A Herald story of August 30 (“Raising the learning curve”) discussed state Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson’s suggestions for overcoming the poor academic showing of Washington public school children. The Bergeson program would require additional tax funds for teacher planning time and training.
Decades back, teachers were provided an annual salary in place of a monthly salary payable during the school year. A reason stated for this change was to enable teacher instructional preparation, grading homework and training. Currently, teachers provide instruction for 180 days a year and are allowed several days for planning and preparation. Now, Bergeson tells us taxpayers must be forced to supply additional funds.
Bergeson continues as she has in the past, claiming additional funding will correct the failure of students to accomplish adequate learning levels. The poor academic accomplishments of students are not due to salary levels; rather there are other factors. These are, first, the use of ineffective teaching procedures, the worst being the totally discredited “whole word” reading instructional methodology instead of intensive, explicit phonics. Added to this is the useless instructional methodologies based on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards. Second, the use of a dummied down and hollow curricular content. Third, the inadequate education of teachers. Fourth, as Thomas Sowell points out in his book, “Inside American Education”, 90 percent of teachers come from the lower one third of the academic spectra.
Since the Education Reform Act was passed, Bergeson, as executive director of the Student Learning Commission and as SPI, has spent over $250 million. For their money taxpayers have received vague, useless standards, the Washington Assessment of Student Learning tests, so poorly written they cannot provide useful data, and a phony accountability committee. If the people of Washington want a first-class education for their children, they should force the state Legislature to impeach Bergeson, rescind the failed and discredited Education Reform Act and return our schools to institutions for academic learning and excellence.
Arlington
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