If the average lifespan of an american is 75 years, then the conventional 13 years of public schools and then 4 years of university, exiting at 22, effectively keeps people out of society for almost a third of their lives. That's a huge social engineering feat. Not only that, but local people no longer have the influence that they used to on their children's education because of federal involvement. Locking people out of society also puts an enourmous burden on taxpayers, so we work longer hours (to make enough money after taxes) and will thus have less time to interact with our own families and neighbors.
The No Child Left Behind Act has put a huge emphasis on standards and conformity to federal ideals. We cannot say that any set of standards is the absolute best, so why leave one set of standards as the only option?
John Kerry is also planning to keep public high schools open until 6pm. This will also result in a huge amount of money being forcibly spent by taxpayers, with the assumption that some students will then be required to stay at the school. The federal government is slowly increasing its grasp on children until they will no longer be under the supervision of the two adults that brought them into the world.
Also, I have a quote from a book published in 1918 in regard to the state of education in Germany at the time, does this at all sound familiar?
Page 207 of Principles of Secondary Education by Alexander Inglis
“…Through the department for higher schools in the State Ministry, through the provincial boards, and through the examining commissions, the centralized State control of higher schools is practically complete. The result is a system of standardized higher schools throughout the Kingdom of Prussia, manifesting a degree of uniformity in organization, administration, curricula, and all other matters, which is without parallel in any American State. Local school boards play an insignificant role in the control of higher schools. Municipalities may assume the initiative in the establishment of their own schools, but in such case they must conform to the regulations of the provincial boards. They may decide what type of school shall be established, but once established the school must conform in every way to the minimum requirements set. Local authorities may select their own teachers, but the selection must be made from a list of eligibles prepared by the higher authorities. In all cases the action of the local boards is determined by standards set up by higher authorities, and once the school is established little is left for the local authorities except to see that the work of the school fulfills the demands set by State and provincial officers and see that the bills are paid. Their control over the professional side of the work of the school is nil.”
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Honest, I only watch him when Keith Olberman isn't on the Countdown show.
