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re: the lower learning

I whole heartedly agree. You run into a problem as an educator in the public school system if you actually try to teach. The system wasn't actually designed for that.

It's a warehouse for children where we train future workers/consumers.

Any learning that occurs is a flaw in the system...hehe.

Honestly, I have known some excellent teachers in my time, and I can only imagine what they could have accomplished if left unfettered.

When it comes to low standards in our schools, here's my humble take:

1. We don't expect much out of kids in public school anymore. If they refrain from stabbing their neighbor, they get an "A" in works well with others. Half the kids in your classroom come from broken/dysfunctional homes. Drugs/Alchohol abuse are common. Half the kids have a sense of morality, the rest vary from slightly twisted kids to future inmates.

2. We don't expect much from the family anymore.
It's easy to blame the kids, but you won't once you see the parents. Half the parents show up to parent-teacher conferences. As can be expected, their kids are doing fine. The other half of parents can't be dragged away from the TV or bar to see how little Johnny is doing. School, for many, many parents, is free babysitting-nothing more.

3. We don't expect much of teachers anymore.
While I have seen brilliant teachers, I have also witnessed teachers who I wouldn't hire to organize a rummage sale. Sadly, they're both teaching your children.
The teachers who do, end up doing too much, and leave.
The rest, wait for retirement or find a less irritating job.

4. We expect too much of "The Government"
Overregulation hurts schools as much as it hurts business. Many of the same parents who don't care about their kids education, really care about what the government is doing about their kids education. It's an abdication of responsibility, but at least they're consistent....
Thus we get self-esteem programs, condoms on cucumbers, Gay Proms....but the kids can't read the invitation.

What is lost in this scenario:
1. Good teachers leave the profession.
They didn't dream of lesson plans, assessments, and meetings without purpose. They wanted to teach. They were willing to take lower wages in exchange for teaching kids. If they are no longer teaching kids, why not make more money sitting in boring meetings somewhere else?

2. The kids dropout.
Not only physically, but mentally. Nothing is more frustrating than seeing a bright young person who is ground down in this environment. After dodging gang-bangers in the hall, and having their classes "dummied" down to the lowest possible level--they lose interest.
They stare out the window and dream of something better. But with a few more years of public education, even this longing will be beaten out of them, and they'll just want to leave this environment that alternately ignores them, and insults them.