30 September, 2000

Rosalie Jones, School Board President

Board of Education
12 West Wilson Street
Batavia, IL  60510-1943






Ms. Jones:

I wanted to take a moment to voice my disgust at the way several
parents supporting Equal Choice were treated in Thursday nights
meeting. There are a lot of parents within the new West Side district
who are not at all happy with this board attempting to force Multiple
Intelligence on our children (you have in your possession a petition
with over 500 signatures), and when we come to voice our concerns
and ask for an answer to a simple question, you get belligerent
and declare that these meetings are not a forum for speeches.  You
then demand to know how we expect this equal choice to happen: "
how do you think we should do this...should we just let parents
show up the first day of school at the school of their choice?"
Well, I, like many other parents, really don't know how best to do
this, but we aren't on the school board, are we?  We elected people
like yourself to solve these problems, which we feel you could do
if you really are concerned about what the parents think is best
for their children.

When I finally decided to leave the meeting, the question was still
was not clearly answered.  I would contend, however, that a decision
has been made, and that decision is that, with the possible exception
of those students who are currently in fourth grade, no choice will
be given.  It seems to me that the reason that open enrollment is
being offered at the new west side school is so that enrollment
can be increased to a level that would make the school more cost
efficient to operate.  If the school board were to allow those of
us within the new West Side school's district to opt out to another
school, then enrollment will drop, and the school will no be able
to operate efficiently, or should I say profitably.  So, it seems
to me that the only way to offer a choice would be to allow two
separate teaching methods within one school, and this is likely to
be logistically impossible.  What is truly unfortunate is that
no-one on the school board has the courage or character to stand
before these angry parents and tell them the truth, that there is
no choice, take it or leave it.

What I realize, and I hope others will as well, is that in spite
of the boards efforts, we still have choices available to us. I
will not have the theory of Multiple Intelligence shoved down my
throat, and I will not put my child's future at risk on a theory
that will eventually prove to be every bit the disaster that " New
Math", " Outcome Based Education" and so many other liberal based
approaches to education have proven to be.  The conventional teaching
methods that you are so anxious to dismiss have educated many of
the greatest minds of the twentieth century, and that's good enough
for me, are you going to simply ignore this in pursuit of this
educational utopia?

As I noted above, I will not have Multiple Intelligence mandated
to me by a group of individuals with an agenda.  When my son starts
school in 2001, I will be enrolling him in a private school.  If
I can't get him into one, I will sell my house and move out of
Batavia.  I will do whatever I feel is necessary to ensure that my
son is not used as a test subject for this educational theory.
The stakes are to high, and he is the one who will eventually pay
the price.  I am also going to make sure that as many people as
possible are aware that the school board is an elected body, and
when the next elections come around, this board can be voted out
and replace with a board that is more interested in the concerns
of the parents than pushing a self serving agenda.

Sincerely,

Gary Fowler
16 N. Daniels Drive
Batavia, IL

c.c.

Ed Cave, Superintendent of Schools
Janet McAlpin, Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Fred Webber
Tom Van Cleave
Al Kepler
Stan Oke
John Malkowski