Uh, hellooo, it is the parents' fault. If the school is failing to provide little Johnny with a proper education then the parents need to step up to the plate and make sure their tax dollars are being handled properly. Go to school board meetings and demand answers. Run for school board. Form a PTO. Demand answers from the state legislature and make the state abide by state laws. Transfer Johnny to another school or homeschool him. Far too many parents move into a new home without checking out the schools their kids will be attending so, again, it's a failure on the parents' part. When parents can't be bothered to help their kids with homework or even see that it's being done rather than letting the tv or computer babysit for them, then that's hardly the school's fault that Johnny can't read. Is it any wonder that lazy parents leave it up to the schools to give Johnny condoms?
ping for later response.
Of course, this is not what the Education Establishment meant, so you are being somewhat ironic.
Having said that, I rush on to say I agree completely; and I love this attitude. Aggressive and surly parents demanding that schools do a better job! Ah, that’s a happy thought.
(I have earlier collected ideas for taking back the schools; I’ll add your ideas to the collection for posting some day.)