LETTERS.

Why Abandon the High Road to Reform?

THOMAS A. SHANNON

William J. Banach's despairing guest column, "We Have Lost the Battle for Excellence" (March 1994), suggests school people should "admit that selling the public on educational excellence is a lost cause." This is the strategy of a loser. And its basic assumption that we do not have the public's support is wrong.

Banach's view suffers from myopia--a narrow fixation on the short-run situation.

In fact, time is on the side of public school efforts to reach for excellence while not sloughing access and equity. After more than a decade of education reform, the United States continues as the strongest, most productive nation in the history of the world. Our people enjoy a standard of living that has few equals, and our economy and free democratic system of government are healthy. Our prospects for the future look better each year.

We achieved this position because of the public schools. We continue to make adjustments to schooling today that are necessary, not because the schools have failed but because we know that tomorrow's demands for education require that we prepare our youngsters for a radically different world.

Banach would have school people give up the high road to educational change. But to convince the news media, business, and labor interest groups over the long run and to give the lie to the educational consultants attempting to sell "silver bullet" solutions, we must operate from that position.

The high road is a necessary route to persuade the public to accept the interconnectedness of public education and the general welfare, security, health, and well-being of all children. Any alternative route transforms this sensible holistic approach to education that Banach favors into an effort to reshape schools into mere neighborhood kids' welfare centers with no credible educational component.

We must stay on the high road--and stay that course. With all their grunting, griping, and spitting on their hands during the past decade of educational reform, none of our critics has come up with a visible and acceptable alternative to the public schools. Our challenge is not to abandon the high road to educational change but to navigate it with increasing determination and skill as we set about making the changes in schooling on which our future as a nation depends.

A Human Dimension

BY NICHOLAS A. FISCHER

Associate Commissioner for Evaluation, Planning, and Research, Massachusetts Department of Education

Jan Cummings' article, "Becoming the Successful Candidate," in your February 1994 issue was very much on target.

I think the most important facet she provided was a human dimension and personality to what is too often written like a "journal" article. The only thing I would add to her list of qualities for success is persistence.

Meaningful Message

BY R. MASON BUCKINGHAM

Superintendent, Gaylord, Michigan, Community Schools

I think Karl Hertz hit on the heart of the problem and expressed it very well in his guest column, "Wrong Signals About Violence" (April 1994).

His message is one that all of our citizens should hear. With Karl's permission, we intend to reprint his column in our district's monthly newsletter for our public.