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 Nov_2013Every year, Americans spend a trillion dollars on education. Nearly all of the money is spent on students who have not reached their 20th birthday. Americans spend more money on education than anything else—including defense, Social Security or health care. |
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 Inner City SchoolSome Americans are marginally literate. 1 in 3 Americans function at or below NALS Level II literacy, struggling to read directions or complete a form, or calculate prices without assistance. Level III literacy recognizes ability to connect documented ideas. |
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Most Americans are not college graduates.
On average, about 40% of White Americans graduate college, compared with about 20% of Black Americans and about 15% of Hispanic or Native Americans. One in 8 Americans did not graduate high school.
Poverty makes learning difficult.
For many of the 1 in 5 American children living in poverty, regular school attendance and routine completion of homework is heroic.
America is a nation of immigrants.
Our rich cultural mix is challenging for people just learning to speak, and think, in English.
Children grow up to become adults.
Many adults are poorly trained to think clearly.
School may not the best place to learn to think. With tens of millions of students to educate, school adheres to a strict curriculum, covers standardized material, streamlines information so students can complete tests of narrow scope and intent.