Why Can’t America Produce Proficient Teachers?
8th May 2024
“Record drops in teen math and reading scores.” “National Math, Reading Scores Hit Historic Lows.” “Test Scores Flashing Red!” The headlines roll in weekly, each more alarming than the last. In February, twenty-six schools in Baltimore failed to bring a single student up to the most basic math requirements. The same month, sixty-seven schools in Illinois couldn’t produce a single proficient reader. We’ve reached a national education crisis, and its roots run deeper than many are willing to admit.
The pressing question is: why can’t America produce proficient students? But perhaps a more crucial question is: why can’t America produce proficient teachers?
The teaching profession has all the trappings of expertise: degrees, journals, a specialized lexicon and conferences. Yet, peel back a layer or two — and it’s like walking into a North Korean grocery store: what appears real is just spray-painted foam and cardboard cutouts. There’s no substance to the study of education. Without it, charlatans peddling false promises feast off our tax dollars while our schools wither. It’s a broken system.