Schools Scores Keep Falling

Cal Thomas | Syndicated Columnist | Published: Jun 15, 2011

Schools Scores Keep Falling

News about poorly performing government schools keeps on coming, but the myth that is what is needed is more money persists.

The latest: fewer than a quarter of American 12th graders know China was North Korea’s ally during the Korean War and only 35 percent of fourth-graders know the purpose of the Declaration of Independence.

These facts are contained in a new report from the National Assessment of Educational Progress which says American schoolchildren have made little progress since 2006 in their understanding of key historical themes, including the basic principles of democracy and America’s role in the world.

High school is the worst, with just 12 percent of 12th graders proficient in basic history. But I’ll bet they know all about Lady Gaga and sex. I will also bet that private schools do much better, though the Wall Street Journal account did not mention private school students.

School choice might improve things, along with an emphasis on history, math science and reading, instead of trendy cultural things.

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.

Schools Scores Keep Falling