Sunday, June 1, 2014

THIS IS EDUCATION REFORM??  We have here an excellent job of reporting.  It remains the case that no matter how much money is thrown at public education, the unions are going to prevent any serious reform to a horribly broken system and institutions presumably there to educate citizens at public expense.  We still have the issue of single parent families (not discussed in this article) and the total absence of a home environment conducive to furthering students' learning.  In the absence of this all important aspect of educating a child, the school administration attempts to fill this void with counselors, advisors, consultants all of whom provide their assistance during normal school hours alone, the time when students are meant to be learning in the classroom.  There is also the issue of unqualified and even corrupt teachers protected by the unions.  In all likelihood the majority of inner school teachers are unqualified and should be fired as their "work" is more likely counterproductive.  Yet they are protected by the unions and continue to add to the problem.  Regrettably no amount of money can produce results in this environment, as Zuckerman has found out the hard way to the tune of 100,000,000 dollars.  The answer here is pass a law restricting unions to a very minor role in the process,  fire all incompetent teachers, rid schools of the gangs and bad actors by putting them in reform schools, impose rigid discipline on the rest of the students including wearing uniforms and privatize the entire process.  Won't ever happen, of course.  The rot will continue and the underclass will grow, the individuals involved will be shortchanged and the country will continue to fund this existing mess because it honors local control by citizens of their children's' education.  Works as long as the citizens are responsible and educated themselves.