Submitted by Dr. C.A. Carey.
We have allowed extraneous, non-relevant school ‘curricula creep’ resulting in our falling state, national and international education rankings for the last three decades. New international results, for example, show China ranking #1, with countries like Poland and Estonia ranking higher than the U.S. which ranks #21.
Without even considering the many current, crucial, controversial issues now facing parents and other stakeholders, it is clear that our schools need to radically improve and change. Our upcoming local elections will allow us to carefully select new, elected representatives supportive of our needs and the needs of our children. We absolutely must choose representatives open to change, to fully supporting community goals and objectives, to be change agents, and to commit to listening and acting on behalf of those who vote for them.
We now need to elect candidates who are not afraid to represent us, who push and speak out for what is best for taxpayers, parents, children, families-much more important than just Republican and Democratic candidates locked into voting by party rather than for what is good for their constituents. Those we elect must now represent us! In the past, we have voted for candidates who have passed laws and policies that have clearly impacted school performance negatively by adding curricula we neither want, have no input into, nor vote for and by ignoring academic improvement.
Let’s evaluate school board candidates and identify those who will listen and respect community imput, and who will also act on that input. Local school demographic performance statistics reflect the need for clearly identified educational improvement objectives, and support for subjects such as math, reading, science, etc. The future of our children depends on NOW supporting new candidates who in turn support clearly identified academic performance and citizen-supported, agreed-upon goals.
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.
On support for subjects to be supported, what exactly do you mean by, “etc”? Did you mean to include, civics, history, economics, literature, the arts, physical education?
Supporting what we generally call ‘basics’ , skills and knowledge with measurable outcomes THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY PARENTS, TAXPAYERS and stakeholders.
As a former School Board Member I sometimes thought folks ran for election for two reasons. 1. Fire the Superintendent or 2. Fire the Football Coach Improving education wasn’t the reason for running as it should be.
I believe these are indeed the reasons people make it on the board in many school districts, Bob.
Also, let’s call out the terrible hires for administrators and counseling staff – looking at you Steilacoom Historical School District!
Yes ago when the UP schools were looking for a new Supt. The Deans of Education at WSU and UW had a consulting business that recommended Supts that were looking for jobs. We didn’t use them. We advertised the job opening and after we had narrowed our search to 3 the entire board visited the towns where they were currently employed. All three were not hired and we then opened up the search again and found a great Asst. Supt who did an outstanding job on improving our schools. When I visited one town and called on the leading Banker for his opinion
his reply to my question was Total Silence. I understood his reply.
Not sure I fully understood your concerns ….. and not sure of your facts?
Can you site your source for China being ranked #1 ….there are multiple ranking systems for education,
I’d be interested in what was being measured.
When you speak of “curricula creep…” I was left wondering what you meant …. sure things have changed.
The American Disability Act signed on 1990 by George H. W.Bush an attempt to declare equality for people with disabilities …. you may not be aware of how many educational dollars are being spent to support this act. Not sure anyone would deny education to those children born with disabilities … your and
my tax dollars support this effort.
I always feel cautious when writers speak of candidates that “represent us” … I’m uncomfortable because.
I’m not sure who the “us” is really.
I do agree we (all of us) should be voting for qualified and hard working folks for the school board …. every voice should be heard. …including yours.
Mary Rance
I was glad to see your comment, reviewing this author’s article with a “critical thinking” approach. After I read her response to my question, I wondered why the author avoided naming those disciplines taught in school which she believed did not lend themselves to educational advancement or performance measurement. If math, science and reading are believed to be the only goals for achieving an educated citizentry, we will be the worse for it.