Most of the stuff he spews is bunk but I agree with a little of what he said but not for the reasons he states. I believe we should remove the federally mandated standardized testing but I also believe we should return the total responsibility for education back to the states and local governments. I do believe the states run the University and CC systems and, in most cases, do a very credible job. If the states don't want to compete they can continue to graduate dummies. If they want to compete in a global economy they will place the emphasis needed to meet these new requirements and new realitites. It is time to drilldown to the lowest level (state and local) because what we have been doing for the last 40+ years isn't working all that well.
I talked this over with my daughter who teaches high school English and we both agree with the following:
I know I am going to get a lot of crap for this (but that is the norm) so here goes.
- Shut down the DOE and allocate that money (for the next 5 years) to the states based on their student population. Phase this money out and the schools will step up to the plate and meet the new realities.
- Make teacher tenure difficult but reachable and have certain steps and rewards (tangible and intangible) for meeting these more stringent requirements.
- Pay the teachers more to teach in "crappie" schools.
- Quit passing everyone regardless of ability. Hold them back if the can't or won't do the work.
- School uniforms until 10th grade.
- Separate schools or, at least classrooms, for boys and girls until 10th grade.
- Bring back vocational training. Quit this push for everyone to go to college. Everyone should not and there should be alternatives.