Jon Gillooly again writes an excellent article in today's MDJ on the state of public education in Cobb County. Most Cobb residents, of course, agree that it is a sad commentary on the state of our schools that our entire school district and so many of its schools are on any “needs improvement” list. I am troubled though by the focus that we simply need to get our schools off of such lists. We must do much more than that. 

When I started school in the mid ‘40’s, when a child failed, he received an “F” on his report card. We all understood what that meant. The child failed completely to meet the minimum standards of accomplishment in a given subject area or grade level. So when my own kids started school in the late ‘60’s, I was amused by the use of the new euphemism for failure, “Needs Improvement.” Now I understood the reason for this. One should teach children that they themselves are not “failures,” but their performance “failed” to meet the minimum standard for advancement and that such performance must be improved. 

Our schools certainly need improvement, but we must also recognize they currently FAIL to meet the minimum requirements of effective institutions of learning. They have earned an “F”. That’s right. Look at it. They have FAILED! They are FAILING our children. And I’m not satisfied that we are working to make sure they earn “D’s,” next time instead.

Yet our current board Chairwoman Dr. Teresa Plenge gives the lame excuse, "It doesn't mean the general population is not getting a quality education or there hasn't been progress for subgroups” “It’s an ever-changing finish line." Ignoring her use of three negatives in the same sentence, she and the board need to understand there is no “finish line” that equates to “non-failure.” Of course standards are always changing. Standards must change in this world of rapidly advancing technology and social change. Our goal is not simply to pass the minimum requirements, but to excel.

The failure of the current school board and its leadership under the direction of Kathy Johnstone and others is an embarrassment to Cobb County. To compete in this rapidly changing and ever more complex world, our children need not just barley adequate education, but an outstanding one. This affects all of us. It affects our ability to compete for jobs and new industries, and thus it affects our economic future and the security of our country. 

So what should we do about it? We must critically examine the candidates for the Cobb School Board this year, and work to elect those who have the skills, knowledge and background (Beth Farokhi) to lead Cobb County Schools to excellence. It is time to “clean house.” Next year, I want to see Jon Gillooly write about the growing number of our schools considered schools of excellence. I want our schools to earn “A’s”; not “D’s.”

[Published in Marietta Daily Journal, 5/21/06]

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