Letters to the Editor

To the Editor:

Your Sept. 22, 1993, issue included a long article describing the growing confusion over and criticism of outcomes-based education ("Pa. Parent Becomes Mother of 'Outcomes' Revolt''). This kind of criticism and confusion is slowing the progress of outcomes-based education in many areas of the country, and therefore needs to be addressed.

In the most basic sense, outcomes-based education, or O.B.E., represents a shift in the focus of education. Until recently, education focused primarily on instruction, or teaching. In fact, every state has laws requiring evaluation of teachers. We now realize that teaching is only a means. The end is learning, or results, or outcomes. This shift in focus is appropriate and necessary. What is taught and how, is secondary. What is learned, and...