Deliberate Dumbing Down of America Public Education

A–128 to fill jobs in industry. The Akron Forum of Regional Collaboration to Develop Learning Strategies for the Global Economy is a joint undertaking of the United States Information Agency (USIA) and the European Commission, and will be hosted by the Northeast Ohio Trade and Economic Consortium (NEOTEC). The Akron Forum is an important initiative under the New Transatlantic Agency (NTA) which, through more than one hundred joint projects, reaffirms strong and enduring ties between the United States and the European Union…. “UNESCO Chief Cites Link Between Democracy and Development... Stresses Role of Values,” by David Pitts USIA Staff Writer. Washington. Sustainable development cannot occur “without freedom, justice, and democracy,” says Federico Mayor, director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). “Sustainable development requires sustainable democracy,” he added in an April 7 address before the International Steering Committee of CIVITAS, an international consortium for civic education that is holding its spring meeting at the White House conference center. According to Mayor, “the partnership between UNESCO and CIVITAS is very important” in helping to promote the culture of democracy around the globe.... The “moral aspects” of the civic education movement were also underlined by Mayor. This means encouraging those values and beliefs that best allow for peace and freedom to thrive, he said…. CIVITAS was initiated in June 1995 at the CIVITAS Prague conference. Following that meeting, participants representing 50 nations signed a declaration pledging “to create and maintain a worldwide network that will make civic education a higher priority on the international agenda.” Participants at the Prague Conference included Diane Ravitch, a member of Hudson Institute’s Education Policy Committee and Educational Excellence Network, and the late Albert Shanker, former President of the American Federation of Teachers. Of interest in this regard is the fact that the AFT’s “Education for Democracy Project” was launched by the AFT in cooperation with the Educational Excellence Network and Freedom House (1985), and was partially funded by the U.S. Department of Education. (Global ethics curriculum, under many different labels, is in progress.) (7) Technology which includes robotics and computer-assisted instruction (programmed learning). Mastery Learning/Direct Instruction fit like a hand in the glove of the computer. They have been made for each other. Skinner said “the computer is the sophisticated version of his (Skinner’s) box.” (Federally-funded OBE/ML, using computers, in use in all schools to a different degree, but method not yet mandated. The passage of the Reading Excellence Act of 1998 could facilitate this component.) (8) Choice. Choice in the form of tuition tax credits, vouchers, charter schools, use of public education facilities and materials by home schoolers, apprenticeships with corporations which are in partnership with government (corporate fascism), etc., will result in federal (international) control of American education. (Pending.) (6) Global Ethics/Values. A CIVITAS press release dated “4/7/97” says:

(9) Teacher Union Support. Support from the American Federation of Teachers and