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June 5, 2001
Ms. Nancy Arens
President, Board of Education
Community Consolidated School District #46
565 Frederick Rd.
Grayslake, Illinois 60030Dear Ms. Arens:
I write to express my concern regarding the direction in which our school district appears to be heading. As you know, almost 1300 parents signed petitions requesting that our district not use Dr. Spady and his philosophies. Those philosophies include notions such as devaluing curriculum for its own sake and looking at knowledge appropriate to defined outcomes, and focusing on skills rather than knowledge.
While I certainly do not want to revisit the Spady debate, it appears that Spady is gone in name only, with his philosophies alive and thriving in our district. I am referring, of course, to the hiring of Dr. Ed Clark to train our teachers in methods of constructing a “student-initiated” curriculum. To put it metaphorically, in choosing its water, our district appears to be drinking from the same well. Granted, this is not a “strategic design,” but it is no less disturbing, especially in the wake our community’s expressed desires for a more academic, less reformist type of direction.
I have several questions regarding the hiring of Dr. Clark. First, did our administration advise the Board that it would be hiring Dr. Clark? If so, does the Board approve of this individual training our teachers in this approach? If the Board was unaware of Clark’s retention, does not that pose a problem in terms of the Board’s ultimate responsibility to choose the course of study and apparatus to be used for the instruction of the students? Next, is Dr. Clark being paid in excess of $10,000? As I understand the School Code, any contract over this amount must be approved by the Board of Education. How much is Dr. Clark being paid?
These issues are front and center in the continuing public discussion of this district’s educational philosophy. Many community members, this writer included, are concerned that our district has adopted a progressive reformist educational agenda, without the approval of the majority of the parents in this district, and without any hard empirical evidence that this approach yields any positive results. Does the school board share the administration’s expressed philosophical views favoring “cooperative learning," "student centered learning," transformation of teaching "from content-driven to student initiated," and the apparent focus on skills rather than knowledge?
Lest it be said that I am offering only criticism, let me suggest an available alternative to the progressive reformist theories currently at use in our schools. That alternative is knowledge-based education. It is content driven and focused on academics. I do not mean to offer merely platitudes, such as “let’s have a more academic focus.” Rather, I am suggesting that “skills don’t help students much without knowledge to apply them to. . . . Good schools attend to the basic subjects: English, history, geography, math, science, art, and music. . . . Teaching it is serious work, not a chance by-product of learning skills.” (I cite Bennett, The Educated Child).
In the words of Prof. E.D. Hirsch, “traditional education Is more progressive.” I will be providing you under separate a copy of Hirsch’s groundbreaking and truly transformational book, “The Schools We Need And Why We Don't Have Them." Hirsch makes a very strong case that, rather than teach children to "learn how to learn," we need to teach children a shared body of knowledge. He also makes a very strong case, backed by empirical evidence, that whole class teacher instruction, so currently out of style with the “discovery learning” “cooperative learning” “hands-on learning” crowd, is the most effective means of education, and should be the predominant mode of learning in our schools. Interestingly enough, Hirsch offers a balanced perspective, suggesting that these other techniques can have a place, as long as it is not predominant.
I applaud the efforts you have made to further the communication between the community and the Board, and in that vein, I ask that you consider placing on the agenda for the June 11, 2001 meeting the issues raised above, at least with respect to the use of Dr. Clark. I also know that I speak for many when I thank you and your fellow board members for your dedication, time and effort you have put into your service with the board on behalf of our children.
Very truly yours,
Stuart N. Rappaport
cc: Ms. Ursula Ahern
Mr. Ron Garrison
Ms. Maureen Englehart
Ms. Kathy Lucas
Ms. Sharon Rogers-Werneke
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