Public-school employees have doubled in 40 years while student enrollment has increased by only 8.5%—and academic results have stagnated. The article makes some excellent points, but let's not forget Bush II signed the No Child Left Behind Act over a decade ago, so the implication that the Democrats are primarily responsible for the decline in the public school system doesn't carry much weight. However, more teachers = more $$$ for teachers unions, which is something the Dems have always wanted.
Perhaps it helps to notice that the introduction of 'universal' compulsory eduction in an American state was first accomplished in Massachussetts, under the direction of Horace Mann: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_education_in_the_United_States#Compulsory_laws Mann reformsUpon becoming the secretary of education in Massachusetts in 1837, Horace Mann (1796–1859) worked to create a statewide system of professional teachers, based on the Prussian model of "common schools," which referred to the belief that everyone was entitled to the same content in education. Mann's early efforts focused primarily on elementary education and on preparing teachers. The common-school movement quickly gained strength across the North. Connecticut adopted a similar system in 1849, and Massachusetts passed a compulsory attendance law in 1852.[40]One important technique Mann learned in Prussia and first introduced in Massachusetts in 1848 was age grading—students were assigned by age to different grades and progressed through them. Previously, schools had often been single groups of students with ages ranging from 6 to 14 years. With the introduction of age grading, multi-aged classrooms all but disappeared.[41] Some students progressed with their grade and completed all courses the secondary school had to offer. These were "graduated," and were awarded a certificate of completion. This was increasingly done at a ceremony imitating college graduation rituals.Arguing that universal public education was the best way to turn the nation's unruly children into disciplined, judicious republican citizens, Mann won widespread approval from modernizers, especially among fellow Whigs, for building public schools. Indeed, most states adopted one version or another of the system he established in Massachusetts, especially the program for "normal schools" to train professional teachers.[42]Free schooling was available through some of the elementary grades. Graduates of these schools could read and write, though not always with great precision. Mary Chesnut, a Southern diarist, mocks the North's system of free education in her journal entry of June 3, 1862, where she derides misspelled words from the captured letters of Union soldiers.[43] Please note that in 1832, Massachussetts was the *last* state to dis-establish its state religion (many of the states at the American Revolution had state-funded religions, which is why the topic is not mentioned in the founding documents, but simply left up to the states). Up until 1832, the Massachussetts schools used the New England Primer -- which is, more or less, the shorter Westminster Catechism, and teaches Protestantism as understood by Anglican dissidents (Presybyterians and Congregationalists). However, the state-supported apparatus was Unitarian at the time, most of the clergy having defected to Liberalism. The very first American to make the pilgrimage to Prussia, and obtain the novel 'Ph.D.' degree (up until the foundation of the University of Berlin, a degree unknown in Europe!) Was the governor of Massachussetts, Edward Everett, who gave the 'warm up act' to Lincoln, at Gettysburg, by blathering on for 2-3 hours in the hot sun [too Prussian, didn't read], making that fucker from Illinois look like a veritable god for delivering a short speech. To quote the only sensible opinion of the crowd: 'Thank God that's all over.' A very important book by John Taylor Gotto, free and online: http://johntaylorgatto.com/underground/ ... free version here: http://johntaylorgatto.com/chapters/index.htm Damn Yankees and their damn fool ideas. That's all I can say.