Three Great Lies in Education

There are a number of things wrong with the American education system, starting with a Balkanized structure that firewalls any attempt at developing a national curriculum. The Theory of Local Control has much for which to answer, as well.

But when all is said and done, nothing quite approaches The Three Great Lies in ensuring that the U.S. public school system will never produce leaders to challenge the products of the private school system.

Some folk may think the purpose of the needlessly expensive American public school system has something to do with educating the young, providing useful members of society, ensuring that high school graduates will be productive employees, or anything of that nature. If any of those purposes are the aim of the public school system, then it is a failure.

On the other hand, if we assume that the system is intended to perpetuate and increase the gap between the top and bottom of the economic ladder, it seems to be working better every day.

So what are the Three Great Lies?

1. School is supposed to be fun.

2. Effort is equal to accomplishment.

3. Presence is equal to effort.

How do these play out in the real world? Stick around. I'll explain in depth later.