School-To-Work
by Kate Price, Co-Founder, Oklahomans for School Accountability
August 25, 2005
This is an older article but very relevant for today as School To Work (STW) has rolled full steam ahead in our state. This article gives good background information from Linda Murphy, posted on Eagle Forum. Linda has special insight as she worked under Gov. Keating in regards to polytechnical education.
STW - Sweeping Down the Plain in Oklahoma
By Linda Murphy
Eagle Forum
(OI Note: The following are excerpts only)
Oklahoma's STW Plan
The Oklahoma plan was written by Vo-Tech, the Department of Vocational-Technical Education, now called the Department of Career Technology, and will mean statewide reform of K-12 education for all students. The system is supported by research produced by the National Center for Research in Vocational Education (NCRVE) at the University of California-Berkeley, which sponsors "Statewide Professional Development" conferences for school leaders across the nation.
Under the plan, Oklahoma teachers will be required to integrate their academic curriculum with a list of general workplace competencies and job tasks or duty skills being developed by Vo-Tech. Many teachers have found "hands on" or "applied" curriculum less academically challenging. (It requires increased numbers of demonstrations and performances, leaving less time for academics.) However, a plan exists to quiet the concerns of teachers who object. The STW Marketing Plan states: "At some point it may be necessary to let holdouts (educators opposed to STW) know they either need to become positive supporters or look for another line of work." (p.67 - The Career Connection: A Marketing Plan for the Successful Implementation of Oklahoma's School-to-Work System.)
Under the plan, Oklahoma teachers will be required to integrate their academic curriculum with a list of general workplace competencies and job tasks or duty skills being developed by Vo-Tech.
One of the nation's largest STW efforts is taking place in approximately 45 Oklahoma schools and in the schools of many other states under the auspices of the Southern Regional Education Board through the "High Schools that Work" (HSTW) program. HSTW is promoted as a system that demands high academic performance, but in reality, allows students less time for academic study, consolidates and renames academic courses, and transitions schools to curriculum and testing that is based on the very controversial new "standards" produced by education councils. A local HSTW site coordinator told me that these new standards for math are "effective," but that the Saxon Math books (which are academically focused) were not "effective," so she had to get rid of them.
Some practices, methods, techniques and principles promoted by the STW plan can be applied in a positive manner, but they should only be utilized under the authority and direction of local officials, school boards and parents after federal control is removed. The STW issue is really about freedom and the opportunity for every student to learn to his or her fullest potential without being manipulated for someone else's financial or political gain.
Some practices, methods, techniques and principles promoted by the STW plan can be applied in a positive manner, but they should only be utilized under the authority and direction of local officials, school boards and parents after federal control is removed. The STW issue is really about freedom and the opportunity for every student to learn to his or her fullest potential without being manipulated for someone else's financial or political gain.
To see related articles click here and here and here
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Operation Information is the home website of a coalition of concerned citizens dedicated (determined) to uphold and support an educational system that stands on traditional, conservative American values. We are also determined to expose the city, state and federal agencies that have partnered with the United Nations to subjugate our American sovereignty
Our mission is to research and reveal teachings, methods, and/or curriculum that are contrary to these values. We will also endeavor to expose city, state and federal agencies that have betrayed the trust given to them by "We the People."
Our goal is to protect our children and the educational process, and to encourage the public to take a stand for what is right in both our public schools and city, state and federal entities.
We believe in a Biblical world view, teaching reading, writing and arithmetic, and the passing on of our American culture to our children. We also believe that federal control by any means (directly or indirectly) is unconstitutional.
Since as parents we pay for the schools, our children attend them, and we as parents are Biblically responsible for our children, local control of our schools/education of our children is not an option, it is mandatory. As parents and citizens we also pay taxes that are being misused by our elected officials for agendas that are contrary to our constitution.