To Mr. Sam Dillon, reporter for the New York Times,
Regarding the recent New York Times article titled, “Test Shows Drop in Science Achievement for 12th Graders,”please consider the following:
Your article, while thorough, contains a misleading headline and lead paragraph. Test scores are up across the board over the past five years, or are maintaining in the face of ever-more difficult standards. If you have to go back 10 years to find a one percent, or three percent decline (which is rather insignificant, wouldn’t you say, considering standards and measuring have become so much tougher in a decade), that indicates to me that you're really having to reach to find something negative to say about our schools.
As a former speechwriter for Laura Bush, our nation’s first lady (and a product of public schools herself), and as a co-founder and vice president of Friends of Texas Public Schools (www.fotps.org), I am dismayed by the media's aggressive reporting of negatively slanted news about our public schools, in Texas and around the nation. This sort of coverage does nothing but demoralize parents, teachers, and students.
We at Friends of Texas Public Schools believe people have a right to know that, in spite of the many challenges our students face, they are achieving more than ever. The popular myth of widespread failure is just that -- a myth.
While we agree that there is always room for improvement, much can be accomplished when people believe in - and talk about - the immense promise and possibility that exists in the classroom.
Optimism breeds success, Mr. Dillon, and children and teachers thrive in environments (including media environments) that are full of hope and encouragement. Let’s stop the fear mongering and attempts to motivate with a whip. For once, let’s consider the benefits of lifting up our public schools as places of hope, triumph, and achievement. By doing so, perhaps we can motivate more teachers to remain in the profession; and perhaps more parents and communities will get involved because they’ll feel good about the places where their children learn. In the end, we hope that a positive voice will inspire schools to continue to achieve, and continue to improve.
Parents, teachers, and students, know that there are people in this nation who proudly embrace our schools as they strive to reach higher standards. In fact, it is our honor, our pleasure, and our mission to salute the success of public schools, in Texas, and around the nation. Sincerely, Charlene E. (Charlie) Fern Vice President, Friends of Texas Public Schools CEO, Charlie Fern Ink Communications Austin, Texas |
