Sorry, Phil, but I'll continue to put most of the blame on the "education" cartel.
The single most influential factor in a child's real education is parental involvement; however, a decent teacher can replace a large part of that deficiency. Unfortunately, a large part of what passes for teaching these days seems to be steering the younguns to certain bureaucratically-prescribed way-points on the course to creating the social autochthon required to fit in properly.
I am opposed to rewarding failure with additional public monies. The Congress and the "education" cartel need a thorough series of high colonics to correct the problem. Education needs, IMCO, to come back to earth, to be a largely local matter with minimal state and absolutely no federal encroachment.
In terms of public funding, what is the per capita for California at 46th compared to its former number three ranking? Or, how much per capita separates California from the higher deciles?
In terms of civic audit, who should be in charge of the overall education of a child in a public school system? A federal or a state bureaucracy, or the local and far more accountable school board?
My own experience with my daughter in the third grade makes me very sensitive to the application of some governmental ukase - forced busing - as a substitute for actual education and what a parent can do to end the bullshit offered in place of an education.
