Can the State Legislature fix our educational problems?

I don't think so! Results so far are confirming this.

While the State of Washington's constitution mandates that "It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders."

It doesn't define what ample means.

Then to further confuse the situation, School Boards are given the responsibility of educating those students within their districts.

Herein lays one of the basic problems of education in most states. Who is in change and who is accountable? In short,, I am afraid that neither of these parties has shouldered the duty.

School Boards, as previously discussed, neither have the fortitude, nor in many cases, the desire or knowledge to adequately define what they consider an acceptable level of education, and take the necessary steps to accomplish this.

The Legislature, and their employees (OSPI), are often blamed for the inadequacy of the State's education, while they, until recently, have been unable to exert clearly defined mandates to accomplish significant measures upon local school districts.

When it became clear that education wasn't working through reports such as "A Nation at Risk" in 1983, a movement towards "Education Reform" began. Since then billions of dollars have been poured into this by Federal Government funding, as well as by individual states, to change their educational funding and policies.

The American Legislative Exchange Council, a non partisan group of state legislators has now come to the conclusion "that you cannot buy your way out of low performance." Education Reform just cannot be bought!

This has been an expensive lesson. In spite of billions of dollars being added to educational budgets, there has been little change in the achievement levels of children! "We are now spending, in constant dollars, 54% more than we did in 1980 and our test scores are a mixed bag," according to the Legislative Exchange Council.

There is a popular saying that goes, "you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink." I don't think that most of us would dispute this. However, there is also another fact that is overlooked when this is used to explain why education hasn't improved. I know of no documented cases of horses dying of dehydration when in corrals where water is available.

What is a Legislature to do? Since 1993 the Washington State Legislature has "embarked" upon "Education Reform" just has most other states have. Results? Over a billion dollars expended, and we still can't get most of our kids to do 8th grade mathematics!

Why is this so?

The Legislature, wisely, in its "Education Reform Act of 1993 (HB 1209) called upon educators, parents, and students to become involved in this "reform". This was, in my mind, exactly who was required to make this happen.

Two of these "groups" have never been brought into the corral!

Instead schools have been doing what they always do, and adding the "WASL" on top of the multiple distractions that they have either tolerated, or incorporated, into the school day.

School is still not a serious time for the students who are failing the WASL.

There has been little effort to call the parents to task for their responsibilities to be sure that there are no distractions after school for those who aren't making it.

School, and home life needs to be focused on attaining the skills that are needed to succeed in life in the 21st Century instead of video games, skateboarding, and other distractions.

In those countries that have surpassed us, there is a focus on learning and consequences for the lack of effort.

In Federal Way we have learned in the past week of an 8th grader who has "decided" to drop out and has the parent's consent!

He spends his time skateboarding and playing video games. The corral for this young man should be made pretty small. When did we decide that 14 year olds have the wisdom to "drop out" of school?

\What is the Legislature to do? More money for enforcement of the laws that we currently have in place might be a start.

Elsewhere parents would be in court over allowing their child not to attend school.

Parents who did not provide a supportive environment for learning would also be looking at consequences.

"Tough Love," might bring some focus to kids and parents who have dropped off the educational team.

I think that it is quite correct that "we cannot buy Educational Reform," at least until we have all vested parties pulling the wagon.

As it is now, children can make some pretty foolish decisions, and there are no consequences. Let us remember that "learning is hard work," not as it is portrayed on Sesame Street!

I have two more parties to mention after which I want to offer some suggestions on how to improve the situation, believe me, I do have some!

Next time? Taxpayers.

Charlie Hoff is a former member of the Board of Education for Federal Way Public Schools. His weekly column will appear in upcoming issues of the Federal Way News and online at www.federalwaynews.net.