The same federal government that can fuck up an anvil is supposed to do a better job of finding good teachers than community-based leaders?

Why do so many people think there are all these great things that only the federal government can do, while at the same time making excuses for why the federal government seems wholly incapable to managing ANYTHING effectively?

The problem is that our children's chance at success is being crippled by personal ideologies that leave the students disadvantaged in the world market. Localized schools allow for too much local ideology to interfere with the business of educating. When you bring it to the Federal level and the curriculum affects all then there is greater chance for effective debate that can weed out ignorance. This is of course assuming that the lobbyists haven't paid for them already which can and does happen at state and local levels as well.

The problem is that our children's chance at success is being crippled by personal ideologies that leave the students disadvantaged in the world market.

Could you be specific?

Since you have not give specifics, I am speculating that you assume that the ideology that you believe in should be the one federally mandated.

How can you be so sure that it would, though?
And how would you react if it didn't?

I find it interesting that the modern day buzz word is diversity and that we often told that we need to celebrate it. What those who suggest this actually mean, however, is that we should celebrate the superficial aspects of diversity--our appearance for the most part and the superficial aspects of our art and culture. Rarely, however, do people wish truly to celebrate a diversity of ideas, values and beliefs. Those we need to work at to make them homogeneous--as long as the homogeneity we are working toward is the "correct" value, belief or idea--specifically the ones I hold. If not, I will cry oppression and marginalization.

They have found clear problems with one national standard: places are different.

I remember Florida kids used to take a test from New England in 2nd grade. One question was "In the Fall, the leaves: a)turn colors; b) stay the same" and Florida got it wrong. Why? Because the leaves do change colors in the North, but remain green year round down here. The kids answered the question correctly for where they live.

They also found terms change. Pop is Soda is Coke, is Soft Drinks, but a person raised only hearing Soda may have no clue what "Pop" is.

Grendel,

I'm so glad you asked me a question and then did not give me a chance to respond before drawing a conclusion that would support your ignorant rambling.

You don't know me, what I support or my ideology and in fact it does not matter. Did you see me use the word diversity in my post at all? I'm so glad you were here to put words into my mouth and jump to conclusions.

Kanrei,

While that is a problem it can be rectified and those things are relatively small.

I'm so glad you asked me a question and then did not give me a chance to respond before drawing a conclusion that would support your ignorant rambling.

You don't know me, what I support or my ideology and in fact it does not matter

You're right. It does not matter in regard to the question I posed to you or my comment on diversity.

You state that various school systems are crippled by personal ideologies and that something needs to be done on a national level to rectify that in order that people are on the same page.

My point is that it does not matter what your specific ideology is--right or left--my question remains, how can you be sure that ideology that is federally mandated matches the one you believe?
That was and is my question to you.

It is not a product of ignorant rambling but a genuine response and a legitimate question to having any kind of mandated ideology--be it right or left leaning.

That led me to my general comment (I am allowed to do that) on diversity. That you didn't use the word doesn't disallow me from pointing out that a tend toward homogenization via a single ideological based curriculum goes against the notion of diversity and tolerance of ideas, values and beliefs, which is generally given a great deal of lip service only.

Grendel,

The answer was in the post itself...

" When you bring it to the Federal level and the curriculum affects all then there is greater chance for effective debate that can weed out ignorance"

I make no claim to knowing the true or right path. I have no desire that my ideology be the one accepted. But it is through dissension that brings debate and through debate the truth is exposed. Whether people choose to accept it or not is up to them.

I suppose there are those that oppose standardized education but support standardized religion and marriage. One god from sea to shining sea...

" When you bring it to the Federal level and the curriculum affects all then there is greater chance for effective debate that can weed out ignorance"

We are talking past each other.

There is no objective "truth" to ideologies that will enable ignorance to be weeded out.

Ideologies are value laden and their foundation is philosophical, not scientific. All the debates in the world will not reach the absolute truth in regard to them. In addition, one cannot construct a curriculum that is free of ideology.

Thus the question remains as to which ideology should be mandated. In this country it is doubtful that you could come up with one that would be acceptable to a great majority.

Perhaps we should be happy and celebrate the diversity of ideologies which keeps us all on our toes as we continually have to defend them in regard to contrasting ones.

"Perhaps we should be happy and celebrate the diversity of ideologies which keeps us all on our toes as we continually have to defend them in regard to contrasting ones."

don't you think that would be most effective when you can celebrate all diversity rather than simply local? When diversity is expressed by those that it represents, it adds authenticity and helps to dispel ignorance.

A nations history is not the whims of a state but the pride of all citizens!