Adventures in Learning

We believe that focusing on increasing student test scores on narrowly defined test questions is not a valid purpose of the school system. Educating human beings to express themselves, be creative, empathetic toward others, concerned with the well-being of fellow citizens, sensitive to the environments we inhabit and use, able to speak multiple languages, as well as knowing complex subject matter, should be the hallmark of an Oregon graduate. We know others have their own visions of education they wish to share.

Rather than creating a 12 person board that will define what things like achievement mean, force districts to sign compacts with the state, or tell universities how to provide their services, we need to engage in substantive and sustained democratic dialogue about our schools, to enunciate and debate our priorities, so that we use our funds in wise and informed ways. Imagine schools and districts not just signing compacts with the state, but also with the community, whose values likely encompass more than economic ones. Such an effort would be a more difficult path than OEIB has set out for itself, but one more likely to create schools that better serve the needs of Oregon students.

This is not just true in Oregon but all over the country!