Reply #366: Ah, yes, the D.C. schools [View All]

[Lydia Leftcoast]

D.C., the city that until recently was governed by Congress whenever it wasn't doing anything more interesting.

D.C., the city where middle class people abandoned the schools as soon as they became majority black.

I wonder how many D.C. residents actually vote in school board elections. Supposedly, there's terrible corruption going on in the school administration. But the people who would be savvy enough to run for school board on a reform ticket and clean house probably don't even pay attention, because their little heirs and heiresses to the throne are in private school.

I repeat: American schools are under local control. If you aren't nagging your school board or running for it yourself, then you have only yourself to blame for poor schools.

For seven years, I lived in a small town in rural Oregon, which contrary to popular opinion, is largely freeperish. Yet that town had excellent schools, where the kids consistently won prizes in statewide academic competitions. Why? Because the parents who worked at the local college insisted on challenging curricula, good teachers, and wise use of funds. And all the children in town, not just the children of the college employees, benefited.