Educational Deficiencies

The article, “Catholics Get Behind Education Vouchers and Savings Plans” (Nov. 9-16), pointed out the growing support for giving parents an alternative to the failing public school system. While vouchers and savings plans are sorely needed alternatives to public schools, in the near future they can only provide for the education of 10-20% of the children in public schools. So the immediate reform of the public schools is necessary. However, our political and educational leaders are unaware of or refuse to acknowledge what has to be done.

President Clinton's suggested solution is a national test and imposing standards that students must achieve, but another test is superfluous, and the imposition of standards won't motivate undisciplined students.

In Maryland, Gov. Parris Glendening's solution is to provide millions of dollars to counties that comprise his political base. His own state superintendent of schools said his spending plans appeared to be political payoffs. While financial resources are necessary to provide an adequate environment for learning, attempts to buy student performance in Maryland have been total failures.

Washington, D.C. public schools, which have the highest per-pupil spending (about $9,000 per year) in the country, have the lowest test scores. The tuition of elementary parochial schools in D.C. averages $2,100 per year and performance is much better for students in the same socio-economic class.

Bob Chase, president of the National Education Association (NEA), also prescribes more money and opposes vouchers, but he additionally advances the idea of introducing discipline with a moral basis into the classroom, which he says children want and need.

Mr. Chase's advocacy of “rules of behavior” with moral moorings that “promote civil and ethical behavior” sounds like the last seven of the Ten Commandments, which can be summarized as “love your neighbor as yourself.” Mr. Chase is indirectly saying we should return God to our schools because we need God's help to love our neighbors as ourselves.

However, there is a major inconsistency between Mr. Chase's words and the actions of the NEA, which promotes the distribution of contraceptives in schools. Students who are taught they need not restrain their sexual appetites will not restrain their words and actions in the classroom. Students who are taught that abortion is the solution to a girl's pregnancy learn disrespect for preborn life and will not respect their teachers.

Mr. Chase correctly identifies one of the primary causes of student underachievement—lack of a moral foundation in the classroom—but NEA policies are the reason for the absence of morality. The first step in reforming public education is to reform the NEA.

John Naughton

Silver Spring, Maryland

The Edge

My first sampling of the Register was a mixture of thoughts. In an otherwise excellent publication, in tune with the real issues, how did a movie critique of The Edge appear?

What kind of message does a critique of this type of film send to Catholic readers? Do I need to make a list of what a film needs to contain to qualify for an R rating? Is watching a film with these contents compatible with trying to live the Christian life? As Catholic Christians we are bombarded enough with profanity, violence, and immoral behavior of every kind. We need to scrupulously avoid that which disturbs the senses. Our Lord commanded, “If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out” (Mk 9, 47). We need to make the necessary sacrifices for the good of the soul.

In the review (“Lost in the Wilderness,” Oct. 26-Nov. 1), John Prizer concludes: “Though the message of The Edge is hardly new, its taut presentation of life-threatening adventures makes for solid entertainment.”

What's the point? To risk purity of mind and body for “solid entertainment”? Isn't this the message of our world today? The world's idea of entertainment is R-rated violence, profanity, and sexual immorality. Let us heed the words of St. Paul: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Rom 12, 20).

Let us renew our minds, not pollute them.

Craig Mason

Forest, Virginia