Page 6
THE BATTALION
WEDNESDAY. JUNE 29. 1977
Minimum education standards demanded
United Press International
High school graduates who can t
w rite or read very well get credit for
the big new movement on the
school scene — the minimal compe
tency movement.
Why should such students
graduate, asks the man in the street.
What were they taught? Why were
Ai?M given grant
to study effect
of lignite mines
Lignite mining is beginning to
crank up as an industry in Texas,
but the energy companies are striv
ing to ensure that the grass con
tinues to grow green while the state
gets its needed infusion of fuel.
Texas A&M University has been
awarded $170,000 by the South
western Electric Power Co. of
Shreveport to do just that at the site
of a potential lignite mine in Harri
son County, about 10 miles east of
Longview.
A team of geologists, a soil scien
tist and a civil engineer, working
through Texas A&M’s Center for
Applied Geosciences, will investi
gate possible environmental prob
lems that could develop during the
mining operations.
“In light of our declining oil and
gas resources and the large deposits
of Texas lignite, numerous utility
companies are now looking to lig
nite as a fuel source for electric
power generation,” explained Dr.
Christopher C. Mathewson, head of
the project.
“Surface mining is the most effi
cient method to recover much of the
extensive, low-grade deposits of lig
nite that are found in Texas. This
method amounts to removing the
over-lying soil and replacing it in
the previously mined-out trench,
followed by the mining of the ex
posed lignite,” he said.
“This means there is a relatively
small active mining area open at any
one time and it allows contem
poraneous reclamation of the land,”
Mathewson said.
“The Railroad Commission has
been given the authority to regulate
surface mining and the responsibil
ity of protecting our environment,”
he said. “Since surface mining may
have a significant impact on our en
vironment, and since we have very
little detailed knowledge of these
impacts, this research will provide
,vital information gbout en
vironmentally safe I use of this
energy resource.” . .
“For instance, the mining is af
fected by shallow groundwater con
ditions. Ancient stream channels
and beaches have turned into local
underground water sources,” he
said.
“If the mining operation should
intercept one of the channels it
could cause mine flooding and delay
or it could interrupt the water sup
ply for the area wells. Careful plan
ning can avoid these problems,”
Mathewson said.
The team will also look at aquifer
sandstones, make a survey of all
water wells within a mile of the
mine and determine any effects of
the chemical makeup of local well
water.
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they promoted from grade to grade?
Who did the teaching? What’s a
high school diploma stand for?
Those are some of the questions
behind the movement that as of
June 1 has initiated minimal compe
tency standards for public schools in
24 states.
The actions by state legislatures
and state boards of education have
been coupled with pressure from
parents, taxpayers, teachers, school
administrators and even local board
of education members.
The movement means business.
A report at the annual meeting of
the Education Commission of the
United States last week showed
most agreement seems to be in the
need to establish minimal compe
tency in reading.
“Reading is mentioned in all but
two of the states — Louisiana and
New Hampshire,” reported Chris
Pipho, associate director of the
commission.
identification of basic skills to the*
local districts.
“California and Florida allow local
districts to add subject areas at their
discretion.
“Mathematics appears to be left
out only by Maryland while com
munication skills are not mentioned
in Georgia, Michigan, Missouri,
Maryland and New Jersey.
“Life skills come in for mention in
Florida and survival skills in Rhode
Island. Colorado leaves the whole
The smorgasbord on the minimal
competency front also includes:
—Florida and California enacted
laws permitting early exit from high
school. However, only California
has implemented the program.
Florida’s plan starts in the fall. High
school students who reach a certain
level on the General Educational
Development test will be allowed
early exit.
—Thirteen of the 24 states with
minimal competency testing
standards say students must pass
minimal competency tests or they
won’t get a high school diploma.
These include: Arizona, California,
Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Ken
tucky, Idaho, Maryland, Nevada,
New York, New Mexico, Oregon,
and Vermont.
motions at grades 3, 5, 8, and 11.
—Identification of students need
ing remedial assistance is a common
element in state-mandated action.
Nineteen of the 24 states have
such a requirement.
Grade promotion appears to be a
requirement in only three states:
Arizona, 8th grade; Maryland,
grades 2 to 12 in reading.
Florida, legislation ealjs for
competency tests for promotion at
all grade levels but in effect the test
ing probably be tied to grade pro-
These include California, Col
orado, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland,
Missouri, Oregon, Michigan, Ne
braska, New York, New Jersey,
New Mexico, New Hampshire,
Nevada, Rhode Island, Oklahoma,
Virginia, Vermont and Washington.
In Maryland, further, districts
have an option — either provide
remedial assistance or hold the stu
dents back.
How well is it working?
Has student achievemem
creased?
“With only Arizona’s mandat
effect for the graduation das
1977, the answer has to be-
don’t know yet,”’ said Pipho.
But the movement’s
plenty of attention. The Natio
Institute of Education has fe
two studies — one of Newjerst
experience with minimal con|
tency and the other a fi"
study of California’s early exitp
grain.
Both studies should be ready
the fall.
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