The latest push to shove the federal Common Core Curriculum down states throats via the threat of ending federal funding to those states that do not implement it has hit Florida. The state legislature is currently in committee writing legislation to implement it and make it state law. I am not going to argue the merits of the Common Core as a viable education model because the jury is still deliberating its content and methodology. What I am going to discuss and emphasize is the effectiveness of the federal body that will gain permanent control over every level of education in America and its success rate since first taking this role in 1980.
The Dept. of Education:
Since its inception and implementation by Jimmy Carter on 05/04/1980 has been very effective at redefining and changing the overall quality and efficiency of the way our children are educated. Before the Dept. of Ed. the national high school graduation rates were around 80% (peaking at 81% in the 1970’s). More importantly the effective reading and math comprehension levels were at a 10th grade level and to get into a college or state university a minimum SAT score was 1300. (an Ivy League education required 1550) The aggregate IQ as determined by MENSA for the average high school graduate was approximately 98, the general populace 88. read more »