National math and reading scores are plunging.
In the new educational philosophy, test scores are just a racist measure of racist things. Parents who are pro–standardized testing are far-right hate groups.
Obviously closing schools for years was really bad. You can see the scores drop off a cliff after 2020. But overall, the scores are actually lower than they were 40 years ago. We’ve made no progress in educating kids since 1980. There was progress till slightly after 2010 and then . . .
What has happened in that time? I bet deciding that math and reading are racist didn’t help. And teachers being primarily tasked with gender-discovery journeys also did not improve scores.
Midwestern public school teachers are trading tips on how to transition kids without telling parents. (I don’t know why these stories are only covered in non-US media.)
Having teachers paint your son’s nails does not improve test scores. Spending an entire semester on pronouns and the asexual spectrum does not improve test scores.
Maybe spending a few minutes on algebra instruction? It’s a weird idea, I know, but maybe it would improve test scores?
I think about my profession, software engineering, and where we would be if we had made no progress since 1980. Imagine using technology that was the same or worse than it was 40 years ago.
It’s hard to think of professions that have made no progress in 40 years. Education majors are just the dumbest people on earth.