Statecraft Informer

Sparxafire!

What is the deal with education in this country? While your Statecraft Informer is nowhere near ready to declare in favor of any particular candidate in 2008, it is struck by Hilary Clinton’s recent observation that walking into a classroom today is no different than going into a classroom in the 1950s.

Why can’t we educate our kids? In my state, only 75 percent of high school students graduate. There are several states were the number of h.s. grads in in the 50th percentile! Whose fault is this? If I made a product, and 25 to 50 percent of my target audience bailed/abandoned/rejected it, I would take a hard look at my product.

I know there are at least four groups directly vested in education: government, teachers, parents and students. I have no doubt each group has its failings… But may I suggest it starts with government apathy and incompetence at all levels that produces mediocre schools in the first place? Within the 1950s/2000s school environment it’s difficult to locate anything resembling energy, creativity or even competence. Most children still attend school only nine months per year so they can help bring in the crops at the harvest! For crying out loud.

Are we hearing anything about education from the candidates? Not really; it’s not a particularly hot button issue with anyone. How many times have we heard anguished cries about “Education in Crisis!” Blah, blah, blah. It’s like crying “wolf!”

Is it possible that the sorry decline of education in this country — or the sorry failure to keep up — has now produced an American populace that is too ignorant to understand the origins of its own stupidity? We are a population, after all, that elected George Bush TWICE. We have zero intellectual curiosity in America.

I do not know a soul who is intellectually curious! I can say this safely, because even my best friends cannot be bothered to read Statecraft Informer! Honestly, I don’t know what gets them out of bed in the morning. It looks a lot like “American Idol,” and “Top Chef” and “Entertainment Tonight.”

Bill Gates and Eli Broad are donating $60 million to advertise the country into caring about education in the ‘08 election. Anyone? Anyone at all? I think we’ve all pretty much given up… shrug?