Re: Fwd: An Update from the Educator Roundtable

[George Sheridan <learn@jps.net>]

 Our opponents continue to pump out their propaganda. See, for example, this
letter from The Sacramento Bee, March 5, 2007.
http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/132592-p2.html

Why wait for an education?

Re "Big changes seen under No Child Left Behind," Feb. 28: The federal No Child
Left Behind act requires that every child read and do math at their grade level
by 2013-'14. I think if you asked parents (and I am a parent) about that time
line, they'd say they expect schools to ensure their child is performing at grade
level today, not six years from now.

Still, some in California's "education community" say that 2014 is too short a
time line. That's an excuse, and our students are on the losing end.

California Business for Education Excellence, along with partner Just for the
Kids-California, has identified more than 300 schools on track to meet the
2013-'14 goal. These are not just schools in affluent parts of California but
also schools with high concentrations of low-income, ethnic minority and
English-learner students. These schools are making tremendous progress toward
100-percent proficiency because they set high expectations for students and don't
accept excuses. They believe every child can succeed no matter the background.

These schools dispel the myth that some students or schools cannot meet state
standards or NCLB goals because of socioeconomic or demographic conditions.
Clearly, children can and are capable of meeting rigorous academic standards, but
only when adults set high expectations and focus on grade-level proficiency.

- Kirk Clark, Sacramento
Vice President, California Business Roundtable


At 10:17 PM 3/5/2007 -0800, Susan Harman wrote:

  I just wrote letters to my 3 reps/senators and all those on the general list.
  It took about half an hour. Less, it Id known how to use the machine to
  address envelopes!



George Sheridan

If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the
companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the
joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.

        - Rachel Carson