A FAILING GRADE

JUDGED BY THE STANDARDS OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, I RATED A FAILING GRADE AS A TEACHER. SADDER THAN MY EXIT FROM EDUCATION, HOWEVER, IS THE DEPTH OF DESCENT OF THE ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF STUDENTS OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT RECENTLY APPLAUDED THE COMPLETION OF A NEW SCHOOL WHICH WAS BADLY NEEDED, APPARENTLY BECAUSE THE ANTIQUATED STRUCTURE WAS (A MERE) 40 YEARS OLD. MODERNIZATION WOULD, ACCORDING TO THIS ADMINISTRATOR’S INIMITABLE WORDS, PROVIDE "MORE OF A BETTER LEARNING ATMOSPHERE." PERHAPS IT WAS MY INSISTENCE UPON PROPER USE OF OUR MOTHER TONGUE THAT ALIENATED ME FROM MY SCHOOL SUPERIORS. PERHAPS SUPERINTENDENTS WHO PRAISE TAX HIKES TO ERECT NEW SCHOOLS ARE BEDAZZLED BY FORM AND NOT SUBSTANCE.

ONLY 2 OUT OF 10 STUDENTS TAKING THE 'ACT' TEST TODAY ARE "COLLEGE READY." DEPRESSING SCORES ALSO CHARACTERIZE THE 'SAT' TEST. THESE TESTS ARE USELESS, ANYWAY, BECAUSE TEACHERS TEACH TO THE 'ACT' WHICH TESTS CURRICULA AND STANDARDS CAN BE MANIPULATED IN THE 'SAT' WHICH MEASURES REASONING. STUDENTS NOT ONLY ARE NOT LEARNING, THEY ALSO CHOOSE NOT TO LEARN. LIFE HAS SO MUCH MORE TO OFFER THEM THAN EXERCISE OF THE BRAIN, A DETERMINANT THAT "GOT ME INTO HOT WATER" WITH THE UNIONIZED AND TENURED POWERS THAT PREVAILED 40 YEARS AGO.

UNLIKE AN INSPIRING SUNSET, THE ACADEMIC SCENE TODAY APPEARS DISMAL. THE UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND ADS REMIND US THAT A "MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE."