Deliberate Dumbing Down of America Public Education

383 O N S EPTEMBER 24, 1997 T EXAS C HRISTIAN A LERT N ETWORK (TCAN) ISSUED A MEMO entitled “Communism Comes to Texas Public Education.” TCAN had received the following excerpted analytical summary by Chris Patterson, reseacher, of the Texas version of the national school to-work legislation. The first paragraph of the alert warned that: This nationally mandated program will differ very little from one state to another so persons in all states should read the following very carefully and decide whether you want the fed eral government to have absolute control of your child and his/her career, from the cradle to the grave. The Noxious Nineties : c. 1997 Introduction In November 1996, Texas received a $61 million dollar federal grant to implement a School to-Work (STW) system. With this grant, Texas joined the group of 36 states which participate in a national workforce development program. The national program is designed, regulated and initially funded by the federal government. The objective of this program is to coordinate workforce development with economic, educational and welfare plans within and between states of our nation. STW introduces “major changes or a radical transformation of the pur pose, content and structure of public schools.” Key Components of STW Employer needs and skill standards drive STW as curriculum and instructional practices are modified to prepare students to enter the local workforce…. Academic education and vocational instruction are fully integrated. Curriculum is founded upon performance-based standards. Academic subjects incorporate instruction related to personal and career goals. Both work and school-based instruction are designed according to local workforce needs. “All students will engage in STW.”... Students will be prepared for, certified and placed in post-secondary education or jobs which reduce mismatches between students/education and education/workplace, incorpo rating: • Work-based learning which includes mentorship, job-shadowing, volunteer service, school-based enterprise, apprenticeship, internship and paid work experience. • Students will be required to acquire the following as conditions for graduation: certificates of initial and/or advanced mastery. • Workplace competencies and paid work experience in career field. • Statutory requirements will be established for schools to adopt block scheduling. • Health and human services will be integrated with school and work-based learn ing. • An electronic data tracking system will be developed for all students. The only elected official responsible for STW governance is the Governor of Texas. The Texas Skills Standards Board recommends standards and certification to the Texas Council on Workforce & Economic Competitiveness.... The Council exercises statutory authority to develop, maintain and enforce STW.... The Council delegates authority to the Texas Workforce Commission to direct activi • Career awareness kindergarten through 6th grade. • Choice of career pathway by no later than 8th grade. TEXAS SCHOOL-TO-WORK SYSTEM by Chris Patterson