Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!tamsun.tamu.edu!mtecv2!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Newsgroups: usa-today.issues,americast.usa-today.issues Subject: issues Wed, Aug 26 1992 Message-ID: Date: 26 Aug 92 08:21:15 GMT Organization: American Cybercasting Lines: 106 Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com 08-26 0000 DECISIONLINE: Issues & Debate USA TODAY Update Aug. 26, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network Here are some of the issues and topics being debated across the nation Wednesday morning in USA TODAY: Education, Metrics. TODAY'S DEBATE - EDUCATION: USA TODAY'S OPINION: When school bells ring this fall, hundreds of businesses will show up in the nation's classrooms. Across the USA, corporations are providing mentors, scholarships and equipment .... A 1991 survey found 65% of grade-school students were enrolled in districts where businesses contributed $1 billion in cash, materials, or service. ... contracting businesses to run public schools ... (is) an experiment worth trying as long as public oversight is retained. The private firms hire teachers, maintain school buildings and select subjects students are taught. Baltimore and Miami school officials have given Minnesota-based Educational Alternatives a contract to manage some schools. The company's new approach promises personally tailored study programs and smaller classes. Entrepreneur Christopher Whittle's Edison Project plans 1,000 for-profit schools that he says could replace publicly run schools. With test scores falling and dropout rates rising, such new approaches should be welcomed, albeit with caution. ... For-profit schools must not be allowed to skim off highly motivated and affluent students, a guaranteed cost cutter that would hurt those most in need. They cannot be permitted to skimp on ... education .... The goal is not to churn out products driven by profit margins, but well-rounded students .... They must not become an excuse to shift accountability away from public officials, parents and taxpayers. School officials must assure that for-profit schools avoid those pitfalls. But they can't afford to rule out new ideas thoughtlessly. OTHER VIEW: DOROTHY RUBIN, a professor of education at Trenton (N.J.) State College and author of more than 40 textbooks: Privatizing public education is not the answer to our educational ills. ... When disillusionment with education is high, it is not surprising that people are ready to embrace almost anything put forth as the answer. And it is very difficult to resist slick promotional techniques that promise success for all students. ... how will privatizing education solve the economic and social problems especially endemic to at-risk students? ... Students' achievement in school is based on a number of educational and non-educational factors, such as home environment, ability level, motivation, television, illness, peers, teachers, curriculum, school plant, administrators ... When the bottom line is profit, what kind of pressure will teachers be under to have their students achieve? ... It is possible that students may produce better results on standardized tests, but they may have grown to dislike the subject matter so intensely that they will avoid it in the future. ... What kind of spin will private industry put out on students' achievement scores? Who will be the watchdogs for the privatized schools? Who will do the evaluating? ... Let's spend our time, money and efforts on improving our existing public schools. VOICES ACROSS THE NATION ON CHANGING THE METRIC SYSTEM: TUCSON, Ariz., Dick Koleas, 53, corporation officer: I think the idea is ridiculous. It's not necessary at all. The system we have works great. If the change is made, it will be very confusing to a lot of people for a long time. It'll be a great big mess. MILO, Maine, Diana Dicks, 46, teacher: This change has taken too long. While certain confusion would arise from time to time, Americans have always been able to adapt to new situations. This would make us more competitive internationally and more attractive to international visitors. PORTLAND, Ore., Mitchell Whitehurst, 33, counselor:coach: If we took steps to prepare everybody - long-term planning and follow-up - it would be well worth it to make the change. The more people are on one system, the better the communication worldwide. Kids know metric and are willing and waiting to help adults learn. COLUMBUS, Ohio, Cindy Given, 37, consultant: I'm ready. The country had better be ready because we will not be able to compete worldwide if we don't start making changes and keeping ourselves open to change. I agree with the government; we should do whatever we need to do to become competitive. WILSON, N.C., James M. Johnson III, 24, insurance agent: For people out of the education system, I don't think it is a good idea unless they plan to educate us. I would have a problem because I am not as fluent in the metric system as I should be, but the children of today probably wouldn't have much problem with it. Issues & Debate Editor: Kate Coughlin. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM