We have tried to create a homogenous student population, ignoring differences in ability, and going so far as to suggest (wrongly) that all students are capable of a successful college education.
In the name of self-esteem, equality and diversity we refuse to categorize students by ability, thus boring the able and taxing those who are less able.
Further, we have tried, educationally, to be all things to all people. Rather than adhering to the basics of education, we insert PE, computer, music, art, library, sex education, etc. etc. etc. We omit math, literature, science and spelling (which is teaching memorization skills).
It is crude, but the judge in Caddyshack had it right: The world needs ditch diggers, too. We have created shame in technical and vocational schools, when there should be none.
I can tell you this without dispute: if parents wanted to see an immediate, 100% improvement across the board in academic achievement, and ancillary improvements in behavior, without any additional cost, they would demand that all secondary schools be separated by sex past kindergarten, and that uniforms be required.
Until parents demand those things, I will have to not give a shit about the state of public education, beyond the fact that I have to tithe about $2500 per annum to perpetuate that fraud.
You wouldn't believe the reaction of some adults when I tell them that my daughter's school is sex-separated.
We have created shame in technical and vocational schools, when there should be none.
Not only should there be no shame but there should be great respect for competent artisans as there once was. A good auto mechanic should be at least as well respected as a dentist. Think about it, a faulty brake job could cause the death of whole families. A good many years ago there was a program on TV about the earnings of nurses, I still remember one California nurse who opined that she was underpaid at thirty dollars an hour because she was charged seventy five dollars an hour for repairs on her car. "I think I should be paid more than a mechanic, I take care of people and he only takes care of cars". I was immediately struck by her amazing ignorance, first off the thirty dollars an hour she was paid was for every hour on the clock and she received major benefits over and above that while the seventy five dollars an hour was charged by the repair shop for actual billable hours and out of which all the operating overhead had to be paid before the mechanic was paid a dime. The mechanic probably was paid half the nurse's hourly rate. Secondly the auto mechanic is responsible for protecting human life to at least the same extent as the nurse, he could make one mistake which could cause a ten car pileup on the freeway. And no, I am not an auto mechanic, I chose that job as an illustration, the same things could be said for many trades, it is high time that people had some respect for those who do all the daily work necessary to keep the country running.