Deliberate Dumbing Down of America Public Education

101 knowledgeable students... who know virtually nothing in depth about anything.... A good start would be to... declare a moratorium on textbook use in all courses.” Dwight D. Allen, Dean of Education, University of Massachusetts, writing on “The Decline of Textbooks, Change.” 2 RECOMMENDED BOOKS: Behavioral Objectives: A Guide for Individualized Learning . Four volume set covering more than 4000 objectives representing four years’ work of more than 200 teachers. Arranged by subject area. Covers language arts, social studies, math and sci ence. A comprehensive collection. Westinghouse Learning Corp., 100 Park Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017. MEETINGS STRESSING INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION: Ninth National Society for Pro grammed Instruction Convention, March 31–April 3, 1971. University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y. Heavy emphasis on applying principles and processes of individualized instruction. Session on redesigning schools of tomorrow. Contact Dr. Robert G. Pierleone, College of Education, University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y. First Educational Technology Conference. April 5–8, 1971. Americana Hotel, N.Y. City, N.Y. Conference seminars and workshops will cover curriculum design, use of computers, programmed instruction, simulation, innovation theory, etc. The Serious Seventies : c. 1971

IN FORTHCOMING ISSUES: Update of 46 Case Studies of Individualized Instruction as origi nally reported by Jack V. Edling, Oregon State System of Higher Education.

“R EVISED R EPORT OF P OPULATION S UBCOMMITTEE , G OVERNOR ’ S A DVISORY C OUNCIL ON Environ mental Quality” for the State of Michigan, to be used at the April 6, 1971 meeting of the sub committee, was filed in the Library, Legislative Service Bureau in Lansing, Michigan. Excerpts from this disturbing report follow:

I. Concept of a Population Goal

In general, the Subcommittee was in agreement with U.S. Senate Resolution No. 214 , as follows:

That it is the policy of the United States to develop, encourage, and implement at the earli est possible time, the necessary policies, attitudes, social standards, and actions which will by voluntary means consistent with human rights and individual conscience, stabilize the population of the United States and thereby promote the future well-being of the citizens of this Nation and the entire world. It was the feeling of the Subcommittee that the intent of the above Resolution should be encouraged by voluntary means and due consideration given to human rights. However, in order to accomplish the above goal, state and federal legislation must accompany this intent to provide disincentives.

II. Optimum Goal

An optimum goal is to be considered in preference to a maximum carrying capacity. As a starting point, zero population growth is the recommended goal for the citizens of Michi gan.... That the human population on a finite “space ship” cannot increase indefinitely is