[mommadooo3]

I am beginning to believe (at last) if these problems could be corrected by conventional means, they would have been remedied decades ago.

It CAN be corrected by conventional means.

If, they had the sense to teach the three R's again, in elementary grades.(like they did in the 'old days') Those three R's make for a SOLID foundation to build on.

Whole language, fuzzy math and teaching to a test aren't good ways to educate kids.

[Theodore R.]

It CAN be corrected by conventional means.

You are right. I should not have used the word "conventional." What I meant was "politically correct." And education is the most "politically correct" of all the occupations. Common sense could correct the problems, and it would cost the taxpayers much less than they now pay. The problem: taxpayers keep saying they are "willing" to "pay more" to get "better" schools. They cannot learn!