Published: November 1, 1993

Connections: Defying Common Sense

The challenge of moving our public education system from the 19th century to the 21st is truly daunting. It cannot be done without the support of the public, and especially parents--many of whom are alienated from public schools when educational administrators and state bureaucrats make decisions that appear to defy common sense.

That was the case in last month's cover story, "Rebel Mom,'' about a Pennsylvania mother and her followers who were able to derail the state's overly elaborate outcome-based education plan because the officials who designed it were not able to explain or defend it effectively. And it was also evident in "Soul Searching,'' our September story on school prayer, which depicted administrators overreacting to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision by banning from schools anything even tinged with religion. It is also the case in this month's cover...