Re: From Thom Hartmann

[Skotansky@aol.com]

I am far from hopelessly naive and I daresay I am not the least bit deluded.  
 I actually work in the   NYC public school system and can attest to Thom 
Hartmann's assessment as being absolutely, tragically right on. Education has 
been reduced to measurable outcomes that work well in an industry producing items 
for consumption. In fact, I would be ecstatic if I believed that our food 
supply were tested and measured in the same way as our poor children.   
I work in the South Bronx where education is strictly about raising test 
scores- we've even added 
37 1/2 minutes to the work day four times a week to continue to pressure 
already frustrated children to guarantee that test scores improve.  When I 
recently attended a high school evening outside of the city where my daughter 
attends- I was appalled to hear each and every one of her teachers talk exclusively 
about Regents exams.   I never once heard any one of them discuss education.   
We need to return to the question of how to improve our teaching- simply 
funding schools for more test score improvement will only   lead to what Mr. 
Hartmann is saying ie an emerging, literate ruling class who will succeed simply 
because they have had the good fortune to be born into a family where a solid 
language foundation is provided and trips, vacations, museums, plays,   music, 
art, dance, athletic lessons etc.are all givens. It has nothing to whatsoever 
to do with their schooling. It's just gravy.   What we need to do is provide a 
middle class education for ALL students from the earliest years on.   Let ALL 
our students learn to play an instrument, be in theatrical productions, 
garden, go to concerts and museums, take exciting, educational excursions into 
nature etc etc etc
Yeah, maybe I am delusional. It makes too much sense in the educational 
climate of today- therefore forget about it.
Susan K.