Why do we accept the failure of our education system?

[MattimusPrimeISAMERICA0424]

It is a proven fact that our education system is one of the worst among the industrialized nations. Test scores are lower than nearly all of Europe. Why do we accept this when we should be striving to be the best. America has always prided itself as being the best. Our future is in Jeopardy if we dont make some changes. WOuldnt it make sense to see what the countries who are the best are doing and duplicate that?

[MarciaB9908]

That's a GOOD question. A star for you. How is it that European and Asian countries are so outpacing our students? Some of it is clearly cultural... we seem to have some communities who don't value education and/or aren't as prepared to support the academic work of students. I'm not sure how we change that.

[xyz9427]

Because the country has produced failure's that cannot see that it has all failed

[PaulGrass6862]

just look at the way the kids answer on this forum and its easy to tell that the liberal teachers failed to do there job, yes our educational system is in dire straights

[Masseur_at_Play0285]

college loans and education is big business and money, the U.S. is more about capitalistic gains than the education system, though it should be pointed out that the pre-college education system is socialistic

[MJJ]

Because we aren't allowed to hurt the kids' feelings. If we tell them to study and work harder, they may cry and get offended. We can't have that in America, the liberals won't allow it.

[joeyjoejoeflabadoo9429]

I heard it is intentional and it is called the dumbing down of america, it's called I think zeitgeist (sp?) and it's kind of like a real life matrix. Not sure if it is true but seems like it.

[katydid9356]

I'm a teacher and I agree with you. It's very sad to see the decline of the educational system. Since the bi-partisan program of No Child Left Behind was implemented, scores have dropped. I don't know one teacher who can honestly say it's been a success.I live in California and Governor Schwarzenegger is trying to balance the budget. I realize the money has to come from somewhere but he has suggested slashing billions from education. He also promised to pay back the money he "borrowed" from money set aside for education. That hasn't happened. Instead, students in California are facing larger classroom sizes and fewer teachers. Cutting education should be a last resort.EDIT: Where do some of you get your information? I'm a liberal teacher and my students consistently score very high on state and national tests. Being a liberal has absolutely no influence on teaching my students. The teachers I know keep their politics to themselves. Politics are personal and it would be unethical to try to influence our students.

[deadmastergeo1722]

In many of these countries the parents do much of the life teachings the teachers only fill in the blanks. Many Americans sent the kids off to school and hope that the strangers at the school (teachers) teach the discipline and learning habits that bring about success. Not always true.

[Tinman127064]

The solution is not throwing more good money into it. Our education system is running around $750 billion dollars per year. That is too much money already. The answer might be in privatization, for one. And the other is to dismantle the Teachers Union.