We can’t improve our schools until we improve our math …

I’m not talking about the math being taught in our local schools (although that’s an issue too); I’m talking about the math public figures use to advance one educational agenda or another.

The primary local culprit has been the Douglas/Vilaseca team. Douglas, for example, used his final state of our state speech to tell us

Employers of all sizes, in all sectors, have made clear what they need to restart the engine of our prosperity: lower taxes; universal broadband and wireless; reliable, affordable energy; a well-trained workforce; and an education system that is top-notch without being top-dollar.

(State of state, 1/7/10)

After telling us about the need for a “top-notch” educational system, Douglas used his follow up comments to talk about defunding the system by way of reducing our tax supports.

Vilaseca? Runs around the state with alacrity parroting Douglas.

Et tu Obama? Of course! (You don’t think it’s coincidental that our right wing guv get’s his mug next to Obama, do you?)

Mr. Obama said he was particularly troubled by the dropout rate. He said 1.2 million students left school each year before graduating from high school, at a cost to the nation of $319 billion annually in potential earning losses.

(Obama Backs Rewarding Districts That Police Failing Schools, NY Times, 03/01/10)

There are a lot issues I have with that comment of which only one is really germane to this post.

Speaking as a three time high school drop out who has successfully self educated in multiple fields, I really don’t see drop outs as being a problem. You’ll find plenty of them who went on to be the happily self-employed. Far from being a drag on the nation’s coffers, this three time high school drop out has been a tax paying citizen since the age of 13.

And “potential earning losses”???????? What the fuck is that?

I would suggest before we bust balls on the schools over standardized math test scores, we bust balls on the likes of Obama, Douglas and Vilaseca for their lack of any realistic numbers and math in their part of the education discussion.

PS. If this sounds like the anti-IRV repeat parrots who keep assuring us if folks had voted other than how they did, the outcome would have been different … well it is. It’s the same concept: baffle ’em with enough bullshit, and the public will sit down in front of the tellie to watch sitcoms.