THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 1, 1995 TAG: 9509290175
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
As a former School Board member, I can understand the feeling of betrayal being felt by present board members. Members of the administration, who should have kept them informed, covered up the facts and avoided giving the correct answers.
Board members should have known that educators are at their best when they are avoiding responsibility. Board members were too trusting, which led to this problem on their watch. There were numerous signs that trouble was developing, but they accepted the answers given even though it was known that the budget was tight and the ``unexpected'' expenses were in the millions.
Similarly there are signs of academic deterioration, which are not being investigated. Employers complain that students cannot fill out a job application, parents complain that students cannot spell or write proper sentences, clerks have trouble making change, those entering college must take remedial courses, and test scores are dropping. Is there a problem?
No, folks who suggest there is a problem are just bashing schools - this answer comes from the same group that assured board members there was no financial problem. Their answers are just as glib, and just as wrong, about education as they were about finances.
Unfortunately, those running public schools are not willing to accept the responsibility for ensuring that students who receive a diploma from the Virginia Beach school system are educated to acceptable standards. How much attention was given to the fact that 11th-grade test scores fell again? These students are about to leave the school system. The fact that fourth-grade scores rose is of little importance if it can be expected that students will be allowed to fall behind during the next seven years.
Those who authorized these unlawful expenditures took about $16 out of the pocket of every resident in Virginia Beach. But as bad as that is, it is a small problem compared to the poor education received by hundreds of Virginia Beach students. We do not compare favorably with students nationally, and nationally students in the United States do not compare favorably with students of foreign countries. Virginia Beach students are not at the bottom yet, but they are on the way. Students in the United States are, of course, at the top in self-esteem.
Responsibility is the attribute most lacking in our school system. Those who would be willing to accept more responsibility are afraid to speak up for fear of what it might do to their careers. This will make it tough to assign responsibility; but until the board does, we may expect more deterioration in education in Virginia Beach public schools. It is to be hoped that the board will insist on the acceptance of responsibility by all employees.
Edward G. Kreyling
Virginia Beach by CNB