DECADE LATER, NATION AND SCHOOLS STILL AT RISK

A decade ago, "A Nation At Risk" rattled the halls of learning. America's schools earned poor marks, especially when compared to other developed nations. The report sought to energize public education, calling for tougher courses, longer hours and more homework.

Since the release of that report, there's been a lot of hand wringing. People like to talk about the importance of education, and crunch the numbers. But year after year, other national and statewide priorities seem to slip ahead of educating our children. Modest progress has been made both nationally and in Missouri. But the pace of educational betterment is sluggish.

Ten years after "A Nation at Risk," Missouri remains in the middle of the national pack. Overall student scores have increased slightly. Graduation rates remain stagnant. We realize that part of the reason may be raised graduation standards. We're not losing great ground, but we can't boast of tremendous gains. Our minimum school year remains at 174 days. A heated legislative debate to raise the number of days died over concerns of additional costs.

Many of Missouri's recent educational improvements grew from the Excellence in Education Act of 1985. Teacher salaries increased, standardized student testing was established, and a renewed focus was placed on early childhood education.

Why aren't our schools better? Lack of money is often blamed for lack of progress on educational reform. We agree that money is linked to improved education, but it is not the only factor. Added money provides no guarantee for better schools.

A good example can be found in Missouri. Nearly $1 billion has been pumped into two school districts in our state through desegregation lawsuits in St. Louis and Kansas City. The result has been premier physical plants with Olympic-sized swimming pools, fencing rooms and hundreds of computers. And yet these school districts generally perform poorly in academics when compared to the rest of the state.

Nationally, we need to remain focused on better schools. But for real change we must look closer to home. We have much more control over the destiny of our hometown public and private schools through financial and volunteer support. A caring and supportive community can nurture academic excellence at home. Schools operate under many state and federal mandates, but there is room for flexibility and creativity. More often than not, Missouri's top school districts are those who put forth their own model programs and energize their staffs.

A decade later, former education secretary Terrel H. Bell feels America remains at risk. Dramatic turnarounds and top-flight schools have not materialized. But we can't be discouraged by modest advances and throw up our hands in frustration. As a nation, a state and a community, we must remain committed to improving public education. Our children and the future of our nation deserve no less.