be president of the United States Oh wait a minute I have heard of one He’s not Jesse Jackson But other than that Michael Dukakis has been deemed a liberal as he should be But this has been called negative campaigning by the Democrats who finally realize that voters are not going to tolerate a liberal in America’s top spot Voters didn’t go for flagrant liberalism in 1984 they didn’t go for it in 1980 in ’72 in ’68 and the years go on and on The “New Republic” the left’s and the liberals’ own magazine has claimed Dukakis’ views on foreign policy to be equal to that of George McGovern’s and Ted Kennedy's What a treat! And this was meant to be a compliment?! Talk about negative campaigning The simple truth is that Dukakis has no idea what’s going on with foreign policy and he has no experience to back up his not having any ideas To Dukakis foreign poliev is a drive in a limo through a Boston ghetto The Democrats say that Dukakis’ term as Massachusetts governor gives him experience enough to be president This doesn’t surprise me coming from the Democrats Since Dukakis took office spending in Massachusetts has gone up 75 percent It is no wonder that Dukakis has Since the nickname taxation is a major issue in Utah this election year I should hardly think that Utahns could support high-spendi- ng “Do-tax-u- s” a high-taxin- g high-spendi- can- didate as And I can hardly believe that Utahns could support a president that conceived a policy to give convicted murderers weekend furloughs Do Utahns really want Pierre Dale Selby running through the streets? How about Ted Bundy? Many convicts have gone on weekend furloughs in Massachusetts and according to “Reader’s Digest" several have seen fit never to return to prison Do-tax-- us They are loose today Because of his policy of giving furloughs to convicts it should surprise no one that the AFL-CIendorsed Dukakis They want their labor leaders back on the job! If workers in Utah especially those employed at HAFB or at Morton Thiokol like their job jobs I suggest that they get out and vote for George Bush someone with the experience and knowledge of America’s defense needs Bush is someone who will not put Utah’s defense workers out of work Simply put if you like your job vote for Bush the man who has been vice president for the eight years that unemployment has dropped every year for eight years Imagine the family down the block You know the one with four kids The eldest is 11 His first four years of life were spent in an America with a liberal president This was an America with continually rising inflation unand employment interest rates and a president with blunders as numerous as the people in the gas lines The second and third children ages 8 and 4 have never known rising unemployment O defen- se-oriented out-of-rea- ch out-of-sig- ht out-of-cont- inflation at the crossroads with tax issue Utah or interest rates They have never known of one inch of land falling to the Communists But they have known the first major n treaty in the US history They have known restored pride in the American tradition They have known of major work to reduce drugs and their terrifying influence on every American And these three children will have a baby brother or sister in three months What will this baby experience in the first four years of life? A return to the disastrous crises of the Carter years? Or will this baby experience the continued growth prosperity and peace that has been in America for the past eight years? The choice is ours The solution is clear Michael “the liberal” or George “let's continue the growth” Bush It’s obvious Isn’t sky-hig- h arms-reductio- McGov-ernCart- er Do-tax-- it?! Paul Speirs Clearfield What to do? I have heard more going to suffer the poor are going horror stories about what the pasto suffer and 10000 less students will will be going to college etc etc do initiatives tax the of sage to our schools colleges state and etc etc I would like to ask what you local governments that I have become confused According to the are doing with the other 94 pertax limitation coalition the total cent if 6 percent is going to cause all these problems? money lost to these entities is unI have to tell you that I do not der 6 percent It seems to be very important to remember that fig- believe what you are telling us I have to tell you that more ure “6 percent” I have listened to Dr Chase than money is at stake here And Peterson of the University of that is control Utah — and guess what? AccordCan the people of Utah be ing to him they are going to lose trusted to control their own destiabout 5 percent of their funding ny or do they need to be told and it will practically close the what is best for them? Like it or not! University Remember 6 percent We the people need to gain Have you heard Dr Moss State Superintendent of Schools? back the control to make our polThis is the man who has a $110 iticians come to us for our OK million budget that the state tried when they think they need more to audit and found such a mess money We need politicians who that they had to give up This is want to do what is right by us — the same Dr Moss that chalnot punish us We need school administrators Governor at the last the lenged Legislature and told him that if who really have what is best for they didn't get at least another our children first and foremost — million he would not and could not what is best for them We need career bureaucrats not be held responsible for the level of education from that time who always understand why they on What does he say about the are there and who it is they work for We need a way to get rid of initiatives? No more kindergarten massive teacher layoffs no these people when they are found more sports reduced busing less with their hand in the cookie jar books pencils paper etc deterior guilty of unethical practices oration of school buildings and We can no longer turn our backs etc etc etc Remember 6 perand let them continue to work as cent? if nothing has happened What else do we hear? DependRemember — we are talking about 6 percent ing on the city county school disVote for Merrill Cook vote for trict etc that you talk to you will get percentage figures thrown all 3 initiatives When you do at you that range from 12 to 50 you are voting for yourself! percent also that the elderly are Marvin B Russell going to suffer the blind are goSouth Ogden ing to suffer the handicapped are 1 Sen Quayle votes against veterans I have read and heard a lot lately about Sen Dan Quayle I have seen statistics on television in print and on the radio And I agree with Sen Quayle that it is honorable to serve in the National Guard I also believe that those who are called chickenhawks (Quayle Gingritch etc) and are always calling for a strong national defense at any cost should also consider that when you have a strong defense and we sometimes have to use our military forces that men and women sometimes leave their country perfectly healthy and sometimes they return missing a limb or with scars or maimed for life or even worse they never return at all Senator Dan Quayle and his fellow chicken hawks have a very poor voting record in regard to legislation that would try to restore these very brave men back to a normal life Example: M Sgt Robert a crew member aboard the Enola Gay on Aug 6 1945 died from the effects of leukemia in 1967 The leukemia was directly related to Shumard’s service Shu-ma- aboard the Enola Gay on that dreadful day that no one will ever His widow received forget Veterans benefits after Senate bill 1811 was passed and signed into law in May of 1988 I personally along with several hundred other veterans and their widows worked very hard for over eight years to pass senate bill 1811 Sen Danforth Quayle voted against every piece of legislation that we were able to introduce He voted against senate bill 1811 Sen Quayle is recognized by veterans to be hostile toward veterans He has voted over and over again to reduce the veteran and his widow and children to a life of poverty Is this the reward for a strong National Defense? I believe that our veterans deserve the highest level that we can give them in our society rd Robert C Carter Vice President National Association Of Radiation Survivors Salt Lake City Hansen sidesteps tax issue I attended a Bountiful Chamber of Commerce meeting which featured our Congressional candidates It was an enlightening experience A person asked my Congressman Jim Hansen about the tax initiatives Mr Hansen tried to sidestep the issue on two different occasions Upon more vigorous questioning he stated that the initiatives were not of his concern and that he did not know enough about the tax issues to take a stand No matter which side of the issue you stand on the tax initiatives are the most critical propositions to have ever hit Utah I think Jim Hansen is trying to play both sides of the fence There is no excuse for a congressman to be uninformed on such an important Utah issue He only ignores it because he knows that he will lose votes if he is courageous and takes a stand Even his former legislative colNorman Bangerter league showed more courage and stated his position Mr Hansen come out of hiding show us some courage and take a stand Milch Cozier South Ogden Volunteers clean up trash on highway This letter is to thank a large group of volunteers who perform3 ed a public service On Aug due to the efforts of these people 15 miles of Highway 276 were cleared of trash along the roadsides This area is from Bullfrog Marina to well past Ticaboo Thanks also to the employers in the area who supported and encouraged the project Along with this initial clean-u- p individuals families and groups are signing up to “Adopt A Mile" This means that they will continue to keep this area cleaned up by checking their mile periodically We would like to issue a challenge to interested groups and individuals to organize similar 22-2- projects in your area Let’s make it grow and make Utah a nicer place to live in and a nicer place to visit We would also like to ask the cooperation of your readers to help us keep it clean by refraining from throwing trash by the roadside Also consider whether or not Utah’s “Open Container” law is serving its’ purpose or is it onof people ly making litter-bug- s who would not normally be that way without that particular law Just a point of interest we aver0 pounds of trash per aged mile for each side of the road 300-50- Dennis Womack Ticaboo Lottery is a great benefit to Illinois Mr Ellis (letter of Sept 3) has certainly been mislead or is attempting to mislead regarding the revenues from the Illinois State Lottery Fact: By law all lottery profits are dedicated to elementary and secondary education throughout Illinois (They were never intended to offset gas taxes or highway repair costs) Fact: Last years profits ($553 million) accounted for nearly 25 percent of the states Common School Fund Fact: The lottery is the fourth largest revenue generator in Illinois after income sales and utility taxes Fact: The lottery conforms to the rules of government but is run as a business Based on fiscal year 1987 sales of $13 billion with an operating budget of only 32 percent lottery profits rank near those of the top “Fortune 500” corporations Fact: In its 12 year history the lottery has contributed $27 billion to the state of Illinois Mr Ellis appears to be opposed to the operators selling the tickets making a profit I believe this is called the “Free Enterprise System” so one could only assume that Mr Ellis is opposed to one of the basic premises of our democratic system Also his reference to “doctored books” alludes to the fact that all Senate bill will successful operations maintain a separate set of books and this impugns the honesty of all successful businessmen Lotteries do bring in big dollars to the states having the common sense and prudent fiscal sensibilities to legalize them They can and do relieve the overall tax burden of a states residents In a state where over 50 percent of each tax dollar collected goes to support our school system: in a state that places a larger tax burden on its citizens than any of its contiguous states: in a state that chooses to reward the citizens that increase its tax burden by not imposing a head tax it’s time that the state government considers and legalizes a state lottery As a lifelong resident of Utah I am grateful for the lifestyle living in Utah has afforded me but as a realist I know that a revenue earning lottery will not corrupt the basic church oriented value systems that our state is proud of and it will reduce our tax burden Had our government fathers not been so myopic in their attitudes to lotteries they might not be facing the tax initiatives that will be on this years ballot Wake up Utah and move into the twentieth century and give us taxpayers a break Arthur J Adams Huntsville decrease pollution Dangerously high air pollution levels threaten the health of millions of Americans every day particularly children and the elderly Acid rain is destroying lakes streams rivers and bays across the country And billions of pounds of toxics are released without restriction into the air each year It is past time for Congress to enact tough new air pollution controls Pollution from automobiles trucks and buses — mobile sources is one of the primary reasons that health standards have not been met and it will increase as increased use of autos in coming years threatens areas now meeting standards Senate bill 1894 sets tougher tailpipe standards to cut hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions which produce ozone pollution Acid rain caused by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides must be reduced to protect natural resources from damage Sen bill 1894 mandates a 12 million ton reduction in annual sulfur dioxide emissions Senator George Mitchell and 26 colleagues have proposed new compromise legislation that cuts the emissions reductions goal lengthens the compliance time and helps heavily polluting states pay some of the costs of pollution controls The compromise should be enacted this year Sen bill 1894 directs EPA to set technology-base- d standards 225 toxic air pollutants including carcinogens and acutely or chronically toxic substances The bill also establishes a Chemical Safety and Hazards Investigation Board within EPA to investigate accidents and recommend measures to prevent recurrences The League of Women Voters believes the Senate should act quickly to pass Senate bill 1894 forceful yet balanced legislation that will clean up our nation’s cities cut pollution from automobiles restrict toxic releases and control acid rain Citizens have had to wait too long for clean healthy air Write or call your senators to urge them to vote for Senate bill for approximately 1894: The Honorable EJ Gam 5202 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20500 6 Phone: (Ogden) 625-567- The Honorable Omn G Hatch 135 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510 2 Phone: 625-567- Sharen Perry Action Chair League of Women 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