---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1998 16:03:11 -0400 (EDT)
From: bernie@binghamton.edu
To: presssun@spectra.net
Subject: Letter to Editor

Sir:

The recent Binghamton conference at which state education officials decried the pending shortage of school superintendents proves that current educational reforms are failing. Since 1983 the reform movement has taken on so many complicated facets that everyone involved, from administrators to teachers, students, and parents, has become confused. From the first baby steps of OBE, which called for a new "paradigm" that would extend education beyond academics to such areas as the teaching of PC values, the stress on behavior modification, the preparation of a super work force and pre-kindergarteners, school personnel has become ever more sceptical of what was happening, and felt their workload was becoming unbearable. Even the recent turn to Regents exams has become controversial because of the nature of the questions which, aside from the sciences, will allow the use of subjective grading criteria.

The idea of turning schools from institutions for the acquisition of knowledge to community social centers with very loose objectives is understandably proving nightmarish for both teachers and administrators who believed their job was to instill knowledge in students, not to create a new kind of American just because we are about to enter a new century.

No wonder no one wants to assume the leadership!

Aldo S. Bernardo
25 Third St
Johnson City, NY 13790
phone: 797-1346