They’re the sort of scores that drive high-school history teachers to drink. When NEWSWEEK recently asked 1,000 U.S. citizens to take America’s official citizenship test, 29 percent couldn’t name the vice president. Seventy-three percent couldn’t correctly say why we fought the Cold War. Forty-four percent were unable to define the Bill of Rights. And 6 percent couldn’t even circle Independence Day on a calendar.
You can't change America if you're too stupid to know it needs changing.
7 comments:
I agree that many Americans are getting dumber, but I'm sure we disagree as to why. I blame the teacher's union for protecting ineffective teachers and a liberal society that believes it is against the students rights to fail them until they can pass. This is why I support Governors like Chris Christie and Scott Walker for calling out the unions and trying to do away with tenure for teachers. Educators need to be assessed by the product they produce, and until this happens Americans will continue to fail these simple tests. It's a shame really. I am thankful everyday that I did not have to subject myself to a public education and my parents sacrificed so my 5 siblings and I could get a private education from K-12, and continue to college.
Sometimes I wonder if you have a political thought in you that is original and not pulled out of your talking points manual from the right wing fringe element. I have talked about the dumbing down of Americans for years now, and you've never once blamed it on "unions." But since "unions" is the current bad guy meme according to your leaders' talking points, then you dutifully blame the dumbness on said unions!
How utterly boring, and very predictable of you.
I've actually been complaining abot the teacher's union since 1991, before I even met you. It was a major issue in my campaign for alderman, which I won. I just never discussed it on your blog before. I could look for an old flyer from that campaign if you don't believe me. I simply chose to respond to this post. If not for poor educators, what do you blame for the dumbing down of America?
I'll take your word for it that you have been anti-union so no need to go find a flyer. I also take issue with your assertion that it is unions and "liberals" that have caused this. And I take issue with your insinuation
that private schools necessarily produce smarter students. When this country does not stand behind its educators, and continually foists upon them less and less financial security through jobs and tenure, you leave the smart teachers no choice but to come up with something else to do with their lives. Then we close schools, double classroom sizes, and one wonders why we have idiots graduating? I come from a proud tradition of unions in my family, and I have seen first hand what collective bargaining can mean to a family. In addition, I was educated k-12 in both private and public schools, and I sure as hell "ain't dumb." Students take out of school what they want. Teachers can only motivate, but if they are overwhelmed and underpaid, there's not much motivation.
In fact, I'll go one step further and say it is the right wing conservative fringe teabaggers that are contributing to the dumbing down of America. You did not see this happening in the 1950's or 1960's when America was at the forefront of producing some of the smartest graduates from high school and college. Now, with all of this evolution is not a science but a theory crap, the earth is only 6,000 years old crap, and that man and dinosaurs walked the earth together crap, not to mention that Christians believe the bible should be mandatory in public education, it's no wonder that students are coming out less educated and more stupid about everything. It is most certainly not liberals or unions that are making our children stupid. It's the fault of the recent trending of conservative thinking.
Sorry it's taken me so long to respond to you, not that you really care though. I've been busy with one of my dogs. He has cancer and we've been doing chemo since last May, every Thursday, but this week he's had a rough time, so much of attention has been devoted to him. It's unusual for him to have a reaction, but it does happen now and then. Anyway, I'm not if you were aware I come from a huge ANTI-union household. My father fought the unions hard to keep his factories non union. There were times during the fights I had to go to school with an armed body guard who follow me from class to class due to kidnap threats. No lie. Now I will concede that there was a time your argument made sense, many years ago. I'd say until the early '80s. Back in the day, yes public employees and teachers earned a modest at best income, but the trade off was their retirement was covered so they did not have to save from their earnings for later on. Then that all changed. Now in NJ a first year teacher makes $45,000 per year to work 180 days. In about 10 years they are making close to six figures. After 20 years they can retire with 70% of the average of their last 3 years of service, after 25 years 75%, or if they are over 55 and have 25 years in they get 80%, plus free health benefits for life. A 45 year old could potentially retire and collect their pension for longer then they worked. Sparta High School, a neighboring town to me, has 3 Range Rovers as school vehicles. That's crazy. Also teachers after 5 years get 45 sick days a year, that if unused and be banked for a huge payout unpon retirement. 45 days a year for someone who works 180 days. Really? My property taxes are $37,000 per year, with just under $24,000 going for schools. You don't think that is a little extreme? I've filed an appeal to my taxes and it looks like I will win a 30% drop, but I'm sure they'll find a way to raise it again. Not too mention every town in NJ has a Superintendant of Education, each earning high 6 figure incomes, with many assistants. Some of these towns do not even have schools, they send their kids to other towns, but they still have a Superintendant. There is no reason they cannot regionalize by county, which will free more money for the classroom. There needs to be change Carrie, from all sides, the bills are just too high to pay anymore. It's not conservative or liberal, it's common sense.
Your comments are interesting, in that they show you lived a life of privilege. I was not as lucky. On the other hand, my life was filled with artists, musicians, dancers, actors, etc. The unions that protected our ability to control our artistic work, as well as provide for services in old age which is what I learned from my family & unions. No one ever would have thought to kidnap me. Most people wanted to hang out with me & my family. Your family money may or may not have brought you happiness or peace, but my experience with you was that you were always about money. I ignored it, because being in Hollywood, you get used to ostentatious people. In my personal life, though, I finally needed to break loose from people who espouse the ideas you espouse. It was really never personal, just ideology. Sorry about your dog, by the way, & hope he does not have to be put to sleep.
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