The Dumbing Down of America
by Tom Savell
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I can tell you from my own experience that a wide disparity exists in the quality of public education. In Cincinnati, I was required to take algebra and geometry to graduate from high school. So, I took algebra in 8th grade and geometry in 9th. I was not permitted to leave the school during school hours without a note. If I misbehaved, the principal would paddle me.
When we moved to California, there were seniors complaining about "fractions are hard". I couldn't believe it! I had gotten over the "fractions are hard" business in 5th grade. It seems to me that the California public schools are, in general, a couple of years behind the Ohio schools (at least they were in 1980). Students were given too much freedom. It was an open campus. Corporal punishment was illegal. Perhaps by now, all the public schools have deteriorated.
I'd also like to point out that private schools are still in business. The government has not forced a monopoly down our throats. If parents want the best education for their children, they can pay for private schooling, just like people did before public education.
-Tom
p.s. I feel that I received a good education from public schools. I had to resist the temptation to take the easy street when we moved to California, but the advanced classes were there for me. I think the real failure of the public school system is the failure of the parents to discipline their children. Now, those undisciplined children have grown up and they're making the policies and laws of America. Dad, I thank you for spanking me when I was a bad kid.
An increasing number of bicyclists seem to feel they are exempt from every law of the road. I constantly see bicyclists fail to stop for stop signs, and even stoplights. It is clear from California law that bicyclists must obey stop signals. While a very few are militant against motorized vehicles, I believe most have simply become lazy. They have learned that motor vehicles will allow them to run stop signs. I mean, most people don't want to injure others, even when they intentionally place themselves in danger. How inconsiderate of the bicyclists! Bicycles are hard to see, and they move fast. Popular sentiment sides with the poor bicyclist that got hit by a 3000-pound car. From what I've seen, bicyclists take far too many chances and it surprises me that there aren't more bicycle-car collisions. It must be the work of alert motorists such as myself that watch out for maniac bicyclists running every stop sign. You've probably seen the "Share The Road" signs with a stick-figure bicycle. Perhaps these bicyclists have the indignant attitude that the sign is directed solely at motorists. The key word is "share" and it takes two to share. Even those bicyclists that don't own a car, and ride their bicycle nearly everywhere they go, occasionally travel in a motorized vehicle. Given a long distance to travel in a short time, there is no choice but to use some form of motorized transportation. Conversely, motorists will occasionally ride a bicycle. The important thing is that the rules of the road ensure that everyone, motorists and cyclists alike, will have a safe and pleasurable trip.
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