THE PUBLIC MIND: READER: LETTER-WRITER WRONG TO RIDICULE REFORM

Dear Editor:

I hardly think Raymond Peats serves any purpose in maligning a Vietnam Vet who has taken his time to speak to 200 young people about what ails this nation and our government funded school system. Mr. Brownfeld points to the crisis in public education (surely Peats cannot deny that) and to a disintegration of the family ~another fact that cannot be denied).

Perhaps Brownfeld was somewhat amiss in relating the two but no teacher will deny what he/she deals with in the classroom when there is a disruption in the family. Also, parents have abdicated much of the responsibility of chiIdraising to the public school system so much so that some teachers refer to their vocation as "professional babysitters".

Furthermore, Peats was wrong to ridicule reforms that Brownfeld mentioned, ie, parental choice, merit pay, and competency testing for teachers. With Proposition B just on the horizon, debate has surfaced as to whether or not money without reform will solve the crisis. For instance, although Proposition B does not allow for parental choice, it is an astounding idea already practiced in the state of Wisconsin as a pilot program. This innovative idea provides parents the financial wherewithal to choose between private and public education via the use of a money voucher.

It is ironic that the greatest opposition to such a proposal comes from public school educators. ~Could it be that should this plan become viable, public schools would see a loss of revenue when students exit to other schools taking with them the usual tax allotment for a particular school district? In any case, the reforms mentioned by ~Brownfeld are among some of the ideas emulating from educational think tanks and are not "mystical panaceas" as described by Peats.

Mr. Peats seems very defensive and nit-picking which only adds to the problem. One thing initially must happen in this county if education is going to improve. We must put the boxing gloves down. Parents and teachers, private and public educators must learn from each other and unite to solve this crisis for the sake of our young people and the future of this country.

Sincerely

~Brenda Schmidt

Perryville