AN EXAMPLE OF HOW OBE WAS IMPLEMENTED IN TEXAS:

AN EXAMPLE OF HOW OBE WAS IMPLEMENTED IN TEXAS

When the Business Roundtable was out recruiting compliant state legislators, business leaders, and other important Texas folks to help them "reform" public education in the early 1990's, they found many otherwise stand-up citizens who bought into the deal.  Here's one of them and what he had to say in an editorial in the Houston Chronicle.  William H. Mobley was president of Texas A&M University in June of 1991 when he wrote this.  Knowing what we know now, we can see what he was really trying to do by using his influence.  This "plan" that he was pushing was the School to Work plan coming from the Business Roundtable and Skip Meno, the Texas Commissioner of Education.  Mobley was just another facilitator who had been duped.  Even if he didn't know what he was doing,  he's still guilty, in my opinion, of the mess we have now in our public schools!

When you finish reading the article, ask yourself these questions:  Has anything changed in twenty-four years?  How much tax money did this initiative cost?  Why should we listen to people who buy into such matters when they can't really seem to understand, in my opinion, what it is that's wrong? Did Texas A&M do anything at all that made a difference with public school children?

TEACHERS NEED OUR TRUST --AND OUR HELP

By William H. Mobley

"As we complete another school year, we would do well to remember that public school teachers are the foundation of the educational system in the United States.  Years ago, our forefathers reached the conclusion that an educated populace was critical to our democratic form of government.  This critical role is a commonly accepted tenet in our society.

Yet we find once again that education at all levels is undergoing a national debate, the likes of which we have not seen since Sputnik was launched by the Russians in 1957.  Our national response to that challenge was the National Defense Education Act.

Today's challenge is no less real.  Today's bywords are "global competition." The very future of our country could well hang in the balance.

Ask any national leader--in government, business and industry, the arts, academia or any walk of life--who had a significant impact on his or her life.  Parents are most frequently mentioned, with some wonderful and inspiring teacher following close behind.

Some might name the fourth-grade teacher who introduced them to the world of literature, literally opening new vistas of inspiration.  Others may mention an algebra teacher or a counselor or a senior English teacher or perhaps a junior high coach who had a great influence on their lives.  One young man I know thought he hated science until a gifted biology teacher inspired him to pursue a career in medicine.

As a university teacher and administrator, I am well aware that learning is a building process--a building process that must have a solid foundation.  The people who provide that solid foundation are public school teachers.  Texas A&M University has long taken pride in the thousands of outstanding teachers who have earned degrees at this institution.  In addition to the more than 1,700 undergraduates who are taking courses pursuant to receiving a teaching certificate, scores of practicing teachers from across the state are enrolled in the university in any given semester, working toward advanced degrees or additional certifications.

Those most intimately involved in education --teachers, parents, employers and administrators --are well aware of the crisis facing Texas education.  Indications of the depth of the crisis in this state include:

*The continued decline in scores on standardized tests.

*A dropout rate of some 33 percent.

*The fact that one in three Texans is functionally illiterate.

*The even more dismal dropout rates for minority youngsters who currently account for about half of the school-age population.

*The diminishing numbers of students who are entering mathematics, science and technology-related fields.

Although Texas A&M was already addressing many of these problems, we set out to take an even greater leadership role two years ago.  I am convinced that it will require the best efforts of all of us--the private sector, public schools and higher education -- to meet this challenge.

In an attempt to enhance collaboration among these groups, Texas A&M has established the "Commitment to Education" initiative under the leadership of Dr. Dean C. Corrigan, one of the nation's premier educators.  This program is unique because it links Texas A&M and the state-wide Texas A&M University System with public education and the private sector.  It assumes that these problems must be attacked at their roots.

Rather than cataloging what does not work and why nothing seems to happen, Commitment to Education supports the development of new workable programs in education.  This program is actively soliciting partners from the public schools and the private sector.  It is identifying a support base for program activities and linking people with resources to move ideas into action.

Many of the key participants--some 400 in all --will meet on our campus on June10-11 for a "New Directions in Education" conference to address key concerns and plan strategies for solutions.

Action, of course, is a key word.  New mechanisms are being investigated to disseminate good ideas, to move good programs and workable methods into the classroom as quickly as possible.

Though the program is still in its infancy, the results thus far are encouraging.  It is designed and operated to support the public-school teacher.  We are all well aware that programs do not teach youngsters to read, programs do not motivate teen-agers to stay in school, programs do not inspire young people to aspire to higher education.

We have put our trust in public-school teachers to do these things.  Make no mistake. Whether or not our own children are school-age, teachers at all levels are our teachers.  They deserve and need the support of all of us."