BCT Editorial – 1/26/06

This page was last updated on January 27, 2006.

Dumb and dumber; Editorial; Beaver County Times; January 26, 2006.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“We’re all to blame for the decline and fall of education in America

“When it comes to education, Americans talk a good game.

“But when it comes to turning easy words into the hard work that goes into becoming educated, they don’t follow through.

“That’s why a report last week that more than 50 percent of students at four-year schools and more than 75 percent at two-year colleges lacked the skills to perform complex literacy tasks, while disappointing, is not unexpected to anyone who has been paying attention.

“The Associated Press reports that means they could not interpret a table about exercise and blood pressure, understand the arguments of newspaper editorials, compare credit card offers with different interest rates and annual fees, or summarize results of a survey about parental involvement in school.

“The results cut across three types of literacy: analyzing news stories and other prose; understanding documents; and having math skills needed for checkbooks or restaurant tabs, The AP reported.

“K-12 education deserves part of the blame. So do colleges and universities.

“However, elementary, secondary and higher education are not solely at fault for the dumbing down of America. The American people are the driving force behind the decline and fall of education because schools are a direct reflection of the children, families and communities they serve.

“Too many parents would rather see their children be handed A’s than to have their children study hard to earn an A. Too many parents would rather be told their children are smart instead of their actually being smart. Too many parents put priority on school-related activities (football, soccer, cheerleading, etc.) instead of focusing on tough academic subjects (algebra, science, literature, history, etc.).

“Stanford University President John Hennessy told The Dallas Morning News that while there is need for systemic reform, ‘there’s a more fundamental problem the American people have yet to face: a widespread loss of faith in education’s value.’

“The paper’s editors concluded that lawmakers ‘can tool with education policy all they like, but no tax will require lazy students to do their homework, and no law can make self-indulgent parents care deeply about their children’s education.’

“It’s no coincidence that one of the more popular movies in recent years has been ‘Dumb and Dumber.’ It really does reflect the American zeitgeist.”

[RWC] Note that the editorial never attempts to explain how its “observations” came to be.

Regarding problems in the schools themselves, liberals tend to dominate education positions, especially at taxpayer-supported schools. Lest we forget, these geniuses gave us “new math” and classrooms without walls. Which end of the economic, political, and social spectrum has consistently opposed meaningful graduation requirements? Which end of the economic, political, and social spectrum has consistently opposed allowing parents who do care to send their kids to better schools via the use of vouchers? Let’s not forget about parallel bilingual “education” for kids who couldn’t speak English and ebonics for black kids.

Regarding parents, consider this. Because the way we fund education makes education appear “free,” there’s not the normal “I want to make sure I get what I paid for reaction” when it comes to public schools. I suspect that would change if Mom and Pop needed to write a check to pay tuition. Granted, making sure your kid learns should be enough motivation for parents, but we should never underestimate the power of the wallet.