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Lies Most People Believe About U.S. Schools
Popular lies about U.S. education certainly don’t do the kids any good. They just let the adults continue to feel comfortable while kids receive increasing diagnoses of ADHD (one in five boys now) and special needs, delay life milestones like marriage and buying a house, enter a crippled workforce, and face paying off the biggest debt in the history of humankind while receiving no government benefits in return. All these, and more, are directly related to education quality. No wonder the kids are getting antsy.
So, in the spirit of “the truth shall set you free,” here are a few lies it’s time to dispel about U.S. education. I call them lies because they’ve been repeatedly publicly disproven but remain driving forces for education policy.
Lie 1: America’s rich, suburban schools are high quality
Lie 2: Poverty is the root of America’s education problems
Lie 3: Schools should teach generic skills like “critical thinking” and “real-world application”
Lie 4: Teachers are well-prepared professionals
Lie 5: Education is nonpartisan and amoral
Lie 6: Practically everyone should go to college
http://thefederalist.com/2013/09/23/six-lies-most-people-believe-about-u-s-schools/