The State of Education

Way back when W (must stand for witty) declared himself the "Education Governor," (see this PBS Frontline story) and later, the "Education President," his plan was to strenghten education in the state of Texas, and later, the USA, as a whole. Yeah, well, we know how that worked out. Check out how the new Texas gov, Rick "if at first you don't secede, try, try again" Perry is doing.

From USA Today:

Dismayed that students are slipping further behind their international peers, 46 states have agreed in principle to develop a set of rigorous criteria — the Common Core State Standards Initiative — designed to prepare high school graduates for college and the workforce. Kids who are taking algebra I, for example, would be expected to learn the same material whether they're in Massachusetts or Mississippi.

The four yet to sign up: Alaska, Missouri, South Carolina and Texas.

This announcement came June 1, from the National Governors Association, so it's clear our governor isn't on board to set any such rigorous standards in math and English for Texas children. Note also that Texas and South Carolina also said earlier they would reject President Obama's stimulus money, objecting to conditions put on it. (See this other USA Today story.) Are ya starting to notice a pattern, here?

A little peeking behind the curtain reveals something more, as put forth by the The American Prospect:

The caveat here is that once the coalition develops the standards, each state will be able to choose whether or not it will actually adhere to them. Unless the federal government provides some sticks and carrots, there will be little incentive for politicians from low-performing states, like Mississippi, to enact the standards. After all, doing so would reveal just how little those states' school children are actually learning, and to what a pitifully low standard they've been held.

Yeah, Gov, maybe we really should secede, and keep our ignorance all to ourselves.