TEACHER GROUP SUPPORTS LOCAL CONTROL

The Missouri State Teachers Association convened a meeting of 100 or so teachers from 75 area districts last week in Cape Girardeau to consider resolutions establishing that group's positions for the next legislative session. What came forth was quite remarkable and speaks to the fundamental good sense of this mainstream teachers' group.

"You've got a cause, folks: They're sitting back home in your schools, they're in your homes," said MSTA executive director Kent King. "We do not believe in federal type programs; we believe in local control. If we're not careful we're going to lose control of the kids in this country."

King's concerns were echoed by teacher after teacher at the meeting. Said Alice Patrick: "Rather than having federal control" of national standards and teacher certification, "we want the state to say what its teachers should be doing and knowing. We really feel we should have some choice in the matter, or else you end up to the point when the federal government is telling you how to teach."

Said Sally Elrod of Piedmont schools, "All of our concerns come down to the fact that we want to retain local control of education."

Amen.