LETTERS: OBE ASPECTS OF SB 380 CAUSES ALARM FOR FAMILY ASSOCIATION

To the editor:

The Cape County chapter of the American Family Association is alarmed about the detrimental effects of Senate Bill 380 (also called the Outstanding Schools Act) on our children and families. Under this bill our legislature refigured financial support for Missouri schools and restructured education around what is called performance standards (or outcome based education). This new law, coupled with a federal movement knows as Goals 2000, will transfer decision-making authority over curriculum, teacher selection and assessment from the local to the state and federal levels.

If this state and federal restructuring succeeds, all children (including those in private and home schools) would be required to pass national assessment tests in order to qualify for a certificate of mastery that will be the means of securing a job or going on to higher education. We see these national standards and tests as a takeover of our local school system by the federal government. One reason for our concern is that students will not be tested over basic skills, such as spelling and math, but rather will be tested over vaguely stated goals. The outcome of OBE will be for each student to possess a certain attitude, behavior, belief or value that is in agreement with the philosophy of the federal government. This certainly raises a questions about whether the federal government is overstepping the boundaries outlined in our Constitution.

We believe the hidden aspects of OBE and Goals 2000 need to be brought to the attention of parents and teachers. Our goal is to make information available to the public that has been compiled by those who have thoroughly researched these plans to restructure our education system.

DONNA MILLER

President

Cape County Chapter

American Family Association