THE PUBLIC MIND: NO INTENT TO CAST DOUBT UPON TEACHERS

To the Editor:

A careful reading of the introduction of my earlier Be Our Guest column (February 13) reveals that the entire essay was a complete and accurate summary of an address by Dr. John Chubb delivered in Jefferson City on January 29 to a group of several hundred Missouri educators and legislators. In order to be fair to this presenter, I recounted without editorializing the content of Dr. Chubb's speech. In the last paragraph of this column, 1 stated my own opinion on the issue of choice in education: I believed then, and I still believe, that the issue of choice in education is a viable alternative that should be seriously considered for the good of all children's future education.

Because Dr. Chubb's presentation was not covered as a news item in our local paper, I chose to write a column which recounted his statements based on the findings of his Brookings Institute study. I believe that Dr. Chubb, as the originator of these statements, would welcome comments and anecdotal evidence contrary to his conclusions. Dr. Chubb regularly delivers the findings of his Brookings Institute study in a variety of forums across the United States. Writing to him in care of the Brookings Institute would be a valuable and appropriate way to enter into a dialogue with one of the nation's leading proponents of choice in education.

Having had the opportunity to work with educators in both public and private schools in the Cape Girardeau area, I have been impressed with their dedication to their students and to their own quest for knowledge. By recounting the text of Dr. Chubb's presentation, I hoped only to kindle further interest in one of the more prominent issues in education today. It was not my intent to cast doubt upon teachers in any educational setting. Teachers are truly the most valuable, and often the least appreciated, of all professionals.

~~~~~Nancy Baker, President,

St. Mary School Board

Faculty, Southeast Missouri

State University