Ted,
I agree with some of what you say disagree with some.
The basic problem is with the philosophy of all or nothing - saving all kids or letting them all sink. This extreme form of egalitarianism is the product of NEA, which is responsible for most of the ills in schools. Of course, together with the Dem party, which is interbred with NEA.
In theory, if you lived in the most homogenous society, with all families having caring both, a caring mother and father, with narrow range of IQs, this would be a reachable goal. But it is not the reality of USA today, with rampant family breakdown, many single parent households, irresponsible parents, total lack of discipline at home, and school.
This conflict of theory and reality sets up every school to be a failure, ranging from total failure of inner cities to partial failure in rich suburbs. So school run by NEA philosophy face these questions:
Q: Can you save all the children today?
A: No.
Q: Do you want to save at least some?
A: No, all or nothing
Q: Do you want to condemn all kids to failure because some can't be saved?
A: Yes.
So the first goal of NEA (extreme egalitarianism) is met, but not at the highest level of achievement, but at the lowest level of failure.
Joe |
