Most information is from The How & Why of Home Schooling by Ray E. Ballmann.
There are those who ask, “Why should I be concerned about public education and it’s direction? Why not let the educators handle their own problems?”
First, the bloated public education bureaucracy is extremely expensive. It digs deeply into the pockets of our working population. Taxpayers do not want to see their hard-earned dollars squandered and frivolously spent. We have a right to want a good return on our educational investment. Considering that public education is the second-largest industry in America, with well over two million classroom teachers, the largest union in the world, and the second-largest budget in government, why should we settle for an inferior job?
Second, we should be concerned because many of the recent products of our educational system are apparently illiterate and ill-equipped to handle even the most basic demands of life. Consider these appalling facts:
Twenty-five million adults cannot read the poison warnings on a can of pesticide, a letter from their child’s teacher, or the front page of a daily paper. An additional thirty-five million read only at a level which is less than equal to the full survival needs of our society. Together, these sixty million people represent more than one third of the entire population.
Given a paycheck and the stub that lists the usual deductions, 26 percent of adult Americans cannot determine if their paycheck is correct. Thirty-six percent, given a W-4 form, cannot enter the right number of exemptions in the proper places on the form. Forty-four percent, when given a series of “Help Wanted” ads, cannot match their qualifications to the job requirements. Twenty-two percent cannot address a letter well enough to guarantee that it will reach its destination. Twenty-four percent cannot add their own correct return address to the same envelope. Twenty percent cannot understand an “Equal Opportunity” announcement. Over 60 percent, given a series of “For Sale” advertisements for products new and used, cannot calculate the difference between prices for a new and used appliance. Over 20 percent cannot write a check that will be processed by their banker – or will be processed in the right amount. Over 40 percent are unable to determine the correct amount of change they should receive, given a cash register receipt and the denomination of the bill used for payment.
With results like these how can anyone not be concerned? If this trend continues, where will our nation be in a few short years? Students who graduate illiterate and ill-equipped to face life not only hurt themselves, but they also adversely affect those around them.
…to be continued…
