[refermech]

Unfortunately the so called “educators” are the very people that distort or omit the facts to promote their own agendas. It's a vicious cycle and I hate what the politicians have to do to win elections. It's almost a farce.

[Lucky Dog]

Unfortunately the so called “educators” are the very people that distort or omit the facts to promote their own agendas.

Your assertion is definitely true at the college level. (Remember Ward Churchill?) However, I think that at the lower levels of education, the blame does not belong directly with the “educators” unless you count failure to resist “political correctness.” Rather it is more the fault of the “administrators,” unions and lawyers.

The single, most effective steps toward correcting the situation IMHO would be tort reform and disbanding of the NEA and AFT. The next most effective reforms would be return of effective control of school systems entirely to the local school board (including text book selection) and abolition of “tenure” below the college level.

The final step would be “merit pay” for teachers. A test over grade appropriate material (for each grade) is administered at the beginning of the year with the exact same test (randomized order) re-administered at the end of the year. The teacher’s “merit pay” would be based upon the average increase in the amount the students learned (how much better the average test scores were from the beginning of the year). Just like the SAT and ACT, the tests would be the same for everyone and given to the same group that started the year. Since the compensation would be for a net change in performance, it can be assumed that the change is the result of the teacher’s efforts. Even if the students did poorly on the first and second tests, but still better on the second test than the first test, the teacher obviously did his or her job.

… I hate what the politicians have to do to win elections. It's almost a farce.

Ever heard the phrase “bread and circus?” It comes from the time of the Roman Republic and refers to what politicians of that day did for votes. I am afraid that neither political corruption nor election shenanigans originated with our republic. Unfortunately, all we can do is work for reform and pray for our nation’s welfare and repentance.