The Failure of Government Schools
20/20
John Stossel's
"Stupid In America"

There are many reasons that the public school systems in America fail to properly educate and lag behind many school systems around the world. Most of these reasons were brilliantly articulated by John Stossel in his 1/13/06 special "Stupid In America". A sample free video cut can be viewed here:

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=1500594

*Video best viewed on a broad band connection*

"American students fizzle in international comparisons, placing 18th in reading, 22nd in science and 28th in math behind countries like Poland, Australia and Korea. But why? Are American kids less intelligent? John Stossel looks at the ways the U.S. public education system cheats students out of a quality education.

"We're not stupid. But we could do better," one high school student tells Stossel. Another says, "I think it has to be something with the school, 'cause I don't think we're stupider."

That's the question Stossel examines in his special report: What is it that's going wrong in public schools?

There are many factors that contribute to failure in school. A major factor, Stossel finds, is the government's monopoly over the school system. Parents don't get to choose where to send their children. In other countries, choice brings competition, and competition improves performance.

Stossel questions government officials, union leaders, parents and students and learns some surprising things about what's happening in U.S. schools. He also examines how the educational system can be improved upon and reports on innovative programs across the country."

Stossel's main point is that Public Schools in the US are a governmental monopoly. Choice leads to competition and competition leads to superior products. This particular product would be the education of our children.

Our children are assigned to a particular school based on the location of their residence. Of course, the students living in wealthier neighborhoods have the edge in quality and funding. Is your school terrible? Are your taxes paying for a dismal education system where you live? Are your children stuck with BAD teachers that have tenure and can not be fired by their employer due to union contracts? The answer to all this is......Too bad. You have no choice unless you can afford to move or pay your taxes AND pay private tuition. Not only is this a frustration for the parents but, also the outstanding teachers that are forced to helplessly watch the incompetence among other teachers and administrators alike. Sometime the only alternatives are to pay poor teachers to do things other than teach or, to just try to transfer the problem to another school and let them handle it. They call this pratice the "Dance of the Lemons".

If you are interested in viewing the entire show, a VHS or DVD can be bought from ABC for $29.95 here:

http://www.abcnewsstore.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=customer.product&product_code=T060113%2001&category_code=HOME