Author: Thomas Sowell
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

    Hoover Institute Fellow Thomas Sowell's book "Inside American Education: The Decline, the deceptions, the Dogmas," examines the failure of American education to prepare today's students for the future.

    Among the many causes of this failure are the poor intellectual capabilities of elementary and secondary school teachers; the politicizing of education, especially on world-saving agendas; the affective approach to curriculum (striving to reshape the attitudes of students); and the presence of 'assorted dogmas,' including multicultural diversity, relevenace, and educating the whole person.

    Sowell exposes the numerous "deceptions and dogmas" that have concealed the steep decline in our educational standards and practices across the board. Among the more serious ills of American education are the sophisticated brainwashing techinques now being applied to children and teenagers in so-called "affective education" programs.

    These sinister curricular developments, combined with often cowardly and irresponsible management that's more concerned about institutional image and ranking than the fiscal integrity or commitment to educate our youth, and will breed disaster unless immediate steps are taken to reform the entire educational system.

    Thomas Sowell's book was published in 1992. His conclusions are just as valid today, if not more so, than they were then. In his November 12, 1999 syndicated column "Failure and fraud," Sowell added a personal note to the stark reality of the failure of public education.

    "Nearly two-thirds of the 8th graders in New York City failed a recent statewide test in English and more that three-quarters failed the statewide test in math. Nearly half of these youngsters did so badly in math that the scores indicate "they can barely add and subtract," according to the New York Post."

    Sowell went on to describe the education establishment's reaction. "The local education establishment had one of their automatic defenses... In other words, we couldn't possibly be doing anything wrong!" Whatever its educational failures, the system is world class when it comes to excuse-making. Maybe that is because they have had so many years of experience at it.

    "All this is particularly painful to me..." Sowell added. "...as someone who was educated in the New York City public school system, before the teachers unions and educational fads turned it into a shambles. New York was a symbol of educational excellence in those days, not the basket case it has become in recent times."

    "The ultimate question, however, is not why these people defend themselves by all means necessary. The big question is why we continue to take them seriously, when their track record is so bad. Are we that easily impressed by goddledygook or intimidated by airs of "expertise?" What are they experts at? Failure, excuses for failure and evasions of the very concept of failure."