By Michael Milligan
The steep decline of our education system is hardly caused by lack of money. We still spend far more per student than any other civilized country in the world. Yet a large majority of these foreigners outperform us in every major discipline. Our educators should be aware that we live in a global economy, yet this gap is widening. Not one study or statistic suggests otherwise.
We used to turn out the best and the brightest on vastly smaller budgets. But the abdication of actual parenting (which is hard work) is now compounded by an increasingly politicized and dumbed-down academic curriculum. Are diversity, self-esteem and constant praise really as important as practical science and useful math? (“useful” as opposed to “Common Core” and other progressive agenda disasters). California education now ranks at either 41st or 47th in the union, depending on the source.
These results are appalling. Yet they are seldom discussed, perhaps out of denial or fear of political incorrectness. We are turning out a coddled and barely literate generation that lives in a world of conveniences and easy gratification, with no understanding of real values or the hard work accomplished by those who preceded it.
The School Board excels at patting itself on the back. Unfortunately, being the “best in the area” isn't saying much when you are adrift in a sea of mediocrity.
Thanks to Prop. EE, Culver City schools are awash in more taxpayer money than ever before. Throwing an additional $106,000,000 (gasp!) in their bottomless pit will do absolutely nothing to improve education. Hugely unaffordable Measure CC is just another easy cop-out for activist parents to claim “well, we did everything we could…” When the bond is rejected, they will, as usual, blame lack of money for their children's failure, instead of themselves.
With all the revenue streams currently at their disposal, our schools certainly have the means to deliver the world-class academic results so desperately needed by business, industry and post-secondary institutions. The opposite is happening. Culver City homeowners simply cannot endure another crippling round of wasted sacrifice for the next three decades, averaging well over $10,000 per residence. This is in addition to our government's already insatiable appetite for confiscating our wealth and squandering our money.
Please vote a big No on Measure CC, the $106 million boondoggle.
Mr. Milligan may be contacted at victorvector@sbcglobal.net
