Their objective was to destroy our school system because it created leaders and kids that loved America (nationalism). In that day just after the carnage of world war1, nationalism was seen as the great evil in the world that lead to wars and other terrible things. So, the move to strip American history from the schools began – your kid gets more Egyptian history in grade school and middle school than American history. Just check out how much space is dedicated to Benjamin Franklin and George Washington as compared to Egypt in the history books today.

The U.S. Department of Education and their “learning labs” have driven a dumbing down educational process because they do not want free thinking, well educated, citizens that can drive the political process – they want a compliant ignorant electorate that will accept whatever comes their way. The theory is that with an ambivalent electorate the future Adolph Hitlers will not be able lead them into future wars.

As a Teacher, I believe the major damage done happened when the teaching of absolute truth ceased. The Humanist agenda of the 1930s was implemented and the authority of teachers and parents was eroded. Parents were removed from the management of schools and the centralization of control (the old soviet system brought back from the old Soviet Union John Dewey)was instituted. By the way – most new teachers know nothing of the origins of education prior to 1940. That history is driven by people that did not believe in American exceptionalism and our unique place in the world (endowed by our creator with certain inaelinable rights). Is it any wonder why parents don’t want to be involved? THEY HAVE BEEN IGNORED AND CUT OUT OF THE PROCESS FOR 50 YEARS. AND MANIPULATION OF TEACHERS HAS EXCLUDED THEIR INPUT THROUGH THE ALINSKY METHOD AS WELL.

The fix – no one will have the guts to propose this stuff because the ACLU drive a lot of decision making in education these days.

1. Discipline is non-existent and is a major driver of school failure. When teachers are disrespected and when violence is allowed the learning environment is destroyed. Teachers must drive the discipline in their class and get the 2 or 3 trouble makers out of the class so the other 20 student can get on with learning. Work/study choices should be given to chronic offenders. Those unwilling or unable to control themselves in class need special attention – they do not need to steal the education of the others.

2. There needs to be a concerted effort to teach American History and the facts surrounding the founding of our nation early in the life of our children. The current lack of involvement in the process is taught – it is encouraged – it is desired by those in control. By understanding who we are as Americans, the desire to be involved will return.

3.Get rid of central control (District 205 is called a soviet in the old Russian system). Make each school autonomous. Make each principal accountable to the parents and stop spending a third of the education budget on busses, drivers, tires, brakes, oil changes, and repairs.

4.Move from the dialectic teaching process to the didactic process. Without a foundation based on facts, the ability to make intelligent decisions based on reality is replaced with decisions based on feelings. Mr. Spitzer’s desire to have students do analytical thinking sessions in the absence of an understanding of the facts first is an invitation to be manipulation by skilled facilitators and a useless feel-good exercise that will not add value to the educational process. Pay attention to how many times you hear our so-called leaders appeal to your “feeling” when a decision is being made.

5.Leaders that do not demonstrate decisiveness, expertise, command of the facts, and results need to be replaced. Leaders the succeed need to be given a bonus.

6.Lifelong learning is a buzz-word used to indicate that your kid won’t learn anything today so he/she will have to learn it someplace else tomorrow. Most companies have to teach their new hires math and reading. They did not get that in school.

Unfortunately our current so-called leadership surrounds herself with a group of expensive administrators that have no answers and that increase the cost of education with stupid mailings and P/R pieces so that they seem to be doing something – She has not shown any real leadership, expertise, or success in getting our dysfunctional schools under control – to the contrary – she is a minion of the old “Frankfort School” of social engineering that does not care about true education. Read the the NEA mission Statement – nothing is said about teaching Math, Science, Reading, Writing, Truth, Honesty, Integrity, and American History.

John Conner