[Mikey_1962]

I believe that SAT scores peaked in 1964.

Something has changed, and it is not a sudden appearance of low IQ's. But it does coincide with the sudden appearance of teachers unions.

I believe that it is the lack of discipline and and a lack of performance required of both students and teachers that gives us only 38% of white four-grade boys being proficient at grade level.

If that level of performance sounds good to you fine.

I believe it is unacceptable.

[oh8eleven]

But it does coincide with the sudden appearance of teachers unions.
I just saw the NBC News piece on this story and they tacitly blamed the lack of proper "tools" for black students, teachers in general and specifically not enough black male teachers (hinting at, but never calling out, the missing black fathers).
They also whined that only 5% of all college students were black males. Given the death rate and drop out rate for high school black males, I'd say 5% is doing pretty good.

[elpadre]

“...Something has changed...”

IMO American education has gone steadily downhill since the beginning of the US Department of Education.

[ladyjane]

Something has changed, and it is not a sudden appearance of low IQ's. But it does coincide with the sudden appearance of teachers unions.

What are you talking about? NEA was founded back in 1850 or so. AFT the beginning of 1900's.

But it does coincide with the widespread availability of marijuana.