From: New York
Date sent: Tue, 18 Feb 1997 14:46:31 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Their Own Words

TO LOOPIES:

Interesting material snatched up from "them" at a recent STW conference in Albany: (Full packet of goodies) Thanks to the alert snatchers there! Included: "Characteristics of a Comprehensive School-to-Work System"

1. It is a high performance educational system, operating from the assumption that students always know what they are learning, why they are learning it, and how they can use it when they leave the classroom; and they know this because the adults who work with them know, and tell them. [Comment: Because we say so, that's why??!]

7. Applied academics courses are available to students desiring them. [Rigorous or not, if you insist?]

12. Education is viewed as a community enterprise. Business, labor, parents [3rd place!], government, and other community members are all active partners in helping prepare young people for the future. These partners have a clear understanding of the knowledge, skills and behaviors necessary for successful adulthood, and a commitment to ensuring that all students acquire them. [So where have they been all these years while illiteracy was growing by leaps and bounds?]

15. Students are involved in establishing policies, developing curriculum and helping the system run more effectively. [See #12 above. Everyone BUT the students know everything that's needed; so it's only logical to put the students in charge of everything?!]

Under the "What is School-to-Work" sheet in the packet is the unintentional key to the whole enchilada: "In brief, as a community moves into a school-to-work mode, everything is up for grabs." [Grab you, grab your kids, grab your wallet, grab your culture, grab your country?]