Good article.
Let me ask you a question: If public schools are eliminated, what replaces them? Do poor kids stop going to school, or do they get vouchers? I'm just interested in your opinion, because I have thought about this a lot.
The two types of ineducable students are the defective and the disinterested; the defective have measurably insufficient intelligence while the disinterested are either emotionally undeveloped or simply unwilling to participate in what, to them, holds no foreseeable purpose.
The school system insists on mainstreaming both types to the detriment of all and believes firmly they are doing the "right thing."
Follow-up studies on the disinterested show that at later stages of life many suddenly see the benefit in education, usually specific education for vocational or social-acceptance reasons.
The defective however are always dependent on others for much of their daily needs and recall mostly nothing of those years kept cooped up except the other students about them making their lives miserable with taunts and ostracism.
No Child Left Behind institutionalizes and mandates this blueprint for failure and will bring nothing but fraud and disappointment.
No, they get drafted in the coming draft and killed on the battlefield since they are not able to produce goods and services for the rest of us.
WE allow allow the business community to educate our children. Nothing has changed since the formal schooling of children began as far as what must be done. Teach them to read, write, spell, speak and and do math. Teach them legitimate history. Present them with factual material to discuss and encourage them to debate and come to their own conclusions. Do all this employing teachers who MUST succeed if they are to remain employed and pay them a good wage to do this job. The children of this nation are our real treasure and we need to do all we can to nurture and grow them both physically and mentally.
Couldn't you ask the same question about food, clothing, and shelter? Children can be a great motivator for parents, but when the state comes along and says, "I'll take care of your children," then the motivation ceases for some.
ML/NJ