I have been hinting (“yeah, hinting, Stu…real subtle”, some may say) that Public School education in the United States is in deep dog doo. Why else are we in the mid-twenties in world classification of education? Why are there working methodologies and practices IN PLACE in the world, and, overall, the US Education policy makers ignore them? Why are Private Schools exceeding and Public Schools barely turn out the functioning illiterates
Before anyone jumps on me with “not MY child!”… check their spelling, grammar and reading WITHOUT computer spell and grammar checks. Go ahead…we’ll wait. Ready? OK..some of you, congrats. Your child beat the system. Most have not.
So…I’m not going to beat around the..ahem…bush any longer:
I believe there is a deliberate plan of mediocrity for
public school education in place across the United States.
NOTE: The following is MY opinion, after years of working in Education in a variety of roles:
Classroom Teacher; Teaching Artist; Arts Administrator; Education Admin in City Hall; and as an Arts-in-Education Performer; Professional Development Facilitator
I’m not the only one. Just about an hour before I started to write this blog (which I’ve been building up to), I got this comment to one of my recent blogs:
“I want to clue you in on a little secret here. The powers that be in America want a vast separation between 2 classes of people; the elite and the peons. There are many factors coming in to play and has been in the works now for decades. The dysfunction of public education is one of them. The masses become ignorant. Haven’t you noticed how the government and corporations are keeping us all very busy busy busy doing nothing nothing nothing? More red tape, more laws, more taxes, etc….that many people are too busy to make waves about what is really going on. Longer story to this…much bigger one indeed.”
Before anyone gets nutsy on me, I have a challenge for you: please do some fact checking on how many current Politicians and other Policy Makers have or had children &/or grandchildren in Public School? How many have been in Private and then Ivy School education? How many were sent overseas for their education?
Money Not Brains
Just because someone is born into money, or makes it, does NOT mean that they are better than anyone else. People with money and power will often act that way ::coughTrumpcough::: but, really…Really?
No…but…here’s the thing: if we had better education for the masses, where would we get our lower class and lower class workers? Why do the rich and connected get their kids into the “better” schools, with the better educational values (see the comparison in NYC English Language Arts to a Private School’s ELA program: Public vs Private Schools and you tell me which will turn out the better student)? Is it because they ARE smarter? Or is it just that they have better connections and the money to do it?
Why would Robber Baron Bloomberg buy a theory to put in schools, a theory that was successful on an Ivy League school campus, in a controlled education lab, but never really properly field tested in urban city schools? Why would a Mayor who says he is for education put a woman in charge who had NO education experience and who sent her own kids to private school? Why would this business man-not a politician, a business man- decide that cutting thousands of teachers (which, btw, is his little ploy: he scares you with big numbers, then gets what he wants and no one says BOO when he cuts a smaller amount…it’s all smoke and mirrors with this crook in charge) is the best policy if he was for education? Bloomberg would never have put people or programs so totally wrong into place in his own business.
Education Policy Makers: Twits In Charge
Our politicians and education policy makers are self serving and have an agenda that has nothing to do with the betterment of public school students. It’s money in their pockets; promises for their families, friends and allies; and upholding the agenda of Big Money.
Let’s be honest: we have an uncivil war on education going on right now. It’s self serving. Why should the banks who screwed this country, and the men and women who did it, get away with it, while the working people are accused of the pilfering? Why are the elderly and poor losing benefits to help them LIVE? Why the attacks on a “socialistic” health care system so EVERYONE can have health care (and we already have Socialistic programs in place in this country: the US Post Office? Most Police and Fire Fighters?)
Hypocrisy in action, difusing the real goal: Keep the Masses off kilter and confused. He who shouts loudest wins.
I had never really believed in conspiracy theories, but after everything that has gone down in the last couple of years (if not more, 
thanks to President Stupid) has led me to feel that what is happening is not negligence but is criminally planned out. We will have students and parents and teachers who find themselves able to escape this trap. There are some amazing examples of this all over the place, and I’m sure you can cite some yourself.
For everyone you cite, though, there are thousands of students who are being dumbed down on purpose, and we are not taking up a cry against this on a daily basis.
Right now, schools are on summer vacation. Summer schools and year round schools are working, but the majority of teachers, and parents, are on vacation mentally in regards to school (yeah, generalization: sue me). The problems build and build, and we either react or shrug our shoulders and say “You can’t fight City Hall.”
YES WE FUCKING CAN!
We’ve just been told for so long that we can’t, so we believe it.
Pass this on to parents, teachers, principals, any educator, any activist who cares about your children, and your children’s children, AND THIS COUNTRY THAT SO MANY SAY THEY CARE ABOUT.
PROVE IT!
Say NO to Teacher Cuts, Budget Cuts, Cramming for Testing and
all the things that are hurting our youth and our future.
bornstoryteller 
Jul 14, 2011 @ 23:48:05
Great post- even if I don’t totally agree with you. Roberta Budvietas has a similar post (and cites you). I left my thoughts there… I won’t repeat them here. But, I will guide your readers to get her (similar) take on this issue.
http://www.getoutofstuck.net/?p=3562
Jul 14, 2011 @ 23:52:01
Thank you Roy. I will take a look.
Jul 14, 2011 @ 23:56:05
I think your site swallowed my comments (censorship?)
I don’t totally agree- but I am in concert with your theme. We need to train the next middle class (assuming a certain party does not destroy it totally). But, we need to train leaders, too!. They won’t be coming from unless you are satisfied with the current corp of Congresspersons.
Without repeating what I wrote on Roberta Budviestas’ site (who also quoted you), your readers would do well to compare her conclusions to yours (she’s from NZ)
http://www.getoutofstuck.net/?p=3562
Jul 14, 2011 @ 23:59:10
your post is the first one. I do not, unless it is attacks and hateful statements, censor. You should “know” that about me.
Thing is, I have heard so many say what I have felt about a possible conspiracy. It FEELS like there is one.
Jul 15, 2011 @ 02:23:38
Stuart – something in the water today. Whether we agree or disagree with each others point of view, the truth is we need to ask questions about what is happening in schools. And over the years many different people have commented about the PTB (powers that be) have educated to control the masses. How else would the rich get richer. If people learned to ask better questions and say no to others, there would be anarchy and life would be chaotic and we are told that chaos is dangerous.
Please keep the conversation going and maybe one day enough people will stop the inanity and insanity going on in education. And dare I say – private education has its own prejudices – just look at the bullying that goes on in private schools.
Jul 15, 2011 @ 06:39:10
Roberta: I agree whole heartedly with you and Roy…I just also believe there is something more going on. I’d rather throw it out, as it’s a conversation I’ve heard, read, or been a party to, and see where it sticks.
Bullying is a MAJOR problem the Private schools: look at Trump: a bully if there ever was one. We always address Bullies with Students, but we Don’t address the bigger problem: Adult Bullies, which starts with POWER. It’s all the Status Game.
Thank you.
Jul 15, 2011 @ 00:39:29
I agree with you. I have had heated discussions with friends who buy into the propaganda of these politicians like Bloomberg that it is the teachers who are to blame for poor education and not the myriad of other problems our educational system has been saddled with.
Another issue with education I am concerned with is the regular loss of state funds for public colleges and universities. In an economy where a college education is fundamental for success our government officials are making it very difficult for students and their families to pay for schools. I believe this is a continuation of the dummying down of America that you speak of in your article.
Jul 15, 2011 @ 06:44:03
Margaret, thank you for bringing up College education as well. It’s an area I don’t talk about a lot, but I have my opinions on it as well (gee, me…opinions..go figure).
One thing: there are principals and teachers who don’t help the whole matter either, but in this case, I was throwing out something deeper. It’s funny I wrote what I did on Bastille Day. Just realized that.
Jul 15, 2011 @ 07:33:01
What I see in teaching at the college level is that average student is far less ready for college work than two decades ago, perhaps even on decade ago. They expect to be rewarded just for tying rather than for accomplishment. Reading the text before class or even buying the text isn’t necessary in their eyes. They do not know what hard work is nor are they invested in their own education. Consequently they learn very little but expect a degree with honors simply because they paid for it.
This is a large generalization, and there are still some serious students, thank goodness. There a fewer of them though.
Jul 15, 2011 @ 09:20:30
Hmmm… sounds familiar! I seem to have written about this topic recently?! I’m interested to know what your take is on my theory for the motive behind this, as it isn’t the same. While my little article, as discussed, was written with a playful hint of sensationalism, the content was not inaccurate. I’d love to know your thoughts.
Jul 15, 2011 @ 21:47:59
Hi Heidi: well, I DID ask you if I could print it. 🙂 Yes, this has been building up with me too. I agree with what you wrote. I just was really angry at what has been happening, stemming from the Indiana thing and all the other crap going on. Thanks..you know I think highly of you (did you see my defense on LinkedIn?).
Jul 15, 2011 @ 10:39:46
Power is not just money. Power is marketing. How else do you get Arnie as Governor and Sarah even on the political landscape? The huge advantage now is that so much marketing is free. If you and other teachers are seriously interested in attacking mediocrity then you have to start marketing.
There is power in numbers (since I think the US is still a democracy?!). The more you can get on your side the better your chances of achieving change. This means that you must move beyond teachers and academicians and appeal to the mediocre masses who are the result of this wonderful education system. It is our job to educate so let’s do our job.
First, remember that everything is perception and perspective. If you go into a public pool and there are 100 people in it and then half leave, you will think it is not crowded. If you enter that same pool and there are 25 people in it and then 25 more arrive, you will think it is crowded. All perspective. Politicians know this. We need to use their weapons.
Why do parents not support increased funding for schools? Two things are at play here. One – check out almost any press story about failing students, failing education, failing globally and the blame is either overtly or through implication laid at the feet of teachers. Why? Teachers need to keep their jobs so they will just take it and keep quiet. The powers that be will not take responsibility (really! did you think they would?!) So, according to the press, which is objective and never wrong (a bit of sarcasm there), teachers are to blame for the whole mess. Why would we give them more money? They are just wasting it! Two – teachers have the easiest job in the world. They only work from 9 to 3:30. They get Christmas (2 weeks), March Break (1-2 weeks), and summer (8-10 weeks) off. They don’t work weekends. They have benefits and a pension plan to die for. And they get all their lesson plans and everything from a fixed and preplanned curriculum. Why should they be paid more?
Honestly this is what the public thinks. If we want to change their opinion we need to educate them. We need a marketing strategy to counter the mud slinging. We need to describe a teacher’s job. We need to let them into our classrooms. Into our schools. We need to be open about budgets. How much money we actually get for our classrooms and supplies. How much is spent on bureaucracy.
Educators get bad press. It is up to us to change it.
As an aside, to answer Thom Brown’s comment about college students, they are what we make them. We pass them regardless of their achievement. We bounce them from subject to subject without connecting them together or giving them relevancy to their lives. We teach them apathy. We weaken them through kindness by telling them that they can do anything. And if they can’t we will make accommodations. And they are perfect as they are. We make them. We should not blame them.
Jul 15, 2011 @ 11:57:35
The problem is exactly the same on the other side of the pond. We use to have grammar schools here. They were free, but very selective and they provided an opportunity for a good education to some able kids.
They don’t exist anymore, and the state education is going from bad to worse. Maybe bringing back some selection would help?
Jul 15, 2011 @ 14:09:30
Well written, Stu! I suppose this is why theorists such as Marx will continue to make sense. Obviously, the proletariat and the bourgeoisie continue to exist. It is a vicious cycle. Our institutions make the people the way they are and vice versa. This is not to say the cycle cannot be broken though. Political will can always make a difference. There is just no space for apathy or believing that someone else will do it for us.
Jul 15, 2011 @ 17:34:12
A point of view I hadn’t heard before, plus I don’t live in the States anyway. I agree with what Thom says re College students. I believe we have too many subjects in the curriculum, basic literacy skills aren’t given enough emphasis and technology has not made education any better. Just because there’s a spellcheck doesn’t mean the kids will get it right. For us a lot of this comes back to parents too who don’t seem to be concerned about how their kids succeed (or not) in school. Their children are in school so they no longer need to take any responsibility. And the students themselves want instant gratification. A lot of the senior kids I teach have part-time jobs and a huge disposable income, and that’s all they’re interested in. Again, a generalisation but true for a large percentage. I must go and read what Roberta says too.
josie x
Jul 16, 2011 @ 08:56:52
Love the discussion here, Stuart, and it is eerie how your post strikes true even in my part of the world.
Jul 16, 2011 @ 09:03:54
Thanks Damyanti. I’m going to back off for a bit, let this sit around, and come back to these things again soon.
Jul 22, 2011 @ 00:28:47
Couldn’t agree more! Wish I could stand up on your soapbox and shout along with you, but education is not my mission. However, it does coincide closely with what you have to say about there being a deliberate plan for mediocrity in education in order to separate the elite from the peons – I call them modern-day serfs. You have the lords/nobles e.g. Trump, Bloomberg and you have the “working poor”, the underpaid or part-timers (often holding down 2-3 jobs). When I became one of America’s working poor and worked the phones, I was exposed to this underbelly and the way the powerful dominate, manipulate, rule, and ruin them, or send them as cannon fodder to wage wars much the same way that medieval lords used their serfs. And of course, let’s not get on the subject of the serfs electing and reelecting, by foul means rather than fair, a dumb, rich man’s – with great connections – kid with a bought Ivy League education to the position of the most powerful man on earth. No wonder we’re losing our leadership status to the Chinese.
Jul 22, 2011 @ 06:53:57
Bravo, Penelope. Loved the way you got to the heart of it! Gee…I wonder what Ivy League kid you’re talking about?