I was hoping that President Bush would have had something original to propose in his new education plan, but it appears to be more of the same ideas we’ve heard about for years.
Bush claims that vouchers are necessary to rescue students from “persistently dangerous or failing schools,” as though students themselves contribute nothing to their own failure or to the creation of a dangerous environment.
Until children arrive at school ready to learn, schools will continue to “fail” to educate them.
Being ready to learn means being raised in a relatively stable and functional home, and having one’s homework and school progress monitored by an involved parent, as well as being well-rested, fed, clean and properly clothed.
Somehow the notion that the burden of students’ failure should rest on their parents is so unpopular that education reformers avoid it at all costs. Apparently it’s much easier to blame teacher performance and school funding.
