by Joe Kirkpatrick

When I was growing up, many Americans told "Dumb Pollock" jokes. I remember one in particular: How many Pollock's does it take to put in a light bulb? Answer: 3 - one to hold the bulb, and 2 more to twist his body around. Well, seems like those people from Poland might now be telling those "Dumb American" jokes. In world education ranking, Poland now scores better than the United States in math, science, and reading, yet spends a fraction per student that the United States spends.

If you have read my column for any time at all, you know I believe our educational system is greatly flawed. As in other areas of our government, there is a "throw enough money at something and it should be successful" mentality. The amount of money spent per student in the Untied States is one of the highest in the world, yet our overall educational proficiency ranking among the other industrialized country's is mediocre at best.

What is the problem? My theory is the erosion of the America family is the largest part of the problem. With a divorce rate of near 50%, along with nearly 50% of children born are to single mothers, parental support for their children's education is at an all time low. Throw in the fact 30-40% of all people in the United States get some kind of public assistance. Welfare, disability, food stamps, housing, free lunches, and etc, all produce less incentive for the parent to support their child to do well in school since they know their children can continue the assistance cycle in adulthood. Statistics also show a two parent household with both parents college educated statistically produce the most successful and best educated children.

One of my biggest peeves about our educational system is the "smoke and mirrors" that are used to try to create the illusion of success, when in reality the system is close to being a miserable failure. The favorite term of the education system is "graduation rate." They love to use this term. Here is how it is used: The dropout rate used to be 33%, but now, after the graduation rate is now 88%. The term "dropout rate" is never, never, never used except in the "used to be" tense. Why? Though implied to be the same, the term "dropout rate" and "graduation rate" do not mean the same thing. 1 out of 3! 1 out of every 3 children who start first grade this year in the United States will drop out of school before they graduate. With all the programs, with all the billions and billions of dollars that have been spent, the dropout rate is just as high now as it was 10, 20, and 30 years ago. By the way, the definition of "graduation rate" is most widely accepted as the percentage of high school seniors who have never before repeated a grade who start their senior year and then graduate on time. It was nothing to do with the 25% plus of the students who drop out before starting their senior year. Did you know they are so desperate to make "No Child Left Behind" look successful, the lowest grade a teacher can now give a child is a 60? I read recently in one state the lowest grade they will allow their teachers to give is a 70. That way, every child will pass even if they don't even turn their work in. Why didn't they have this back when I was in school?

What is the answer? Quit prepping kids for college. Only about 10% of high school graduates will go on to graduate from a four year college. Offer advanced math and science as electives, but concentrate on prepping the 90% with basic skills that will prepare them for life. Start vocational education programs in 6th grade to expose students to different vocational possibilities. Remember that 8th or ninth grade student who couldn't pass geometry? If he gets in a carpentry program he really enjoys, watch him master geometric formulas he needs to cut boards at different angles. It does make a difference when a student actually sees he needs to learn something to do something he likes.

Finally, make the vocational diploma equivalent to the regular high school diploma. I haven't seen the statistics, but I would be willing to bet failure in math is one of the biggest correlations to the dropout rate. I've stated it before and I will state it again: In the grown up world, you only have to be really good in one area to be successful. In the school world, you are expected to be really good in five areas. If you aren't, they won't give you a diploma which in essence will handicap your chances of being successful in the one area you are really good in. Does that really make sense? It's time for a change!


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