DUMBED DOWN The deliberate destruction of America's education system

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[It'salmosttolate]

DUMBED DOWN
The deliberate destruction
of America's education system

© 2001 WorldNetDaily.com Columbine was not an isolated event. It was just the most spectacular of a string of school massacres that have taken place in the last decade, including last March's shooting rampage at Santana High School in Santee, Calif., when a 15-year-old freshman killed two students and wounded 11 other students and two staff members.

Why are these school shootings occurring with increasing frequency? What is turning some children into killers? And why, in particular, are they venting their murderous rage within the walls of their schools?

Beyond the sensational school shootings, what of the less publicized but far more pervasive public school epidemics of functional illiteracy, "learning disabilities," sexual activity, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, occult involvement and other dysfunctional behaviors?

Why is it that today's public schools increasingly offer -- in place of the rigorous academic and moral instruction of yesteryear -- multiculturalism, situational ethics, drug education, sex education, death education, sensitivity training, gay studies, condoms, look-say rather than phonics, behaviorism, cooperative learning, outcome-based education, Skinnerian mastery learning, magic circles and transcendental meditation?

Why is it that, according to a $14-million study by the U.S. Department of Education, 90 million American adults can barely read or write?

And why is it that, in 1996, the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) was re-normed because scores had dropped so dramatically since the average (or norm) was established in 1941 that the disparity became embarrassing to the educational establishment?

FOR EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES. NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE.

[owen_osh]

My understanding is that the SAT was adjusted because the average score had declined so much. The average score declined because a different population was taking the test. In the beginning, only very bright students, frequently from the best private schools, took the SAT. Now all kinds off students take it, so obviously, the average score is lower.

[smileee]

BS!!! I, along with all the other students in all the schools (which were many) I attended through graduation, took the SAT every single year. Yes, I am an uncommonly intelligent human being, but all the others I went to school with weren't. Just average blue collar families, no rocket scientists.

[Bullish]

Some kids can't keep up, so in order not to make them "feel" bad they decided to bring all learning down to their level

Makes a lot of sense, hah?

Teachers union be damned!

[PaulNYC]

The destruction of the American education system was necessary for the liberals, the loudest voices for "reform" for at least 2 reasons:
1. A well-educated and ambitious "lower/poor class" would be difficult to control: they would no longer be grateful to live in a welfare state. The liberals are the worst racists since they hide their racism with "reforms" that are designed to make the "poor" rely on the handouts and set asides, rather than allowing them to become self-reliant. No poor, no work for liberal politicians;
2. The Public Education system of the 1960's was a great way to get a free education. Here in NYC the primary and secondary schools were a great stepping stone to getting a degree for free at the colleges of the City University of NY (CUNY). This put them in competition for jobs with the children of "Privilege", generally the offspring of those of "Liberal persuasion". The playing field was becoming too level and needed to be tilted for the liberal offspring, result: de-centralize the Board of Ed and allow parents, school boards, to set the curriculum and the agenda for the schools.

Most education systems were not broken until they were "fixed" in the 1960's and 70's. Liberals rule with a plantation mentality, keep the fieldhands happy with almost enough, keep them stupid so they won't be ambitious, and always let them know that the reason they can't advance is the fault of the guy in the other house.

[LarryLied]

Well, I hope they don't fix the test to appear you know more than those who preceded you when you go to medical school as your profile indicates you wish to do.

[rollin]

So you must agree that public schools are not teaching the 3 R's sufficiently to their students? Eighth grade graduates in the 1920's could easily pass our high school courses today. The education establishment has built a track record for improving performance that needs detailed scrutiny from its graduates.

The literacy level in the US has been falling since the beginning of the feel-good flower children era of the late 1950's and 60's.

[BrucefromMtVernon]

I have a family member who is a left-liberal Democrat; at the same time an embittered racist. Not nice.

[Dixielander]

Your comments make sense to me.

I often equate the dumbing down with "1984".

[JusticeLives]

Because the commies goal to infiltrate our institutions, schools, colleges and academics has been successful?

[Republic]

Your # 1 reason for the failure of our public educational system was reason enough. And I agree 100%.

[Sword_Svalbardt]

Our Schools are where the ACLU, the NEA, and other core elements of the democratische lurk. Look at the last National Spelling and Geography Bees, the best scores went to home schooled, and privately schooled kids. This is what the NEA, and the ACLU want. They want little brownshirts, who are as power hungry as they-the democratische-are, and willing to go to any length to get what they want. Look at kids today, they are the direct offspring of those raised in the sixty's, and seventy's. What was going on then? Didn't the Clinton's establish themselves as anti-authoritarians during anti-governbment rallies against the war in Vietnam, a war their ilk propitiated in 1949, and which the French lost in 1954? Look at who was in charge for the last eight years. Am I making any sense?

Sword

[oust the louse]

Xcellent points!

[StockAyatollah]

You are right. I think there are a lot more Archie Bunker liberals than Archie Bunker conservatives.