Submitted by Spunky, Dec 22, 2006 09:39

Quoting from the above editorial, "The report says that the schools "would have complete discretion over the way their funds are spent, their organization and management, their schedule, and their program, as long as they provided the curriculum and met the testing and other accountability requirements imposed by the state." This is not market drivien and yes they are talking about charter schools. Those are government schools without local control. This is government driven socialism. Centrally planned federalized education to meet the demands of the state, not the dreams of the child.

Children in Florida are already being asked to select their career marjor by the eighth or ninth grade. (See Jeb Bush Ready-to-work.) Michigan is on the path to do the same. The report is a continuation of the earlier planned proposed by Marc Tucker in the early 90's. While many believe that plan went into the dustbin in the land that education forgot. Not so. That plan has been moving forward (albeit at a slower pace). Goals 2000 left the lexicon, but its lobbyists remained in the legislature.

Likewise, this plan includes a "high stakes" test at the end of tenth grade. That combined with the earlier tests taken by children earlier in their education, will provide the portfolio to track the children from preschool to college. The high stakes test will lead to an international diploma (IB Diploma), the same one adopted by Tony Blair as the diploma for the UK. In effect, we will have not just a federal standard but an international standard in education. We already have over 600 "IB approved" schools here in the US. And the number is climbing rapidly. A high stakes test is NOT the way to determine who gets to leave high school and who shouldn't. As another editorial on this website showed, that should be determined as in the days of old, by the parents and the child together. Free from government intrusion.

Charter schools make the perfect avenue to an IB school since they are NOT locally controlled. Thus, holding themselves to an international standard is much easier to do. The IB organization is operated out of Geneva, Switzerland. This may improve our schools in the short term, but change our way of government in the long term. Government operated schools in the design of this commission is just an adoption of the methodology used in all socialist countries.

While I agree that our schools need reform (I homeschool) the way to do so must be in keeping with the freedom this country affords all its citizens. That is the pursuit of happiness according to their dreams and desires. This form of education creates workers for the global economy, while diminishing the freedom to succeed and yes, fail on an individual basis.

I hope that journalists do their due diligence and begin to inform the American people that the "rigorous education" that is being promoted and implemented is a smoke screen for the international standards and "World schools" as they are called by the IB Organization.

Regards

Karen Braun

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