Posted on 07/08/2006 4:47:49 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
In a rare show of bipartisanship, former Govs. Pete Wilson and Gray Davis asked state legislators and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to stand behind curriculum standards and testing they credit with improving performance in the state's public schools.
"Standards provide a measure of excellence regardless of one's skin color, family income or ZIP code. We believe that if we set expectations high, students will respond," Republican Wilson and Democrat Davis wrote in an open letter Friday.
The governors' letter came a week after Democratic lawmakers stripped funding for the Board of Education from the state budget.
Lawmakers had warned the board it would eliminate funding if the panel did not revamp the curriculum for the state's 6.3 million public school students. The board in April voted against a Democratic lawmaker's plan to create new instructional materials for English learners.
In their letter, the former governors said lowering or weakening academic standards would create "academic apartheid."
But critics said school standards and testing implemented over the past decade have shortchanged minorities.
Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, D-Los Angeles, said the current methods hurt students with limited English language skills by not giving them enough instruction in mastering a new language.
"Has there been progress on the tests? Yes," said Goldberg, who is chairwoman of the Education Committee. "But the growth rate is faster at the high end than the low end. Achievement is going up, but it's much slower at the bottom."
A spokeswoman for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said the governor was trying to restore money for the board.
Standards of excellence? of performance? Standards for teachers in California?
You must be kidding.
Think about that statement. It's about as stupid as anything I have ever heard.
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Oh, fear not. The liberals running the government indoctrination camps, will make any adjustments in testing necessary to achieve their TWO AND ONLY GOALS;
1. To protect incompetent and worthless teachers.
2. To keep dumbing-down the young population so that they will believe liberal dogma and leave school with little else other than a liberal/leftist mindset.
So far, they are doing a great job at achieving THEIR GOALS and nothing else.
"current methods hurt students with limited English language skills"
Means illegals. Deport illegals. Take the citizens and make it mandatory they speak English. If necessary, make English-speaking classes mandatory. Problem solved.
Arnie don't waste the tax payers money on the schools.
Please Norm, interpret this politicalese for me.
Does the statement mean:
1) The governor will try to persuade the board to alter the standards (downward) so that the legislature will restore the funds
Or ...
2) Does it mean that the Austrian, backed by his predecessors, will attempt to get the legislative majority to relent and restore the funds with the present standards intact.
What does your crystal ball say oh Great Swami Norm?
I didn't see either 1 or 2 in the piece, it may just be me,, tho. this is a bit on the odd side,, the characters involved.
I see more money likely being thrown at the board and schools to "fix" the problem.
Re: the new educational material in question,, I'm curious what specific changes are being made and amounts of monies involved and the content therein.
No telling what some of the new history books may contain revisionist history or alternative lifestyle-wise.
I see two conflicts. One stated. The other a private agenda. Both hallmarks of liberalism.
1) Stated - Change the curricula to reflect contemporary values.
2) Private - lower or eliminate matriculation standards.
True..
good points..
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