Goals

Question: What were the six goals that started all this confusion in education,  such as ignoring students’ accountability, high-stakes standardized tests, closing of “failed” public  schools, rating teachers as incompetent for their students’ failure in standardized tests of reading and math regardless of negative social conditions, charter schools, school choice in which dissatisfied parents and  students are accepted in private schools, on-line schools as substitutes for public schools, etc.?

Answer: They came from a meeting in 1989, in which the President [Bush] and governors produced six national goals that would provide direction toward excellence for education in America.

1. All children in America will start school ready to learn.

 2. The high school graduation rate will increase to at least 90%.

3. American students will leave Grades 4, 8, and 12 having demonstrated competency in challenging subject matter, including English, mathematics, science, history and geography; students will use their minds well so they may be prepared for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive employment in our modern economy.

4. American students will be the first in the world in science and mathematics achievement.

5. Every adult American will be literate and will possess the knowledge and skill necessary to compete in a global economy and exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

6. Every school in America will be free of drugs and violence….

(U. S. Department of Education, 1991).

Comment: Interesting goals. How far have we succeeded in implementing them in the 21^st century? RayS.

Title: “Clearing the Confusion: A Closer Look at National Goals and Standards.” J Flood and D Lapp. The Reading Teacher (September 1993), 58-61.