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ERIC Number: ED238797
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1983-Dec-29
Pages: 11
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Behind "A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform."
Parker, Franklin
With the publication of "A Nation at Risk," public education suddenly became a top national political priority. This report of the National Commission on Excellence in Education warned of a wide range of educational shortcomings. Among these were: 13 percent of 17-year-olds are functionally illiterate, high school students graduate with more vocational than academic subjects, secondary school students are unable to draw inferences from written material or solve mathematics problems requiring several steps, and the number of unqualified teachers is increasing. To reverse this trend the commission urged stiffer graduation requirements, periodic progress testing, tougher college admission standards, longer school days and years, and better teaching salaries. Public reaction to this report varied. President Reagan responded by visiting schools, speaking at education conventions, and urging minor reforms. Several authorities on education pointed out the report's omission of America's educational successes, such as increased preschool and college attendance, decreased dropout rate, and recently improving test scores. Conservatives found satisfaction in the report, pinpointing the legislative drive for equality and desegregation as a major cause of the educational decline. Other observers urged that the educational revival sparked by this report be acted upon to improve the educational system. (LP)
Publication Type: Information Analyses
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A