California schools are dead last, and our kids deserve better.
I have been telling people this for 22 years. They call me a racist when I insist on standards and accountability or when I must fail a student who simply is not doing presentable work.
But we are in trouble, and neither the Taliban nor Al Qaeda will do to us what these teen dropouts, and unwed mothers can do to destroy the fabric of this country.
California used to have the best education system in the United States, if not the world. We are now in the bottom 1 percent when it comes to education.
Here are some reasonable steps that we should take to return California's education system to its former lofty level:
• No driver's license until successful completion of high school state standards.
• No acceptance to our armed forces without proof of passing state standards. (Americans are sick of dumping these classroom troublemakers into the army to cause further mischief. Fresh evidence shows that gangbangers/dropouts are getting their homicidal training on our dime, while in uniform.)
• Removal from school for threats or assaults toward teachers, staff or other students.
• Study halls for students who cannot sit and learn. Let students who wish to excel be free from harassment and distractions.
• English-only in all state-run schools.
• No participation in football, cheerleading or drill teams without attaining “C” average.
• Fines for any class failed.
• Parents should be accountable for students at all times. Monetary fines would be imposed for student damage to books or property, or for arson.
• Tutoring would be mandatory for all less-than-passing classes, morning, noon, night, weekends.
Hopefully, students would get the message school will prepare them to take the torch from the previous generation, and become responsible citizens instead of wards of the state.
Does anyone still doubt the dangers of the ongoing dumbing down of America?
Rabbi Shifren, an educator and a Republican candidate for the state Senate in the 26th District, may be contacted at RabbiForSenate.com
