Letter Expressing
Opposition to STW...



Dear Board of Education President:

The Van Wert City Board of Education has recently been considering the "Goals 2000: Educate America Act" and the "School-to-Work Opportunities Act." Both bills were passed by the United States Congress in 1994. The stated purpose of Goals 2000 is to "establish National Education Goals " (Section 101. Purpose), and provides for development and implementation of standards, assessments, and certification which will support and promote "National Education goals: as enabled by the law.

The stated purpose of the School-to-Work Opportunities Act is many faceted, but includes "integration with the systems developed under the Goals 2000: Educate America Act" and to "further the National Education Goals set forth in Title I of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act"(Sec. 3:a-1-B and Sec. 3:3-14 respectively).

The two laws are obviously both a part of the same movement towards Federal entry into public education which heretofore has been the constitutional authority and responsibility of state and local government.

While the bills are touted as being "voluntary", it is obvious that great financial pressures are applied to influence broad acceptance of Federal governance into the schools of Ohio as well as the entire nation. Apparently, Ohio has already voluntarily joined the movement by an application process through the Governor's office which determines eligibility for large Federal grant monies. As a result, Federal dollars are now flowing into state and local coffers to implement, piecemeal, the national standards, assessments, and certification of Goals 2000 and School-to-Work legislation. It is worthy to note that control of the public school system is being forfeited without any formal action by our state legislature thus far.

Conversely, states that do not apply successfully for Federal money under Goals 2000 and School-to-Work will obviously not have equal access to funding for their public schools.

As a result of our considerations, the Van Wert City School Board of Education adopted a resolution on June 10, 1997 stating opposition to the purpose and intent of Goals 2000 and School-to-Work legislation, a copy of which is enclosed for your information.

In keeping with that resolution, we are soliciting your support in opposition to implementation of the two laws in question. a similar resolution and action on your part may well serve to awaken our pubic and our elected representatives to the encroachment of Federal government into the lives of our children.

We sincerely thank you for consideration of this matter and wish the very best of this great nations goodness for your schools, homes, and children.

Respectfully yours,

Kenneth Mengerink, President
Van Wert City Schools (Ohio)

cc: Superintendent

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