Abstract

In many nations, we continue to be in a period of reaction in education. Our educational institutions are largely seen as failures. High drop-out rates, a decline in “functional literacy,” a loss of standards and discipline, the failure to teach “real knowledge” and economically useful skills, poor scores on standardized tests, and more – all of these are charges leveled at schools. And all of these, we are told, have led to declining economic productivity, unemployment, poverty, a loss of international competitiveness, and so on. Return to a “common culture,” make schools more efficient, more responsive to the private sector. Do this and our problems will be solved.