Don, to answer your question, I have several children in our public school system. I am involved in their school activities, and I am very pleased with their curriculum and the broad ranging subjects and experiences that they are privy to, as well as the fundamentals that they are learning. Education is an important goal that I have for my children. After all an educated mind is one of the few assets that government hasn't figured out how to directly tax.
At the same time, I also recognize that my children are luckier than most as there are a number of school systems that could benefit from any number of factors, from increased budgets to parental involvement and commitment to the education of their kids.
I would suspect from your question that you see problems in our school system, as do I. Else, I might tend to be more complacent about taking our schools for granted. I see that there is no substitute for involvement and commitment to seeing that the school experience is the best that it can be for our children. I recognize that there are many other people that don't have the luxury of as much involvement as I do, by virtue of their work schedules. I don't think there are any easy answers. But I also don't think that throwing stones at the system, is at all constructive. Or sitting back and complacently complaining. Nor do I believe for a moment that there is any conspiracy for dumbing down our system for the purposes that Duncan has suggested.
So I would ask you then, in good conscience, if you think there is a Left wing effort to lower the educational standards for Americans? |
