This is not exactly a an apologetics issue, but it sure is relevant for many of us around Grace Fellowship…
American students fizzle in international comparisons, placing 18th in reading, 22nd in science and 28th in math — behind countries like Poland, Australia and Korea. But why? Are American kids less intelligent? John Stossel looks at the ways the U.S. public education system cheats students out of a quality education in “Stupid in America: How We Cheat Our Kids,” airing this Friday at 10 p.m.
More from the story…
That’s the question Stossel examines in his special report: What is it that’s going wrong in public schools?
There are many factors that contribute to failure in school. A major factor, Stossel finds, is the government’s monopoly over the school system. Parents don’t get to choose where to send their children. In other countries, choice brings competition, and competition improves performance.
Stossel questions government officials, union leaders, parents and students and learns some surprising things about what’s happening in U.S. schools. He also examines how the educational system can be improved upon and reports on innovative programs across the country.
I finally watched the show. I think Stossel nailed the issue when he zeroed in on the monopoly status of the public education system. It was painful to hear Belgian teachers and parents who were dumbfounded that US parents had to send their children to the school that the government assigns them. This from Belgium of all places!
The system is devoid of competition or accountability. It’s working… just like it did in the old USSR.
I was wondering if anyone else saw this. I thought I was the only one who was an education nerd and who had his friday nights free.
I love Stossel and he hit this one out of the park. I am suprised that the ABC brass lets him run some of his stuff. It was great how he made a mockery of the teacher’s union.
Yeah, just think what would happen if schools were allowed to compete for the $10K per student per year that American taxpayers pay? We would easily have the best educational system in the world.
Just look at our health-care system. Expensive? Yes, but would you rather have a serious health problem anywhere else? With education, we have the high expense, but not the excellence.