The Education Report, Volume 9 Number 4 of March 1996 has this headline:

EDUCATION FOR THE 21st CENTURY...

Then a sub heading that asks this question:"Must Educational Change Lead to a Manufactured Crises?

WFISD deserves a few points for even admiting in print that changes are happening in education. Add to that a few more points for printing the title of a book which describes a crises in education. That book is Dumbing Down Our Kids by Charles J. Sykes. A copy was presented by a member of the W.F. Education Committee to each board member. I hope they read it. Subtract a lot of points for failure to include major issues of the crisis. Major issues include the goals and methods of education. New standards are being pushed to the classrooms by national forces. Those new standards are contradictory to traditional ways and means of education. Many people strongly oppose the changing of standards. To many these changes are a crisis.

WFISD has not admitted a true crises, but only a manufactured, unreal, crises. Why? I conclude that WFISD does not hold to what has worked before. Also it is clear to see that WFISD is making the changes as rapidly as they come down from the top at state and national levels, without having local parent consent.

It is this lack of consent of the governed that makes the school actions wrong. The school seems to say what parents don't know won't hurt them, and if the parents don't say anything then that is evidence of their consent. WRONG!

Consent means agreement with. It does not mean silence by ignorance. If a parent has not been informed of proposed changes, if the pros and cons have not been presented, then how can a parent make an wise choice? The school seems to say "the parents aren't complaining so they must be in agreement with what we're doing."

Most parents are unaware that major cultural changes have been worked into the school system systematically since 1987. By design and purpose, with intent and foreknowledge, those major changes have been introduced to our schools, experimented on our children...and all without an explanation given to the parents.

No! WFISD, this is not a manufactured crises. This is a true and valid crises. First because major changes have been undertaken with our children without parent consent. Second because many parents are strongly against the new theories of education being perpetrated on our children.

This is not just a local problem.. The problem exists nation wide. The problem is recognized nation wide in newspapers and magazines, by the past Secretary of Education, William Bennett and many others.

Yet WFISD only admits to a 'manufactured crises' like its not real. It seems as though they want to just poo pooh the parents who disagree with them and go on their merry way doing what they want to do, oblivious to the parents who disagree. Is that what WFISD really wants to do or will they stop and really bring these issues into the light of day with major coverage of nation wide information?

The paper says the publication of WFISD is funded "in an effort to inform and interest the community in the educational process."

Let the paper give fair weighed coverage to both sides of the story. Tradtional voices must be heard by the community and understood before the school system can rightly claim to have informed the people. The school system is biased to the new stuff coming from national and international educrates.

BLIND IGNORANT TRUST IS NOT A MARK OF A WISE PARENT

How can parents know there is a need for them to study what's happening if all the school district says is "every thing is just fine and excellent"? When WFISD admits the truth of a major crises recognized nationally and locally, then the rest of the parents will want to know what its all about. But so long as the parents blindly trust the system to do what is best for their children, the parents are not being told what is happening.

SUBTLE DIFFERENCES must be understood by the parents. Their children's education is at stake. The origin or that is, the root, of an educational system must be understood if one is to understand its process and its fruit.

Three books that can help parents understand the true crises are:

Reclaiming a Nation at Risk by Brandon House

Dumbing Down Our Kids.

Rewriting America's History by Catherine Millard

Then consider the number of Goosebumps type books offered to our children in stores and at school.

PROVE ALL THINGS Consider the early, first grade, sex abuse endoctrination. Remember that humanist psychologists have rightly decided that early exposure to sexual content leads to early sexual arousal and exploration. They have written their plan for anyone to read plainly stating their goal to introduce sex materials at as early an age as possible to help develop early full sexual enjoyment by the children.

Consider the focus on teaching children to consider what 'makes them feel good'. This becomes a foundational proverb to their understanding as they grow. Feel good doesn't make something right.

Consider the root of this new educational theory. Do the methods and goals originate with people who agree with the humanistic goals or do the roots coincide with those who have Christian goals? Read the article on humanism and John Dewey on the front menu.

There is much more. Please read and know what you need to know for an informed decision.

Parents, these are required reading to help you oversee the training and development of your children. After reading those books, you will be more qualified to decide for yourself whether we have a true crises or a manufactured crises.

Written by Larry Rice.