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Thanks for writing and posting this. My wife and I are widely read and educated. Before I married, I read a book called "The Productive Personality" which was a longitudinal study of productive students. These students universally have highly attentive parents devoted to their children's education. The differences showed up even greater as the study continued for over 20 years.

Although I have a masters degree, I feel I have learned more on my own, through reading, than through any degree I have earned. We have encouraged all our children to learn and explore on their own. Generally, our children do well in school, but they are more challenged by our conversation and discussion at home and the books they read, than by their school work.

Can someone explain why school boards tolerate such low standards? Shouldn't they represent the parents and drive high quality education?

1. Which is the largest lake in North America?
Lake Superior, second largest in the world.

2. What is the national language of Brazil?
Portuguese. I was there last year at this time.

3. In what country was the Battle of Waterloo fought?
Belgium. Thanks for the hint!

4. Who made the first non-stop transatlantic solo flight?
Charles Lingburgh. Are there people who don't know this??

5. What professions do you associate with Florence Nightingale?
Nursing and ???

I've read the McGruffy readers--they're great! I recommend them.

Can someone explain why school boards tolerate such low standards? Shouldn't they represent the parents and drive high quality education?

I'd say it's because the parents aren't rising up and demanding high quality. Those who care are taking their kids out and putting them in non-government schools or home schooling them. What's left is those whose parents either don't care or don't have the means to escape the government school system. The latter must be in the minority, or there'd be a lot more pressure on the Ed boards to do something.

5. What professions do you associate with Florence Nightingale?

Nursing and ???

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Hypochondria, from what I've been told. Apparently one day convinced she was too sick to go on "The Lady with the Lamp" took to her bed to die and sure enough she did...12 years or so later.

(It was also said that -- when she was up and about in those early years-- she always carried a little owl in one of the big patch pockets of her apron. I don't know if that's true or not but I always thought it kind of charming, in an Alice-in-Wonderland sort of way.)