What Arne Duncan Thinks of No Child Left Behind

Throwing money at education is the solution for which there is no problem. Imagine a little one room schoolhouse with a barefoot Abe Lincoln holding a

slate. Fast forward to him writing some of the most inspiring prose ever penned.

He did this without the aid of No Child Left Behind because he didn't need his behind kissed every five minutes in order to "self-actualize" or garner "self esteem" - two of the most dangerous notions in education today. Education is a two-way street. If American youth choose to opt out of the process of acquiring marketable skills, so be it. Get out of the way of kids who aspire. Stop touting college as the only ideal in America. How many folks do you know who are working in a field allied to their college majors? What does one do with a degree in flute or German literature?

The two gravest concerns in this country are a crumbling infrastructure and outrageous medical costs. Its a mystery to me why taxpayer $$$ are used to fund majors that have questionable benefit to the average Joe while we artificially limit the number of doctors, P.A., nurse practitioners, chemists etc. that we graduate from tapayer supported colleges and universities. Refocus our schools to meet the prevailing needs of the era. Turn our colleges and universities into doctor-making machines: How do you justify denying admission to kids with perfect grades who are capable of completing the curriculum? Make it AFFORDABLE. I'd would be willing to pay higher taxes if I knew that my money was earmarked for medical personnel. Let the fine arts become the baliwick of private institutions at this point in time. Not perfect, just better.

The needs of our crumbling infrastructure can be addressed in high school and at community colleges. Teach construction trades. Only in America do we applaud a graduate who has just spent $150,000 of his parents hard earned money for a degree in folk dance. No.

In addition, those who opt out of acquiring a marketable skill by dropping out should have no access to entitlement money: nobody is entitled to drive working people into early graves.

Stop chasing after kids who don't give a rat's patoot about school. Stop wringing your hands and throwing money at the problem. Respect the choices they make, even if bears no resemblance to those you make. If you wish to be poor in America, so be it.

Sally Hanson of CA 4:46PM June 19, 2011