THE PUBLIC MIND: PUBLIC EDUCATION DEFINED

To the Editor:

After reading David Goncher's letter in the Nov. 1 edition, I am glad he is not a member of the Cape Girardeau School Board.

His comparison of public school and private school educational programs indicates a lack of knowledge about the responsibilities and obligations of public school education. Public schools cannot select their students as private schools can. Private schools do not have to provide services for children who are physically, emotionally or socially disabled. Private schools are under no obligation to provide state-mandated programs ... or provide transportation services or hot lunch programs.

Classroom teachers in public schools would be delighted if all the children they serve on a daily basis had parents that systematically and continuously exhibited the highest degree of parental involvement in the education process. Likewise, teachers in our public schools would be overjoyed if all parents of the children they teach held the highest expectations for learning on the part of their children.

If Mr. Goncher thinks the private sector does not select and retain those children that meet selection criteria for acceptable behavior, intellectual skills, parent support and motivation, then he is out of touch with reality as far as education is concerned.

Most certainly, Mr. Goncher does not comprehend the purpose, role and mission of American public education.

Marlene Osburn

Cape Girardeau