I would like to extend an apology to the Republican friends and neighbors who elected my husband, Bob, and myself to be their local Republican Committee persons. We have been told we can no longer serve as committee persons because of our involvement in the Peg Luksik gubernatorial campaign.

Most of you who know us, know that we have been very involved in the pro-life movement and in our battle against Outcome Based Education in our schools. We feel that for us to continue with the Republicans in support of Tom Ridge would be a greater betrayal to you in the long run.

One of the first things the governor did when he took office was to provide funding for Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the United States. Is it any wonder the country is in a moral crisis when there is so little respect for life? We are totally pro-life and cannot support a person who is not. Gov. Ridge is not telling the truth when he tells you that OBE is dead. OBE has simply been renamed.

The governor has commissioned standards that he said would be rigorous, measurable, applicable to the world in which we live, clearly written, and which could be hung on your refrigerator. Nothing could be further from the truth. Read the standards for yourself and you will understand.

What is currently driving education is the School-to-Work contract that ultimately will change the function of education from a well-rounded academic curriculum to a job-training program that will serve the multi-national corporations. The No. 1 goal listed in the contract is: "To strengthen the PA economy by providing organizations with a predictable supply of highly skilled workers."

U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., states, "School-to-Work sounds good but when carried to its logical extreme, it chooses careers for every American worker."

Is this what you want for the children of America - the government choosing their life's work?

Is OBE in your school? If there is strong emphasis on "cooperative learning" groups with ability-grouping eliminated and individual achievement de-emphasized; if much time is spent in non-academic activities such as self-esteem, self-awareness classes; if there is a heavy emphasis on multiculturalism, environmental science, and Mother Earth and Native American spirituality; if children leave first grade unable to read; if the grading structure is changed, making it difficult for parents to interpret (for example, we have words like Advanced, Proficient, Basic, Below Basic instead of A,B,C,D); if School-to-Work is in your school; then you have OBE. The Pennsylvania State Assessment is the glue holding OBE together.

Again, we felt it more important to support someone who cares more about what is happening to the children of this country. If you continue to vote party instead of principle, you will end up with a disintegrating party (like the Democrats) and no principle.