Wednesday, July 30, 2003
The Manufactured Crisis is the best book I've read all year. America isn't ALWAYS the rotten-est country. In terms of public education, the U.S. is doing quite well thank you very much! Our kids read well, our teachers do amazing work, and the bashing of public education is not justified. (Unless I'm the one doing it!!)
The person who recommended this book to me had a great conspiracy theory - - If our schools are doing so well, why would we choose to ignore it?? An educated public is obviously good (and should be celebrated!) But she thinks that if the public is TOO educated, it can be dangerous to the folks in power (i.e. Think of the politicians in the �60's). So . . . the people with power bash the system and tell us how awful our schools "really" are, causing a lack of confidence, which results in decreased funding and morale, which turns the whole thing into a self fulfilling prophecy of awful schools!) Intersting . . .
The person who recommended this book to me had a great conspiracy theory - - If our schools are doing so well, why would we choose to ignore it?? An educated public is obviously good (and should be celebrated!) But she thinks that if the public is TOO educated, it can be dangerous to the folks in power (i.e. Think of the politicians in the �60's). So . . . the people with power bash the system and tell us how awful our schools "really" are, causing a lack of confidence, which results in decreased funding and morale, which turns the whole thing into a self fulfilling prophecy of awful schools!) Intersting . . .