There is no question that some of our nation’s public schools are exemplary institutions of higher learning. By the same token, we must recognize the fact that there are many public schools in this nation whose idea of educating the youth of tomorrow leave much to be desired. ABC News reporter, John Stossel examined such a scenario in a recent article entitled: “Is our children learning?” Now frankly, one can’t expect too much from an article so titled. Hopefully the readers of the Phalanx caught that glaring grammatical mishap; nonetheless, the meat of Stossel’s argument is sound.

Stossel tells the story of Dorian Cain, a 12th grader in a South Carolina high school who can barely read. When questioned about his reading ability, Dorian lamented that his teachers had tried to teach him to read from “time to time,” but to no avail. Teachers and school administrators noted that Dorian had shown improvement. Improvement? He’s 18-years-old and can’t read? Unless he has a significant learning disability, that’s not improvement for 19 years of education. As Stossel notes, SC spends over 9000.00 per year per pupil yet the results hardly deserve bragging rights. Our government is constantly demanding countries open their markets and embrace the free enterprise system yet we cling to a monopolistic school model which yields marginal results at best.

As Stossel noted, in 3 days a private tutor improved Dorian’s reading level by 2 grades. Something the local school apparently could not do, yet leftists insist school choice is not the answer. School choice may not be the only answer but it is certainly one of many answers. This country cannot continue to extort money from tax paying citizens, forcing children to finance failing schools that teaching nothing. The schools, however, are not solely responsible for the state of America’s educational paralysis. As the case of Dorian Cain, highlights the ineptitude of some of our nation’s public schools, it also highlights the quandary that is parenting in America.

As Stossel notes, Dorian’s mother recognized her son had a problem. Why then did she not step up and provide the help her son so desperately needed? Learning begins at home…not at school. Children should enter school with basic reading skills. Parents shouldn’t expect schools to assume the role of parent as well. Schools exist to build upon those early foundations, not to create them. This woman is a disgrace, for recognizing a problem and over the course of 18 years doing absolutely nothing. Did she ever read to her child? Did she ever help him with his homework? Exactly what has she been doing? Yes the schools of South Carolina are to blame for Dorian’s failure, but so too is the parent.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/Commentary/com-2_1_06_JS.html