» + an SEER. The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, October 4, 1995 § Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores are finally higher, but girls still lag behind boys overall. Crit- @ ics say the test is biased, in this and other politically correct ways. ..And, according to the College Board, the group which produces the SAT test, the more income a family has, the higher the SAT sgores for children in that family. Wender what that has to do with those children, at least in theory, being, better fed and, therefore, developing better minds? @ The board also reports that, since, 1976, blacks and native Americans have had the greatest increase in average test scores for both boys and girls. There is also a relationship, according to the board, between those who do homework and have a more difficult academic course load and those who don't. Those who don't score loweron the SATs. ® - The board also revealed that scores for many rural states were much higher than for the more populous states, leading more than one local racist to pronounce that this was because there were far fewer blacks in those states. ii i. The real reason those states (Iowa and South Dakota), have higher scores is that only the best and brightest from all racial @® groups take the SAT test in those states. For example, Iowa has the highest average SAT score of all 50 states. However, only 5 per- cent of that state's students took the SAT test. Each year when SAT scores are released, the numbers are crunched and the opinions of- fered about why and how certain groups and/or genders did or did @ not'do well, none of which says very much about how a student will eventually contribute to the society so apparently and desper- ately concerned zbout his or her education right now. = Infact, there are several stud- ies which show that a parson’s SAT scores are-an extremely poor + indicator of how well a person will daria; fees and’ more impor- OBE — a mindless morass of educational mediocrity tant, how they will do in life. Put another way, the SAT score is a very rough yardstick to measure a person's position in the order of things when entering college. And a college degree is a very rough yardstick for prospective employ- ers to judge the suitability of new employees. Neither high SAT scores nor a degree are a substi- tute for native ability, coupled with persistence, discipline and hard work. Meanwhile, back in the land of acronyms, we have yet another to mouth; OBE. It's the latest notion in the tampering with public education, and from this chair its watermark principle is that we must do everything but call a poor student a poor student, because in OBE (Outcome Based Educa- tion), students no longer can fail; they simply receive an “L.” And that stands for “Learning.” As we persist in the institution- alized mythology telling us that perfection is attainable, the real- ity is that all students, indeed, all people, aren't created equal, much less have the ability to achieve perfection. To ignore this by not recognizing it quantitatively through grade standards of pass- ing or failure is to put the best face on the effort, but to deny the student the real life benefit of sharpening him or herself against the whetstone of failure. All humans are born with dif- ferent strengths and weaknesses. That's empirically self-evident. But in pursuit of the notion that public education is among the principal sources of strength in a republi- can democracy, we nevertheless perpetuate the illusion of perfec- tion. Indeed, with OBE we are now trying to further institution- alize the idea of perfection by a calculated ignorance of a reality...some kids are just plain not too bright. At the same time, we are turn- ing a blind eye and deaf ear to the mediocrity our educational sys- tem is actually producing. This happens bzscause parents don't want to be told their children are not doing well; parents want to hear exactly the opposite, because parents have bought into this cockeyed notion of perfection. As such, and in particular, parents whose children are mediocre stu- "George Gwilliam in running for Harveys Lake council seat George R. Gwilliam has an- nounced he is a Republican can- didate for Harveys Lake borough “» council. He won a spot on the ticket by a write-in nomination in the May Primary. “He-has been a full-time resi- dent of the lake for 23 years and is employed as a sales manager for Simpson Motors. «He is married to the former Therese Becker and has two chil- dren, Cori and Tara. GFE % He was a councilman for six years and served on the Zoning and Planning Commission for three years and four years respec- tively. “I feel that being a life-time resident, summer and full time, I understand many of the concerns the people have at the lake,” he said. He is running on the Republi- can ticket with Ruth Eaton, Tom Callahan and Christopher Hin- ton. dents are now buying into the idea of OBE because OBE doesn’t permit the brightest to shine, rather it lowers the top and ele- vates the bottom toward some theoretically emotionally-preserv- ing middle. This morass of mediocrity was bound to happen. Public educa- tion, by definition and in order to be public, must tailor its product to the least common denomina- tor. Spending more money on pub- lic education won't increase its quality. All it will do is provide smaller classes, better facilities and more materials. It does noth- ing to increase the quality of teach- ers; teachers of quality are, in fact, generally already in private schools, or have left the profes- sion entirely. Trying to teach the least common denominator logi- cally will see the least common denominator doing the teaching. In the meantime, we continue to struggle with a public educa- tion system ever more strapped for cash because it depends on the property tax and state and federal dollars to survive, all of which are in ever smaller supply. And with the graying of America, there will be more discontent from those who have no children in school, continuing to foot the education bill. It's little Johnny or Suzy, the innocent ones looking to us for guidance who are suffering here. While we delude ourselves about our own perfectability and that of our children, we receive the ac- quiescence of educators, who must keep the assembly line of our declared equality /perfectabil- ity moving. That effort has now regurgitated OBE. There is something to be said for public education being a strength in our republican de- mocracy. It must also be said that without high standards expected by parents and executed by edu- cators there is no choice but to see the educational emperor for what he is..naked. Naked, while the minds of our children are freezing to death in the intellectual hand-me-downs of institutionalized mediocrity, now further mired in the muck of Outcome Based Education. GEORGE R. GWILLIAM Service Center. registering.) In recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, you are cordially invited to attend a fall fashion show and dessert social that will benefit the Domestic Violence Service Center. The subject of domestic violence and the options available to victims will be spotlighted in a sensitive and informative presentation by a representative of the Domestic Violence The afternoon events will include a fun fashion show, presenting the latest styles and upcoming trends for women and children, and an array of delicious desserts. Admission is free, however, we invite you to help support the efforts of the Domestic Violence Service Center by bringing a donation of a new personal care item or a household product to the program. (Please inquire when TPS Medical Pavilion Auditorium 468 Northampton Street, Edwardsville Sunday, October 15 ¢ 2:00PM to 4:00PM Presenter: Lynn DeWilde Domestic Violence Service Center Representative Fashion Show Commentator: Linda Pavia Wyoming Valley Health Care System Fashions provided courtesy of Burlington Coat Factory. For additional information or to register, please call 1-800-838-WELL or 283-1222. HEALTH CARE SYSTEM As I was saying. A financial guy I knew laughed himself giddy over this loose vari- ation on the Golden Rule: “He who has the gold makes the rules.” Mildly amusing I guess, but much more interesting are these Golden Rule interpretations according to various religions and deep think- ers: ...From Christianity, Matthew, 7:12 - “Therefore all things what- sover ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law of the prophets.” ...From Judiasm, Talmud, Shabbat, 31a - “What is hateful to you, do not to your fellowman. That is the entire Law, all the rest is commentary.” ...From Brahmanism, Mahab- baraa, 5, 1517 - This is the sum of duty; donaught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you. ...From Buddhism. Udaua- Varga, 5, 18 - “Hurt not others in Cross-stitch — (continued from page 1) busy farm which was visited by a traveling bookmobile. “But I've always loved the people at the library, especially here at this library,” she said. “We are com- mitted to community service in the Back Mountain area.” She and Dan also volunteer to sort books during the annual li- brary auction and are involved in community service programs at Frances Slocum Park. As much as they enjoy their service, they remain unselfcon- scious about their contributions. “I enjoyed it, and it turned out nice,” Jane said of the cross-stitch. The piece will remain on perma- nent display at the library. Call the Franklin First Mortgage Experts Did you close on your mortgage in the last 18 months? You may not be aware that interest rates are down. That means you may be paying more for that first mortgage than neccesary. Thanks to Franklin First's team of mortgage professionals, we'll beat the clock to get your loan processed and in place to save you as much as we can! Talk to Franklin First about: Lower Monthly Payments ® Shorter Terms ® No Points ® No Cash Closings Bi-Weekly Payment Benefits ® Rate Locks © Float Down Options e Automatic Payment Deduction Better hurry. Rates are low right now...but there's no telling for how long. Take time out to call Franklin First today and see how much a REFINANCED mortgage can save you. FRANKLIN FIRST The Golden Rule, In theme and variations ways that you yourself would find hurtful.” ..From _ Confuscianism, Analects, 15, 23 - “Surely it is the maxim of loving-kindness. Do not unto others that you would not have them do unto you.” ...From Taoism, T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien - “Regard your neigh- bor’s gain as your own gain and your neighbor's loss as your own loss.” ...From Zorostrianism, Dadis- tan-i-dinik, 94, 5 - “That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself.” ...From Islam, Sunnah - “No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.” ...From George Bernard Shaw, ADissenter’s View, 1903 - “Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.” 000 Anew U.S. 32¢ stamp features a likeness of Ex-President Rich- ard M. Nixon. “Likeness” is cer- tainly the operative word here, but although there is some re- semblance, this version is noth- ingat all resembling the real thing. The shifty eyes? Gone. That crafty (I know more than you know) look? Gone. The man pictured on this stamp has been sanitized. Hel would inspire confidence, trust and lasting devotion. Tosumitall up, you would indeed buy a used vehicle from this man. But not from the real thing. Take a good look at it. It is a good thing I had stopped, collecting the flood of U.S. stamps’ before I saw this one. If I hadn't,’ this Tricky Dick stamp would have done the trick for sure. (1 1] Three quickies for seniors: #1: - Keep your eggs in the fridge in. their carton, on the middle shelf;, which is cooler than the egg rack.: (Courtesy of UC at Berkeley. Oh them Californians!) oy #2 - Cut your vitamin pill in, half and take twice a day. Since the body eliminates Cin 12 hours, this keeps blood levels high’ throughout the day. (Beloit Col-* lege, Wisconsin.) i #3 - Drink juices like orange; grapefruit and tomato juice, all, rich in Vitamin C, so you can: increase the iron your body ab-« sorbs. : Of course alittle fermented juice, of the vine goes down well too! POST PHOTO/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Jane Swire, left, displays the cross-stitch piece she and her husband, Dan, created for the Back Mountain Memorial Library. Martha Wheeler, library director, is in the center, and Beth Rosenthal, who is chairing the committee making plans to celebrate . the library's 50th anniversary, is at right. One Day We'll Be YOUR Bank 1 800 262-1210 Subsidiary ONBANCorp, Inc | Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. = EQUAL HOUSING LENDER
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers