American Ignorance

In the way they scrimp & save to send their children to school and college, and spend money on school buildings and equipment, Americans in general act as though they believe education is a cure for every social ill. But in the way they fail to bestow pay, respect and freedom on their teachers, Americans seem not to understand the first thing about education. Last week the National Opinion Research Center (University of Denver) supplied further evidence of this national ignorance.

In a nationwide survey, Denver polltakers asked a scientific sampling of citizens: "Is there any kind of change you would like to see made in our public schools?" More than half (57%) of the polices were satisfied with schools as they are. Of the 43% who suggested changes, most spoke of such things as curricula, administration, equipment. Only 10% of the discontented minority wanted better paid and better qualified teachers. Approximately 96 out of every 100 Americans seem unaware of the unchallenged fact that a log with Mark Hopkins at one end of it is still a far better school than the most expensive modern classroom presided over by a mediocre teacher.

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