By: Robert Jay

     EDUCATION REFORM! We currently rank 14th of 17 industrialized countries in academic achievement in math and science. And all because the educational establishment (teachers unions, administration, school boards, and superintendents) after a generation of dumbing down, is satisfied with the status quo. Their hyperbole is a little like Garrison Keillor's mythical Lake Wobegone in the Prairie Home Companion, "where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, AND ALL OF THE CHILDREN ARE ABOVE AVERAGE."

     Have you noticed the large number of immigrants that are from the professional class (doctors, dentists, engineers, mathematicians, computer programmers and system analysts)? It turns out our country has to import them because our school system can't produce them in sufficient quantity.

     The existing situation is approaching a disaster -- a SNAFU! How will we know when we have reached disaster proportions? Violence on or near school premises, with the requirements for metal detectors, metal screening and high fences. These requirements suggest the lowest concentration on academic thought.

     Solution:

1. Before Congress takes any action, you Mr. and Mrs America must stop the nonsense of making sports personnel national heros. Those overpaid ball dunkers, hitters, throwers or whatever should be at the bottom of the social totem instead of at the top. Isn't the time long overdue when we start re-arranging our value system to qualities of thought instead of mastery of quickness and brawn?
2. It is also necessary for parents to Implement a culture of academic excellence.
3. Establish VOLUNTARY (without carrots and sticks) national standards and goals. Publish the results. Please refer to National Standards in American Education by Diane Ravitch and published by Brookings. Pgs 181-186.
4. Implement unlimited school choice. Support a free market approach to include vouchers for private schools. Without inter-school competition who is to know where the apex is and what example to follow? The cream naturally rises to the top and the whey sinks to its natural level. Do you think Bill Gates went to a public school? Think again! We need a continent full of Bill Gates type of ingenuity!
5. Push school boards to re-introduce IQ tests. They are one sure way to measure if a student is working up to his full potential. Nuts to the "poppycock" that they are not justified. That "hooy" is perpetrated by the malicious malingers of victimology. All they strive for is "feeling the pain" of those in the lowest common denominator -- giving them "self-esteem." Self-esteem is earned not bequeathed.

Most Sincerely,
Robert Jay, aka gadfly@mail.iswest.com
474 E. Wilbur Rd.#104,
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Tel.# 805.495-8207