Abolish Public Schools
The historical record compiled by the Department of Education itself shows that increased government spending on education does not improve the academic performance of government schools.
“From 1989-90 to 2006-07, total expenditures per student in public elementary and secondary schools rose from $8,748 to $11,839 (a 35 percent increase in 2008-09 constant dollars), with most of the increase occurring after 1997-98,” says the Education Department’s The Condition of Education 2010.
In 1980, 17-year-old students in public schools earned an average score of 284 out of 500 on the National Assessment of Educational Progress reading test. In 2008, they still scored 284. Despite increased per pupil spending, the needle did not move.
In 1999, 17-year-old students in American public schools earned an average score of 307 out of 500 on the National Assessment of Educational Progress math test. In 2008, they scored 305. The needle moved in the wrong direction.
Every community in America should give all parents a voucher equal to what it now pays per-pupil for its public schools, allowing those parents to use those vouchers at any school they choose. Let the market decide if government-run schools survive.
http://townhall.com/columnists/TerryJeffrey/2010/09/29/abolish_public_schools
As an “old guy” I’m beyond disgusted with the schools of our day.
I attended a typical school in central Massachusetts in the city of Worcester. There were 6 classrooms and there were 6 teachers and the principal. The janitor kept things from falling apart.
Half the kids were born to immigrant parents, living often in homes where English was NOT the prime language.
Those students, in schools thought of as “quaint” today learned and mastered English, American history, world geography, math including the “dreaded” long division.
We learned to spell, punctuate, grammar, writing compositions logically and where our State was on the map of the USA.
Today I find High School grads who are functionally illiterate. What a bargain the country gets with the bloated staffs in what are laughingly called “schools”