Making the Grade

I very rarely get political in my blog, but I get very irritated when I hear people complain about American schools.  I am married to a teacher and come from a family of educators and criticism of our education system is one area that really gets my blood boiling.

There’s a commercial running on radio and tv right now talking about how test scores are so much higher in other countries than the USA.  That may be true, but the United States is the only country in the WORLD that has a true PUBLIC school system.  Anyone who desires an education can get one, and conversely everyone who desires an education must be given the opportunity.  In many of the other countries listed off in these ads, children are tested for intelligence and aptitude and only the best are chosen to attend these schools.  The other kids are trained to be “laborers”.  Is it any wonder the test scores are higher?  Can you imagine the uproar here in the USA if lower level students were denied an education?

If you’re a parent and you want to see those test scores rise… spend time with your kid.  Get involved in their education and hold your child responsible for getting the most out of the education that is offered them.  America’s schools are staffed with excellent people who are passionate about giving your children a quality education.  By allowing every person an education, the “bell curve” is going to bring overall scores down.  Despite that, the United States of America education system produces many of the top minds in the world.