LETTERS.Modeling a Problem BY THOMAS P. JOHNSON Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Florida International University Florida International University, primarily at University Park, Miami; coeducational; chartered 1965, opened 1972. A research university, it has 18 colleges and schools and many specialized centers and institutes, including those in biomedical engineering, database , Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale (lô`dərdāl), residential, commercial, and resort city (1990 pop. 149,377), seat of Broward co., SE Fla., on the Atlantic coast; settled around a fort built (c.1837) in the Seminole War, inc. 1911. , Fla. The two letters to the editor in the October issue offer a mini-course on one of today's vexing issues in school system governance. Thomas Shannon's vituperative criticism of issues raised by William Powers William Powers can refer to:
This is hardly the behavior of one whom we hope would be responsible for making measured and ethical decisions affecting children based on objective data. His letter fails to speak about respect or decency in board-superintendent communications. I confess I am not objective about William Powers since I worked closely with him during the last year of his 18-year tenure as superintendent in Needham, Mass., in the late '70s. I have great respect for him as a leader and an ethical pillar of the community. He worked cooperatively with nine school boards and built networks to align community values with the public schools. This vicarious vicarious /vi·car·i·ous/ (vi-kar´e-us) 1. acting in the place of another or of something else. 2. occurring at an abnormal site. vi·car·i·ous adj. 1. exchange between Shannon and Powers models a problem that continually surfaces in superintendent-school board relations. Those in the governing body Noun 1. governing body - the persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up a body for the purpose of administering something; "he claims that the present administration is corrupt"; "the governance of an association is responsible to its members"; "he often listen to issues affecting the district with a politically partisan ear rather than review the problems objectively. Issues too political, which call for individual and collective courage, are routinely scheduled for public hearing, where other partisans form the public rally around views close to their self-interests. The superintendent typically is the one who must exercise courage and assume the risk. In these public performances, it is his or her recommendation that is often controversial. We would all be well served to consider the advice contained in the letter in the same issue by retired superintendent Robert T. McGee. He suggests that the issues raised by Powers should be discussed in a broad forum. I agree. Let the conversation begin but on a level playing field See net neutrality. of communication in a safe forum, not on a field of battle. Missed Opportunity BY DONALD W. BEDELL Bedell could refer to A person:
Chairman, The Bedell Group, Arlington, Va. George Goens in his article ("Shared Decisions, Empowerment, and Ethics") and Thomas Shannon in his letter ("A Flawed Critique"), both in the October issue, missed a great opportunity by not explaining in detail what imaginative organization regimens they would recommend to raise the academic standing of K-12 students. Overlooked were two basic facts: * Each state has sole authority to deregulate deregulate To reduce or eliminate control. One of the major forces in the financial markets in the 1970s and 1980s was the federal government's decision to deregulate interest rates. school boards and require them to mandate clearly the duties of boards. Or each state can eliminate boards altogether and shift governance responsibility directly to superintendents from the state Education Department. * Academic performance of K-12 graduates has not risen in more than 25 years. The public has a right to hear explanations. Why have schools not adopted private-sector principles that over 25 years could have made them world-class performers? No important progress can be made for systemic change unless AASA AASA American Association of School Administrators AASA Asian American Student Association AASA Association of Academies of Sciences in Asia AASA Aging and Adult Services Administration AASA Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army and the National School Boards Association make their case directly to each state governor and legislative body. Elitism e·lit·ism or é·lit·ism n. 1. The belief that certain persons or members of certain classes or groups deserve favored treatment by virtue of their perceived superiority, as in intellect, social status, or financial resources. in Athletics BY RICHARD A. DUROST Superintendent, Easton School Department, Easton, Maine With interest I read John E. Roberts' Viewpoint ("Refocus and Reaffirm School Sports," September 1996). I concur with his view that "elitism in interscholastic in·ter·scho·las·tic adj. Existing or conducted between or among schools. in  ter·scho·las athletics is more than unbecoming, it is dangerous." Too many parents and students today see interscholastic athletics as the route to a college education. This is an unrealistic expectation for most. Additionally, it places undue pressure on the student, often at the expense of variety in life experiences and in expanded friendships gained by participating in several activities. |
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