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Western Carolinian Volume 48 Number 11

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  • Western Carolinian/October 20, 1983 3 More Of A Bad Thing The quality of American education has become a public issue again, for the first time since the late fifties when the Soviet space satellite. Sputnik, frightened us into worrying about our schools. Special commissions and panels have been reporting on a crisis in education for several months now. The most dramatic warning came from the Commission on Excellence in Education, which said that "we are a nation at risk" because our schools are failing. Although no single event like the launching of Sputnik is responsible for this new concern, the causes are not hard to identify. We have experi-enced an economic depres-sion, and we are all intensely aware of the fact that the United States is at a competitive disadvantage in many industries. The Japanese and Europeans are producing better products at lower prices. And they are doing so in the highly technological fields in which we had come to feel we had a natural superiority. American know-how and inventiveness, we have believed, would forever put This Learning World Richard Meisler us ahead of the rest of the world. Now we see that this isn't true. These events were inevitable. American economic and technological superiority was natural alter World War 11. which left Japan and Europe, our natural competitors, in ruins. We did not have to rebuild, and so we dominated the world. Once the rest of the world began to catch up, we entered a stage in which other countries had some natural advantages. They built new factories with the latest technologies, while we, after years of easy success, did not replace our old plants. But, of course, the central fact is that we are not naturally superior to the rest of the world in intelligence or knowledge. All the world's people can do what we can do. Americans are just human, like everybody else, and we sometimes have a hard time facing up to the fact. We blame education for not putting us ahead of the world. This is a little unrealistic, but it is, in a way, a lucky mistake. It makes us want to improve our schools, and that's good. They can stand some improvement, even though they may not be the source of all our social and economic evils. I he sad thing about the reports on our schools is that they are so. unimaginative. They bemoan and bemoan, and their remedies usually amount to "more of the same." The recommendations usually boil down to someting like this: 1) Increase high school graduation requirements in English, social studies, science, and mathematics. 2) Add a new requirement for a semester ot computer science. 3) Require high school students to pass competency tests in various subjects before they can graduate. If the commission or panel is particularly brave and is willing to risk the wrath of Reagan budget rhetoric and local tax skinflints, it will also suggest: 4) Raise teachers' salaries. Increasing graduation requirements is simply doing more of the same II three years of English leavea high school student lliterate, it is very doubtful that an additional year will help. Adding a single semester of computer science is appropriate, but it is only a minor response to a major social and technological revolution. Competency tests are basically devices that punish the victims. It's just one more way to hurt students who have already been badly damaged by inadequate education. Raising teachers' salaries is absolutely necessary, but it runs counter to the current taxpayer ethos of selfishness. All over the country, schoolboard members are being elected on platforms that promise minimal increases in budgets. School administrators are making their reputations by stonewalling the demands of teachers' unions for better salaries. In ur next column we will offer a series of suggestions for responding to the problems of American education in more interesting and appropriate ways. Letters Dear Editor, An extra thank you is in order for all those who participated in and/or contributed to the DWI Rodeo held on Friday, October 7th at Sylva Webster High School. All juniors and seniors in our school system were able to attend this demonstration of the affects of alcohol on driving. Because of the concern for young people and the attitudes and positive responses from local, state, out of state and federal individuals, organizations, and agencies this event was able to occur with a high degree effectiveness. A? we all continue to combine our efforts and resources as a total system, together we will make a difference. Sincerely: Linda Turrentine Substance Abuse Programming Jackson County Schools Letters may be mailed to the Western Carolinian at P.O. Box 66, Cullowhee, N.C. 28723. ANNOUNCING COOPERATIVE EDUCATION POSITIONS Chemical Abstracts Service Columbus, Ohio Open to CS.CIS majors Deadline for application: late Nov. U.S. Customs Office Washington, DC Open to Criminal Justice, Political Science, Accounting & Marketing/Management majors Deadline for application: October 27,1983 Cook Body Company Charlotte,NC Open to Office Administration majors Deadline for application: late Nov. Three Mountaineers Asheville, NC Open to Industrial Technology, Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Industrial Distribution and Accounting majors with an interest in manufacturing Deadline for application: late Nov. Tennessee Valley Authority(TVA) Knoxville, Tennessee Open to Pre-Engineering majors Deadline for application: November Young Creative Associates Open to Marketing, English Art(Graphic Design) majors Deadline for application: late Nov. and Patton, Hunter and Company Asheville, NC Open to Accounting majors who have completed at least one income tax course Deadline for application: late Nov. Martin Marietta Data Systems Orlando, Florida Open to Computer Science majors Deadline for application: late Nov. Radio Shack Western North Carolina.Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Raleigh, and other locations in North Carolina Open to all Business majors or any student interested in sales Deadline for application: late Nov. Biltmore Press Asheville, NC Open to Graphic Design majors Deadline for application: late Nov. For more information on these and other jobs available for Spring Term( 1984), contact the Co-op office in 20 McKee Building or call 227-7133 Remember WE CAN BE VERY CO-OPERATIVE In an exclusive Carolinian interview, editor Monica Henson queried SGA Vice President Terry Miller Wednesday concerning the swift approval of the 1983-84 budget. (Photo by Mark Haskett) Senate News The Student Senate of Western Carolina University was called to order by President Miller at 5:05 pm in the Catamount Room of the University Center. The minutes were read and approved by acclamation. Members present: Marcy Belohlavek, Paul Badgley, Mike Barrett, Robert Campbell, Mark Decker, Barbara Dees, Anthony Dowling, Jeff Eddins, Mike Fowler, Campbell Haigh, Gregg Stafford, Joanna Sanderson, Nicole Kater, Tammy Johnson, James MacRae, Bill Matthews, Jeff Plemmons, Terry Samuel,' Vickie Simpkins, Jeff Sanderson, Pat Phillips, Tripp Hughes, Janet Davis. Members absent: Kevin Brown, Kris Davis, Claire Garrard, Robbie Hosack, Russ Randolph, Bill Wolfe. Old business: S. R. #1011 received its second reading. It received a favorable report from the Committee on SGA Services. Senator Belohlavek made a motion to accept the resolution and was seconded. Senator Haigh made a call for question and was seconded. The resolution was passed with a voice vote. S. R. #1012 received its second reading, lt had been referred to the Committee on University Advancement which found it favorable. President Miller made some comments about the resolution. A motion to accept was made by Senator Haigh and was seconded. A call for question was made by Senator Haigh and this was seconded. The resolution was passed with a voice vote. S. R. #1013 received its second reading, lt received a favorable report from the Committee on University Services. Senator Belohlavek made a motion to accept and was seconded. Senator Haigh called for question and was seconded. The resolution was passed with a voice vote. New business: S. R. #1014 was introduced to the Senate. Senator Dowling gave the report from the Finance Committee which found it favorable and then made a motion to suspend the rules and allow the resolution to come to the floor. This was seconded. In first round positive debate Senator Dowling made cont. on page 6 PQBRCREE|\ Thursday, Oct. 20, 8:00 p.m. Hoey Auditorium WCU Students $3.00 All Others $5.00 Tickets available at Hinds U.C.
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