Educational failure as political opportunity

[Bruce Deitrick Price]

QED: public anger with our dysfunctional K-12 system offers opportunity for Republicans and Conservatives.

Someone should brief the GOP. Ignorance and illiteracy are not a winning proposition for Democrats and other Socialists.

So what's the problem? Sometimes I think our Republicans are lazy, weak, and/or compromised in some way.

Other times, I focus on the reality that our Education Establishment makes everything murky and incomprehensible. Political and community leaders simply don't understand what's going on, so they remain silent.

I write a lot about educating Americans about education. I think that's the only hope. For example, if more people understand why Sight-Words are a big problem, we'll have less of them. If people understand that Constructivism is a gimmick, schools will have to back off. Etc.

[Sanguine]

Is this "the" Bruce Dietrich Price?  The education authority?  @Bruce Deitrick Price

[Bruce Deitrick Price]

Yes, if you insist, the education authority. Thank you.

I was drawn to this site because the name includes GOP. I particularly want to speak to them directly. They seem so weak and disorganized. Have they all been bribed or threatened?

Almost every American sees that we have a weak school system. The Democrats are in charge of it. Isn't this a great opportunity for Republicans and Conservatives? To complain. To ridicule Liberal Democrats. To suggest better ideas. To take voters away from the Democrats.

My main suggestion is that everyone active in local politics should urge their candidates to take strong positions on education. Support charter schools and other choices. Support phonics and literacy in elementary school. Support traditional teaching of arithmetic so children can easily add and subtract two-digit numbers. At the same time, oppose sight-words, Common Core Math, Common Core anything, Constructivism, Self-esteem, Multiculturalism, and virtually everything that fits under the label Progressive Education.

We can't save the country if we don't first save the schools. We most easily do that by eliminating the bad ideas.

(If politicians want this stuff explained, contact me: wisewords@earthlink.net. Or read Saving K-12, a blueprint for authentic reform.)

[Sanguine]

Very nice to have you here.  I and others here are very interested in education, and all the permutations thereof, and some of us are doing what we can to improve it.

[EdJames]

There are not many members of the "GOP" here, though most members would be in agreement with your issues.

You are probably on the mark with regard to viewing local politics as the point where progress can be made.

I will offer you my opinion: this battle should have been waged decades ago; as I am sure that you are well aware, the root of the problems began back in the 1850s when Everett and Mann implemented the Prussian model into Massachusetts.

However, there is no altering what has passed.  I wish you well in your venture to first educate sympathetic (i.e., conservative, not necessarily "GOP") politicians on the core issues.