Lou, You Almost Got It Right

But for just about a third of all high school students in this country, summer brings no respite from the failure of our public education system.

The failure is not theirs alone, and we all bear responsibility for failing an entire generation of students in our public school system. We must understand that our educational crisis will have long-lasting and profound effects on our national future.

Our elected representatives and educational administrators all but refuse to acknowledge that high school graduation rates for American public schools were higher nearly 40 years ago than today

Worse, of those who are fortunate enough to graduate, too many lack the skills to enter college.

These are excerpts from Lou Dobbs’ commentary tonight. You know things are serious when liberals start to become concerned over the holy grail of all political agendas, government-run education. So what solutions does Mr. Dobbs suggest to cure our ailing government education system?

It is time to restore absolute discipline to our public schools and classrooms to eliminate every extraneous program in kindergarten through eighth grade that does not focus on reading, literature, writing, American history and civics, mathematics and natural sciences.. I certainly would agree and continue such curriculum through high school. I wonder what Mr. Dobbs would think of schools that require Freshman Year initiative, offer fourteen classes in Food and Fashion, an International Food Course in place of a Foreign Language, Pet Care, and Sports Marketing; but yet complain they do not have room for AP Biology.

Unfortunately after this suggestion Mr. Dobbs goes down the expected path of more government.

We should begin to redress the compensation of all public school teachers to ensure that we have the very best and brightest educating our next generation. For me, that means paying teachers far more and demanding far more of them. One problem, demand more from union employees. Sorry Lou, the history of labor unions has shown this to be more than wishful thinking.

The role of the federal government should be to provide, no matter what the cost, a scholarship program that provides a family stipend to economically disadvantaged students who demonstrate exceptional intellect and talent. The philosophy of “no matter what the cost” is what has gotten us into the position of spending more per student than any other country, while at the same time sinking towards the bottom in student achievement.

With the July Fourth holiday weekend approaching, restoring quality education to our public schools will help assure that every American celebrates every day as Independence Day. Lou it is “public education” which is the source of the problem. What is the logic in which the solution to a problem clearly caused by the failures of government is to call for even more government? If we took our car to a mechanic, and the car was returned with the problem becoming worse; would we keep taking our car back to the same mechanic? If we went to a golf instructor and our game became worse; would we keep returning to the same instructor? If we went to a financial adviser and his recommendations made the value of our portfolio worth less and lees; would we continue to follow the investment picks of this adviser? The answer to all of the above would be of course not! We would be considered prime candidates for the insane asylum. So what would possess us to conclude that more and more government is the solution?

Notice what Mr. Dobbs did not mention, spending more for buildings in order to lower class sizes. Perhaps there is still some hope.

Dobbs' Commentary

Mark Pribonic @ OTBL