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Yes, in fact, Big Brother is watching you R. Michael Johnson, Editor, Coshocton Tribune [Editor's Note: Folks, I realize today's column is rather long, and quite frankly, not that flashy or funny. But, please, if you have a child in the State of Ohio who attends public school, please read it. What you'll find out is disturbing.] It's great being an ignorant hayseed. You don't have to think for yourself, you can have the state make your decisions for you and, best of all, you don't have to take responsibility for your actions. Thank goodness there are a group of fine, educated, well-dressed people in Columbus who can handle the awesome responsibility of raising my 9-year-old son - because God knows, I'm not fit to make decisions affecting his future. That, in a nutshell, is what the Ohio Department of Education wants us to believe when it comes to its proposed educational standards, which now lie in the grasp of the state Legislature. Let me preface what I'm about to say with the following: I think specific academic standards are a good thing. For example, by the time a kid is in high school, he or she should know how to spell, read, write and have a grasp on at least the basics of democracy. We need some kind of way to measure how we're doing when it comes to our kids' educational needs. With that said, I think the way the State Department of Education is going about it, in a word, stinks. First, a group not associated with the department has been circulating a rather disturbing text in recent weeks. The DOE at first denied the document even existed, then backed off and said it was a "work in progress" and then "nothing has been cast in stone." The distressing document contains ideas - apparently by the State Board of Education - for educational standards in the health and hygiene portion of school. Here, according to the paperwork we obtained, is a brief rundown of some of the more troubling "competencies" the state could possibly jam down our throats. Pre-kindergarten: The learner will be able to find answers to his/her questions about birth and death from parents and other responsible adults. The learner will demonstrate primary healthy stress management and relaxation skills. Sixth grade: The learner will explore causes of mental illness and depression, and propose or suggest effective interventions. Eleventh grade: The learner will practice and use effective self-examination procedures including the American Cancer Society's steps for breast and/or testicular cancer. The learner will demonstrate and advocate for ways to correct dysfunctional, worrisome thoughts so as to manage anger, fear and other stressful adult emotions. First, and foremost, who died and left the State Department of Education in charge of ensuring my son knows how to examine his testicles? Next, don't you think it's the parents' responsibility to explain birth and death to their kids? And not the responsibility of a stranger. I do. I won't even go into the "dysfunction thoughts" portion. It just really scares the hell out of me when anyone in authority even gets close to broaching the line of telling us (or our children) how to think and feel. Think about it. Part Two - The meeting In order to make the appearance that the State Board of Education is not simply a microcosm of the former Communist party, it is in the process of setting up "public meetings on the proposed Standards for Ohio Schools." Yeah, right. A document obtained last week by the Tribune clearly shows that getting "public" input and comment is the last thing the state board wants. In a memo from Gene Harris, the state DOE's chief program officer, the way the state will get "public" input for its proposed standards was "developed with significant support from the staff of the Education Commission of the States." I know this is kind of getting tedious, but please stay with me. The stated purpose of the meetings is "to provide an orderly process for Ohioans to again give thoughtful input on the proposed Standards for Schools." Horse feathers. If one looks at the "overview" of the meetings, it is woefully obvious that what they're doing is at least shortsighted and at worse sinister. Harris suggests that up to 11 different meetings be held throughout the state on Aug. 12 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. No problem yet. The overview states that three of the state's Board of Education members be in attendance at each of the meetings. Still OK. Now comes the fishy-smelling part. Under the section of "participants," it says "invited public." They apparently want your input, but only if you have the right things to say. But I'll get to that later. Under the section labeled "meeting moderators/facilitators," the document says the meetings will be facilitated by people who are "reasonably neutral on education and political issues." That's like being a little pregnant. God only knows how much these "reasonably neutral" folks will cost us taxpayers. Now, here are the problems. First, by only having three of the state board's members in attendance, they don't have to call it a public meeting, thus circumventing the Ohio Revised Code statutes on open meetings. I made a call to Mary Peters, who is one of the folks who works with/for Harris. Peters told me the reason for having the "invited public" show up for the meeting is they felt it would be too laborious to sit and listen to a couple of hundred people speak. Comedian Martin Mull used to quip that the problem with working in a place that's open to the public is that the public tends to show up. And that's what I think the State Department of Education is afraid of. They're afraid that 900 of us ignorant hayseeds will show up and hand them their heads on a platter. So, with them setting the ground rules, the deck is stacked, my friend. God help my son. the state sure won't, and it looks like I'm not goring to be allowed to either. [R. Michael Johnson is editor of the Coshocton Tribune and write Off the Record as a weekly Opinion Page feature. It appears on Sundays]. __________________ REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION |
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