MIKE MOSES' REPLY TO MY LETTER ABOUT THE REAL WORLD FORUMS:

(The letter was sent on Texas Education Agency stationery)

May 15, 1995

Mrs. Mary McGarr, Trustee

Katy Independent School District

Katy, Texas

Dear Mrs. McGarr

This is to acknowledge receipt of your recent letter.  I can only describe it as very disappointing.

The quote that is attributed to me in the "Legislative Report" was never made.  I have written Mr. Jim Crow, Associate Executive Director, Texas Association of School Boards, to ask him to please furnish me the time and place when this statement was made.  At the April meeting of the State Board of Education I did inform board members that I had put the essential elements clarification project on hold.  I informed the board that it was due to the fact that the core curriculum was being discussed by the Texas Legislature.  To me it made no sense to continue on with a project with 13 contractors in that many subject areas until we knew exactly what responsibilities would be assigned to the State Board of Education and the Texas Education Agency with regard to curriculum.

At the April meeting of the State Board of Education, the Long Range Planning Committee did hear testimony from one business person and one educator who testified with regard to the real world forums.  I have no idea what type of agenda you believe that the previous commissioner may have been promoting.

I have consistently stated that I am for promoting academic excellence in all of our schools.  My comments have consistently pointed to my opposition in teaching that dealt with student feelings.  I have spoken against social experiments in our schools and in favor of local control.

Your letter is accusatory and states that you think I am "getting ready to fool the public."  [See note below.] You consider your letter a tongue lashing to me when a simple letter of inquiry would have allowed me to address the matter.  I cannot always promise you that what you will read in the media or in other publications will square with what you believe, especially if it is being paraphrased.  I regret your alarm.

Sincerely yours,

Mike Moses

Commissioner of Education

[Of course the Texas State Legislature was in the final throes of passing Senate Bill I at the end of the very month when he wrote this letter! It became effective on May 30, 1995. Senate Bill 1 TOOK AWAY LOCAL CONTROL from the elected school boards of Texas and gave LOCAL CONTROL to the the superintendents!  This guy knew that I was on to him, so he chose to be dismissive.  But time will tell and the truth will out and it did.

Mary McGarr]