OBE: Outcome-Based Education, Understanding the Truth about Education Reform

by Ron Sunseri

For decades, concerned parents have fought against the sharp increase in national illiteracy and decline in high school test scores,
calling for substantial education reform. Yet, recent changes in our national school system have resulted in neither a return to strong, traditional education nor the pursuit of higher academic standards, but rather the implementation of a radical new philosophy known as "Outcome-Based Education."
Public concern surrounding OBE is well-founded. Not only is this plan far from the cure-all its supporters claim, it is both a harm to students and an alarming threat to families. Research shows that the phenomenally expensive OBE system:
LIMITS THE INVOLVEMENT OF DADS AND MOMS IN THE EDUCATION
PROCESS, WHILE SUPPORTERS CLAIM A "PRO-PARENT" POSITION;
DE-EMPHASIZES ACADEMICS AND FOCUSES ON SUBJECTIVE GOALS SUCH
AS "PROBLEM SOLVING,""EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION,"
AND "APPRECIATING OTHERS";
INCREASES THE CONTROL OF EDUCATION BUREAUCBATS; AND
ATTEMPTS TO SHAPE THE ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOR OF STUDENTS.
Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Don't allow OBE to impose outside values on your child and threaten the quality of education in your district. Get the facts about the changes taking place in your school system and find out what you can do today to bring education back under local and parental control.
RON SUNSERI was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1990 and was a member when the Oregon Education Reform Act was introduced in 1991. Concerned about ramification of such legislature, Ron launched an in-depth research effort to determine the effects of outcome-based education. Today, Ron continues to lead the fight to repeal this type of education reform.

Genres: Education

235 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1994