You Can't Fix Stupid !

An estimated 82 percent of U.S. schools could be labeled as "failing" under the nation's No Child Left Behind Act this year, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Wednesday….
The current law sets annual student achievement targets designed with the goal of having all students proficient in math and reading by 2014, a standard now viewed as wildly unrealistic.
Associated Press Online, March 9, 2011


The Blue Collar Comedian, Ron White, understands the foolish side to abandoning common sense and thinking that all things have a solution. There are many things he has enumerated that can be fixed but stupid is not one of them. Stupid is immune to books, tutoring, plastic surgery, federal statutes, and aroma therapy; it is what it is.

The Department of Education arrived at the conclusion that 82% of US public schools were failing after collecting data for 4 years and assuming that “all schools would improve at the same rate as the top quartile” as reported by the AP. This assumption that all schools would meet the standards of the top 25 percent is disingenuous and worthy of a bureaucrat with an agenda.

The study was perfectly designed to scare Congress into voting yet more money for the Department of Education. More money necessitates more meetings, more meetings require more studies, and more studies contemplate expanding budgets and programs. The student sitting at his or her desk sees no benefit. Most teachers are silenced by Administrators and others who buy into the ruse that no child can be left behind, that all children must be equal. It smacks of socialism, overlooks individual talents or lack thereof, and pretends to relieve parents of their responsibilities outside the classroom. Administrators look for more dollars in their budgets and find ways to justify “teaching the test”. Regardless of what interferes with a student’s ability to learn the material, these neo-education professionals are bent on demonstrating what counts: acceptable data, passing grades, no controversy, and more federal funding.

It’s interesting to note that many of our Founders were home-schooled, many apprenticed for their intended careers, and not many attended universities. How did America survive without the Department of Education? Very well, indeed!!! The Department was created in 1979 over Republican constitutional objections at the time; it opened its doors in 1980 without further objections. We can argue that its accomplishments since then have failed to live up to its current mission statement: “to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access”. Unless, of course, by creating a multi-ethnic underclass the United States thus succeeds in raising the competitiveness levels of the rest of the world’s nations. And it also stands to reason that by allowing the children of illegal and/or criminal immigrants into our public schools the “equal access” portion can be bureaucratically deemed - mission accomplished!!!

Let’s judge the tree by its fruit. Despite years of budgetary increases and the implementation of expert recommendations by Administrators with doctoral degrees, there is no appreciable improvement where it counts – results. Let’s overlook the fact that education is a local function at State level and not a federal responsibility. Also set aside for the moment the fallacy that our children might be the victims of sub-standard teachers. That leaves us with local school boards and school districts that are beholden to the politics of Washington and the strings attached to each and every federal dollar. Bureaucrats with only graphs and charts attempt to tell teachers and members of local communities what their priorities should be within the curriculum. The bright and competent teachers that populate our schools cannot modify or take any initiative because federal funding might be seen to be “on-the-line”.

The current arrangement is a total failure. The failed federal intervention in our schools with its conditional funding has eviscerated responsible leadership at the local level. I therefore recommend downsizing the Department of Education to an Office of Education with no more than 10 employees and one non-appointed office manager. Each employee can be an educational expert and be responsible for tracking a manageable number of States, in this case a total of 5. Interesting studies, papers and presentations can be elaborated for bureaucratic consumption but these would be informational support only for State level leaders, teachers, parents and school boards. The federal government would not have the funding or authority to interfere in the area of education. With the “federal excuse” eliminated local communities can earnestly face their unique conditions and implement the necessary fixes.

Just a thought: Reduce the number of public school administrators by half, eliminate a union’s ability to negotiate salary and benefits, give teachers the latitude to improvise with the curriculum, and allow students to fail. I might further suggest requiring uniforms for our public school students to remove many of the current distractions.

Clear standards that are enforced will be understood by most. Like cheating, failure to get the most out of the education opportunity is ultimately each individual student’s problem. The bright individuals will naturally benefit and go on to higher education and the potential it offers. Other bright individuals may follow their talents and become the technicians, artists and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

Unfortunately there will be those who, for one reason (excuse) or another, fail to see a free education for what it’s worth. They may see another path for themselves and find success. Very occasionally the next Einstein or Edison might have been one of these. Finally, we must realistically recognize that among these are also those who cannot overcome ignorance because they are stupid.

Whether it's a teacher, politician, money or federal edict, none can fix stupid.