This is the soft underbelly of the American economy and geopolitical power: the governmental school system. Students are simply not learning basic skills, let alone anything approaching “advanced education.” And it is not a matter of computers, and calculators and other hardware. It is a matter of a literal motivation crisis.
Go to ANY university in this country and simply look at students in classrooms: 60% don’t want to be there, and an even larger number are barely cognizant, let alone attentive. And this is college. Go to ANY high school, and you’ll see worse. There, however, you’ll also see blatant incompetence by the teaching staff: people teaching math who don’t know the subject, others teaching English or writing who are syntatically challenged themselves, etc.
Bush at least tried to do something here. But the Dems will hardly attempt anything, given their knee-jerk deference to the teachers’ unions. Unless and until these unions are eradicated - from top to bottom - and ALL “education departments” removed from college campuses, so that graduates with real majors can apply for teaching positions, nothing will correct our downward trajectory. Why parents put up with the status quo is beyond me, but they do vote Dem, don’t they?
“and ALL “education departments” removed from college campuses,”
EUREKA!! Dewey, dooodooowey educraps.
My grandfather taught elementary school at age 16 with a HIGH SCHOOL education. That was when a high school diploma was something that only about 25% of the students in this state completed, in other words, when it meant something. Most of his friends didn’t finish because they were just going to work on the family ranch anyway.
Make every grade tough and an accomplishment to get through. When a kid has gone as far as possible, teach him/her a vocation.