The Allen American (Allen, Tex.), Vol. 25, No. 14, Ed. 1 Saturday, September 3, 1994 Page: 4 of 48
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Page 4A — The Allen American — Saturday, September 3, 1994
opinion PAGE
Acc
The Allen American
w-4.
A Harte-Hanks Community Newspaper
Lynn Dickerson
Publisher
Tim Watterson Debbie Tackett
Editor General Manager
Gary Smith Beth Roddy Steve Jordan
Financial Director Marketing Director Circulation Director
Dollie Turpin, Assistant Editor
Doug Layton, Managing Editor/Visuals
David May, Senior News Editor
Brenda Welchlin, News Editor
Valerie Barna, Opinion Page Editor
Ian Halperin, Photo Editor
Chuck Smock, Sports Editor
Liaqat Ali Khan, Production Director
Don Olson, Composition Director
Leslie Mascari, Marketing Services Director
GASP! ANOTHE R
BOATLOAD
OF. REFUGEES.
Father-son exchange puts new
perspective on gun control
McKay
A A meme
several chi
morning a
Christ of L
Allen po
as a factor
ny Thomas
tor. The
home in tl
Gate Driv
privacy fer
driveways
$ Althoug
gating, the
charges ag
Richard C
Cheryl 1
present foi
would hav
ciding to
choose so
said.
The Ro
others, the unorganized militia.”
He read the definition and thought
it over for several moments.
“Since it says ‘well-regulated mili-
tia’ sounds like you buy a gun you
oughta join the thing,” he summa-
rized.
My thoughts exactly. (Once you
translate it from teen-age.)
The sky. Robins. Paper clips. Gun
control.
When children are young the
questions pour out.
"Why is the sky blue? Where do
robins go in the winter? Who bends
the paper clips? How? Why?”
They come in an endless stream.
And, we do the best we can to--
answer them. stitution.” Seems pretty simple. Picture a
“The sunlight coming through the “Huh?” fellow walking into his local sporting _________________________________
atmosphere South Ask your We got the almanac which has a goods store one fall evening.
mother ,copy of the U.S. Constitution and "Yep, I’ll take this 30-30, two boxes
As they get older, the questions the Bill of Rights. The subject is co- of shells, the automatic and an extra Are all Alien
change in nature. The teen-age son, vered in the second amendment clip." ., . . .. 1.
he of the size 13s, was sprawled on which is very short and to the point. Great. Here s your rifle, your pis- citizens liars:
the floor doing homework with the One can often see references to this tol and your uniform. You don’t have
semi-light of the evening coming amendment emblazoned on posters a bivouac until this summer and the the Editor,
through a window while the televi- of a certain association. first drill is a week from Saturday. Whatever happened to innocent
sion provided fill light. . .and pre- Right to keep and bear arms. Uniform Drill.until proven guilty^ Whatever hap-
vented total silence. "... the right of the people to keep andSure, unless you re already in the ne touts beyond a shadow of a
Out of the atmospheric blue the bear arms, shall not be infringed.” Army or some other branch of the pened to gulty Y
son turns and asks the question of Seems pretty straightforward, military by purchasing this rifle and doubt:
the evening. right? But, what about those “dots” pistol you ve expressed your interest in . The justice system in Allen is lack-
“What’s all this about gun con- at the beginning? They indicate joining the National Guard and being ing in these areas. Aug. 24,1 learned
trol?” he asks. something has been left out. And, part of a well-regulated militia.” that first-hand. ,
It is better to get a discussion why? It is a real short amendment. “Could I get an extra pair of I have a 6-foot privacy fence that
question. The teen-age “can I” One sentence. pants?" . my dog has never gotten out of.
questions are often quicker to deal The whole amendment is: “A You have a weapon, you join the When I went to and when I came
with, but they can cause one to wor- weU-regulated militia, being neces- militia. Pretty easy, it is in the Con- home from work my dog was in the
ry in the middle of the night. sary to the security of a free State, stitution. back yard, yeti had to go to court on
“Can I get my ear pierced? Can I the right of the people to keep and What’s more, picture somebody a charge of dog at large,
grow my fingernails one-inch long? bear arms, shall not be infringed. using a weapon in a crime being sub- Why? Because the dog catcher
Teri says there is a place that will "You know what a 'militia' is?” I ject not only to the civil court system says she saw the dog out and that
pay $50 bucks forthem. Can I get a asked the family son, turning the but also to a military court. Such a is all the proof that is needed The
tattoop» question table for a moment. prospect would get my attention. message this gives me is that the
Easy We got the dictionary out. The boy seemed to be satisfied taxpayers of Allen are liars, but a city Caution helps avoid
“We'll see. No. Definitely not." “.. .2. in the U.S., all able-bodied and he turned back to his homework, employee cannot be wrong, driveway-alley mishaps
Then. male citizens between 18 and 45 years You know, Jessie dyed his hair Are our taxes not high enough •
“Why? old who are not already members of fire engine red. Looks pretty without having to be railroaded into
A bit harder But tonight it was the regular armed forces: members of cool. . .” paying fines we don’t deserve? To the Editor:
gun control. the National Guard and of the Re- “No.” Children make mistakes, and as
“Gun control is unnecessary De- serves (of the Army, Air F orce, Coast Desiree L. Coyle, parents, we hope that they learn
bate is irrelevant. All we have to do Guard, Navy, and Marine Corps) Jeff Ball is a staff writer for Harte-Hanks . Allen from them. We certainly don’t want
is follow the guidelines of the Con- constitute the organized militia; all Community Newspapers.
JEFFREY
BALL
Random Thoughts
CINCINNATI ROFT: (24.
I @areful bo
around hir
Letters to the Editor
them to die from their mistaks,
which is why it’s important that we I
take the responsibility to provide 1
some basic safety rules. 1
After several near-misses in my ,
own alley and the recent tragedy in A
the Fountain Gate area, I would like A
to remind parents, drivers and chil- ■
dren of some basic safety rules. g
■ Alleys were designed for traffic, ■
not play. They are very dangerous
areas for play because it is very hard
for even a slow-moving vehicledb
see a child who runs out from behind
the privacy fences that line the
alleys.
■ Driveways are not skateboard
or in-line skate ramps. Please do not
use them to increase your accelera- |
tion. That only makes it that much
harder for drivers to see you in time •
to stop. K
■ If you are young enough to use and
riding toy, you should not be on 0
driveway unsupervised. Little or
can quickly lose control of their
ing toys, especially on a slanted sureay
face. If parents do not wish to supergee
vise them, they should remove there
Turn to LETTERS, Page gelid
Goals 2000: Educate America Act
was visit
Vegas, he
sponsibilit
“He hac
rents, whe
said. “He
ged my w
McKay
ahead of h
getting re
$ “One c
slipped ou
the pool,”
As soot
McKay ju
pulled hir
father sai<
“We fe
deed that
ceremonia
to us,” Rc
chink; he 1
becauseI
sisters ar
visory rol
the pool,
sponsibilit
His sis
, sey, and
with McK
morning t
custom.
“Every
Chead the!
morning,
1 said.
I Unless
I the two
I their own
“We v
[ said. “I u
night, we
give me ;
J Althou
£ less than
i“Carving 1
I mediately
Supportive, not dictative role
offered in education program
MME
Plan amounts to a takeover
by unaccountable ‘experts’
Tri
The federal government did something absolutely uni- •
que this year. It enacted into law a program in which the Goals 2000 offers Texans coordination,
federal government plays a facilitative and supportive facilitation and support from the
role rather than a directive and controlling one. national level without interference
The new law is the Goals 2000. Educate America Act with the control processes at the state
created on March 31, 1994.processes
The act empowers states, school districts and com- and local levels.
munities to design their own process of restructuring — ‘
schools, and it provides seed money to initiate systemic academic standards to the levels where our brightest
change in the education system. Further, by approving students are challenged. States that choose to partici-
the Goals 2000 Act, Congress reaffirmed the National pate in the Goals 2000 program will develop their own
Education Goals agreed to by the governors of all 50 standards in core subjects, like English, math,, history,
states, under the leadership of Gov. Clinton and then- geography, economics and the arts. Over time, Goals
President Bush. Congress also added two addtiional 2000 wants students to be learning more and achieving
goals: 1) parent involvement, and 2) teacher develop- at higher levels. Though most students will rise to the
ment. Finally, the Goals 2000 Act invites states to join standards, we know some will require extra assistance
the Goals 2000 program. and more time to achieve. Goals 2000 takes them into
Goals 2000 offers Texans coordination, facilitation and account, but recognizes that everyone can learn,
support from the national level without interference with
the control processes at the state and local levels. Goals ■ Fears like: Our schools will be pushed toward a radical
2000 recognizes important decisions about student philosophy known as outcome-based education.
achievement are made on the campus and in the clas- In reality, outcome-based education is a change in the
srooms, not in Washington. That said, great minds m way schools measure success. It is a shift in focus from
education and other disciplines are working hard in "process an(j participation” to “student achievement and
Washington on the same issues we grapple with here, results." Example: Using an outcome-based approach,
and they are offering leadership and possible solutions to what js important is how many students master algebra,
us. Let us reach out for their helping hand, not bite it. not how mariy take the course. Or, how well students
Goals 2000 is not risk free, but risks are minimal, solve problems vs. how much information they can
Nevertheless, opponents have amplified the risks out of gather about an issue. OBE is not a radical philosophy;
proportion in an effort to create unfounded fears, it's a common-sense approach to preparing students for
,life after graduation.
■ Fears like: The federal government is trying to inter- .
fere with state and local control of education by withhold- In its simplest form, OBE detennines what students
2000 monev from states that don’t adhere to must know and do, then designs a curriculum to bring
ing Goals 2000 e-em s at S 00 0 40 them to that level. In a Goals 2000 environment, the
In reality, there are no requirements. Participation is State of Texas, school districts, parents and communi-
voluntary. We need to put the dollars in perspective, ties are responsible for developing desired student ou -
The federal government contributes less than 6 percent comes — not the federal government.
of the total cost of public education in the U.S., and most Texas is already heading in the right direction under
of that is earmarked for students at-risk or with special the able leadership of Commissioner of Education Lionel
needs. Added to that, the amount of money offered “Skip" Meno and Gov. Ann Richards. The Texas
through the Goals 2000 Act is less than the annual strategy is aligned with Goals 2000. Let’s leverage the
budget of the Dallas School District. When that money is opportunities presented by Goals 2000 and springboard
allocated among all the Goals 2000 states, the potential student achievement to higher levels.
to influence state and local education policy is nonexis-1
tent Goals 2000 will help us produce high school graduates
who have met real-world outcomes based on real-world
■ Fears like: Goals 2000 is yet another step in the needs. It is up to us to determine what skills and know-
federal government's takeover of education in general, ledge our graduates need, then let our teachers an
In reality, Goals 2000 encourages local communities principals work their magic at the campus level. Goals
to take control of public education and make it better. 2000 encourages the public education system to do at.
The Act challenges all of us to reform the education Finally, we had an opportunity when A Nation at
system, but provides great flexibility to state and local Risk was published in 1983. Unfortunately, no o
communities to develop and implement their own reform stepped forward then to assume national leadership for
plans. Added to that, there are assurances throughout school reform when we had the nation s attention. A
Goals 2000 that nothing in the Act will undercut state and decade later, Goals 2000 offers us a second chance. Go
local responsiblility for control of education. There are for the Goal 2000. -
no mandates. Skip Cox is executive director of the San Antonio 2000 prog-
: ram, a countywide, collaborative effort to improve the quality
■ Fears like: Goals 2000 will dumb down a generation of early childhood development, schools, the work force and
by lowering standards of achievement, so all students community life for all residents of Bexar County. Cox is a
can reach objectives, loaned executive to the program from USAA, a financial ser-
In reality, Goals 2000 intends to raise — not lower - vices corporation based in San Antonio.
The Goals 2000: Educate America Act is a federal to the assessment of student progress that would dr 1
takeover of Texas schools, fundamental changes in what is taught and learned.: ■
It will mean massive and total change for public educa- Meno received perrmssion to rewrite the Essentig
tion, setting it free from the ties of traditional subject Elements in July and will use the New Standards Project!
matter, teaching methods and consistent testing stan- national goals, international benchmarks and the
dards and restructuring schools using highly ex- World Forums results. The Panel on Student Learning!
perimental and expensive theories guided by national which was responsible for the Real World Forums, il
education experts. recommending the total reinventing of education,
Some state leaders are strongly urging that Texas be eluding the “re-education of all education professionals!
designated as one of six model states to implement and changing the Essential Elements to vague and subl
Goals 2000. In September, the State Board of Education jective learning outcomes very similar to other state J
will be asked to allow Gov. Ann Richards and Education that have gone to outcome-based education. Ihe Goal
Commissioner Lionel “Skip” Meno to appoint a panel, 2000 panel combined with the rewrite of the Essen 1
which will formulate a plan to implement Goals 2000. Elements could change schools forever with a cost fall
This action will delegate educational planning to an greater than any amount of money provided by
appointed panel and reduce the elected State Board of 2000. . . , . I
Education to consultant status. There are other U.S. Department of Education re
Goals 2000 states: “Strategies must be developed quirements for states participating in Goals 2000: 1
...(for) fundamentally changing the entire system of pub- ■ The state plan must align state and local curricula any
lic education...” It puts the education establishment in instructional materials with these standards. No local
charge of life from conception until a child enters the school district will escape in this scenario. I
labor force with all sorts of highly controversial prog- ■ The state plan must contain a process for makin]
rams, including a national school board, national curricu- instructional materials gender equitable and multicut
lum standards, national testing standards, school-based ral. This is not defined, but a politically correct curricu"
clinics, day care in the schools, government training of lum mandated by the government is totally unaccer |
parents, outcome-based education, comprehensive able.
health education and a “Robin Hood "-type funding ■ The state plan must contain a process for training
equalization plan. teachers to provide instruction which is consistent will
The eight national goals list health issues, including these standards, and a process for making teacher ant
health education, six times. An Office of Comprehensive administrator preparation and licensure consistent with
School Health, a phrase that hides sex/AIDS education these standards. This means all teachers must be res
and school-based clinics, is created at the federal level, trained in new standards and teaching methods, and that ■
That means pressure for programs like Texas’ federally teaching licenses will be connected to these as-yet- ■
funded sex/AIDS curricula Education for Self- unknown standards. If future teachers are trained
Responsibility and the recently adopted, controversial outcome-based education, it assures the direction o's
health books. education. . . : I
In Goals 2000 federal control begins with the ■ The state plan must include strategies suchas mcreas ■
appointed panel and the fact that Texas’ plan must be ing the access of students and parents to social service
proved by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Approval and health care located in schools or sites which can g
is based on whether it meets certain requirements, provide one-stop shopping To apply fora competitive
Here are some of those requirements: The state plan grant from the Texas Education Agency, a local applicy
must contain a process for developing content standards tion must describe a specific program for this purpOSE
(what students should know,) student performance National and state goals make the provision of heath)
standards (what students should be able to do,) and an care for the whole community, delivered and coordin-g
assessment standard (testing) that must be consistent ated at the school, a high priority: Gov. Richards has
with relevant nationally recognized standards and in- recommended school-based clinicsin her strategic plan
volve multiple measures of student performance. and through her endorsement of the state health plan
This virtually assures that Texas will go to outcome- which calls for school clinics that make condoms av II
based education, as multiple opportunities to successful- able to teens. The Texas Education Agency has commit-
ly demonstrate outcomes (what students should know ted itself to this same one-stop shopping agenda in its I
and be able to do) is a hallmark of OBE. strategic plan and budget which lists workshops and
Texas has been restructuring for quite some time, but meetings to promote school-linked services.
parents are not aware of changes until they affect their ■ The plan must monitor local school progress and have
child’s classroom — which is just beginning to happen, a procedure which will be used to improve schools that
At a recent State Board of Education meeting, it was do not meet these standards within the required time
explained that testing standards were exceeding the period. All local control that remained will be annihilated
required curriculum. The Essential Elements, a list of with this provision. .:
what all students are required to learn in our schools, Texans want back-to-basics reform, guided by local
needed re vising to align it with tests (assessments). parentsandschoolboards, not expensive,, nation
This is a well known strategy for implementing out- strategies guided by unaccountable experts.
come-based education, and is documented by the New Stephanie Cecil is education liaison for the Texas Ea
Standard Project in which Texas is participating. Its Forum, a conservative, pro-family groupmith the met De
• sion fro
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who is bi
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a suspect
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stated objective is to “develop a radically new approach "Progress through the preservation of traditional values was
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Watterson, Tim. The Allen American (Allen, Tex.), Vol. 25, No. 14, Ed. 1 Saturday, September 3, 1994, newspaper, September 3, 1994; Allen, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1670805/m1/4/: accessed June 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Allen Public Library.