[metmom]

Public schools should teach all first-graders to read by the time-tested phonics system, and teach all schoolchildren to know and use the fundamentals of arithmetic by the end of the third grade. This would end the shocking epidemic of illiteracy that now permits students to get into high school and even graduate without being able to read, write or calculate change at the grocery store.

Choosing a major won't solve the problem of high school dropouts who can't read, write, add, subtract, multiply, or divide. Public schools will remain a national embarrassment unless and until the fundamentals are taught in elementary classes.

This says it all.

[wintertime]

This would end the shocking epidemic of illiteracy that now permits students to get into high school and even graduate without being able to read, write or calculate change at the grocery store. ( from the article)

“””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

The solution: Permanently shut down all government K-12 schools. THIS will end the epidemic of illiteracy.

[SMARTY]

Face it, the American educational system is a perfect failure. The funny part is, if American people were forced to accept ANY other product or service which was as flawed as public education in this country, they would scream themselves red till the best product/service for the money would be available to them. Somehow, they have habituated themselves to mediocrity and worse in public education and actually prefer it. Myself, if I had a school age kid, you’d have to put a gun to my head to get me to enroll him in public schools.