Rapid Retrograde Regression
Wynn Cannon, chairman of The League of Washington Taxpayers, was quoted in today's Seattle Times as saying:
An entire generation of our students is already vastly behind the rest of the world when it comes to academic standards.
The 21st century demands not only fundamental skills, but skills that match the rapid and evolving flow of information around the world. That means employing technology, multiple languages, new skillsets to teach our children to compete and innovate.
America's greatest asset has always been brainpower. That asset is being challenged overseas in a daunting manner. China gradutes more literate, multi-lingual, technically savvy students than we do right now, today. India is following suit.
Cannon intends to send people door to door to distort and alarm the citizenry about the levy, which earmarks money for much needed classroom upgrades in Bellevue. His organization is philosophically righteous, serving as a taxpayers watchdog, but blunt force politics such as fighting this school levy only exposes the knee-jerk nature of his thinking, and it imperils our children as well.
If they ring your doorbell, explain that you are for advancement, and against shortchanging the next generation. Tell them to try moving into the 21st century along with the rest of us.
"We're not against education, but we think the district's emphasis has changed from the 'three R's,' from basic-education requirements, to technology. Computers are a shortcut, in our opinion. With a proper focus on teaching 'the basics,' children shouldn't have access to classroom computers until high school."This is the core of the arguement against the February 7th Bellevue School District levy: No computers until high school. Focus on reading, writing, arithematic.
An entire generation of our students is already vastly behind the rest of the world when it comes to academic standards.
The 21st century demands not only fundamental skills, but skills that match the rapid and evolving flow of information around the world. That means employing technology, multiple languages, new skillsets to teach our children to compete and innovate.
America's greatest asset has always been brainpower. That asset is being challenged overseas in a daunting manner. China gradutes more literate, multi-lingual, technically savvy students than we do right now, today. India is following suit.
Cannon intends to send people door to door to distort and alarm the citizenry about the levy, which earmarks money for much needed classroom upgrades in Bellevue. His organization is philosophically righteous, serving as a taxpayers watchdog, but blunt force politics such as fighting this school levy only exposes the knee-jerk nature of his thinking, and it imperils our children as well.
If they ring your doorbell, explain that you are for advancement, and against shortchanging the next generation. Tell them to try moving into the 21st century along with the rest of us.
