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Thursday, February 10, 20051108036500
Terrible Secondary Schools
"Is French Preschool Right for America? Goldwater Report Raises Questions about Government Plans for Preschool," The Arizona Conservative, http://www.azconservative.org/State%20News%20Briefs.htm, 10 February 2005 (from Free Republic).
Since 1965, enrollment of four-year-olds in early education programs has increased from 16 to 66 percent, but test scores are virtually unchanged. However, U.S. students routinely outperform their international peers in the early years, indicating that American students are well served by a flexible approach to early education where parents choose the setting, including home care that is best for their children. While U.S. children are “A” students in fourth grade, they regress to “D” students by 12th grade.
“The good news is America’s early education system is among the best in the world,” Olsen said. “The bad news is the secondary system is among the worst. There are solutions, but trading sippy cups for school desks is not one of them.”
We have a highly choice-oriented early learning system. Preschool is voluntary and provided by many individuals and groups. Choosing kindergarten, or at least the year to start kindergarten, is a highly personal decision. Result? We have briliant little scholars.
We have a highly choice-oriented tertiary learning system. Colleges and universities are completely voluntary. Options range from diploma mills to community colleges to tech-ag schools to liberal arts institutions to research universities. Result? We have the best scholars in the world.
Everything in between is a socialisitic monstrosity. Result? Perhaps the worst secondary school system in the developed world.
05:55 Posted by Dan tdaxp (Webmaster) in Education | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: public schools, high schools, comparative education