The Futility of American Educational Reform

The American Thinker ^ | March 24, 2009 | Robert Weissberg

[Scanian]

As anticipated, President Obama recently unveiled his proposed solution to America's educational tribulations, namely greater early childhood intervention, merit pay for teachers, more charters and national standards. Though this smorgasbord differs in details from his predecessor's No Child Left Behind, it is actually a quite similar restaurant-like order from the identical menu. And just as eateries typically have a common theme, e.g., Italian, so does this education carte du jour: Regardless of what is selected, learning is never the student's responsibility.

Like a patient undergoing brain surgery, today's student lies passively while experts labor to insert knowledge, and to continue this metaphor, surgeons only disagree on how to put it in. For some, knowledge is best inserted by hiring superior teachers; or the route might be holding school administrators accountable; or curriculum experts should concocting exciting new ways to stimulate appetites; or social service professions must be commanded to assist youngsters overcome their personal and home-life crises impeding learning, to mention only a few possibilities to fix the patient's brain.

Regardless of ideology, every contemporary putative solution has this "somebody else will do it" element. While this is predictable for liberals with their "don't blame the victim" flavored solutions, so-called conservatives differ not one iota. "Personal responsibility," the supposed touchstone of conservative thinking is nowhere to be found in these vouchers, charters or accountability mantra; someone, anyone, other than the student is to be responsible for learning.

[Paige]

Unless privatized, the education system will never change, and the students will only become more indoctrinated.

[knarf]

Read'n, write'n, n'rithmetic.

All to the tune of the hick'ry stick !

Made America great, kept America great.

[Jack Hammer]

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. Same with kids and education. If they don’t want to learn, throwing money at them (and/or their teachers) won’t achieve anything except to make the NEA rich and powerful.

The Democrats know that, of course, and count on NEA votes to stay in power. If you can’t count on the fact that you’re of some real or potential benefit to the nation to get you into office, you can always buy your way in.

[chainsaw]

America’s educational tribulations, namely greater early childhood intervention, merit pay for teachers, more charters and national standards.

What about combat pay for teachers in black city schools?

[reaganaut1]

The author of this article is not realistic either. Not everyone is smart enough to obtain a rigorous high school education, much less a four year college degree, as Charles Murray has explained.

[CoastWatcher]

I remember a time when scholarships were given to scholars. This was an incentive to students to excel and the best students won. No one got extra points for being black, white, rich, poor, etc...; and no one was penalized either. If half the increased expenditures on education were used on true scholarships perhaps we may see some true scholars.

[Just another Joe]

Not everyone is smart enough to obtain a rigorous high school education, much less a four year college degree, as Charles Murray has explained.

While true, I would estimate that 95% are smart enough to obtain the same level of high school schooling I received.

While it's true that as a youngster I scored inordinantly high on intelligence tests, High School just wasn't that hard.

For those that don't want, or can't achieve, a college level degree, there should be trade schools that will give them the ability to earn a living.

Everyone doesn't need a colleg diploma but everyone should be able to earn a living.