Almost every American is convinced that a National School Testing program exists and is working to make America stronger by helping to maintain excellence in education.  The truth is that America has no unified educational system.

There are 50 State systems and many other private or Federal/Corporate schools all operating at the same time. Once again; there is no unified American educational system.

All State systems of education are not equal.  Calls for a universal national system of education have always raised the issue of centralized control of schools as if this would be bad for the country, its citizens and its position as a leader of innovation in the world.  In fact, the existence of differing State systems of education actually has provided for innovation in “schooling” and some states have led the way for changes that have improved the product – the educands – who then go forth and help change America for the better.  At least that is true to a limited degree.

What has resulted is that some States have stagnated and there is no willingness to change or improve.  The Old South was long mired in resistance to change and turned up states vying for position as the worst systems that provide the least education for the lowest cost and worst treatment of teachers and the school plants that have been allowed to decay and become unsafe.

There is no question that the treatment of districts where poor, Black, immigrant and unemployment are greatest receive the least in aid from the states and the national government.  Fear of government sometimes fuels an anti-intellectual attitude and opposition to PUBLIC schools.  Private schools or the latest inventions “vouchers” and charter schools have caught the attention of parents who want more for their children.  The main problem here is that securing a place for their children in these schools is not granted to everyone and you have to get in line.  Like the old books from rich schools needing space for brand new books sending the old ones to the poor schools for the Blacks …etc. the situation remains the same or becomes worse. Instead of improving the system trust is placed in ways to avoid that system.

It is the belief of the whole staff of THINKING ALLOWED that it is time for developing a national system of superior education. This is to be paid for by universal taxation on a rising scale according to income. As we share the cost of protecting this country we should share the costs of creating a superior system of education for all of its citizens. National school testing is needed but the farcical system employed in places like Florida need to be based on a system of superior universal Public Education.