Education is the great equalizer, if someone can get better grades than another person at the same school then you get a sense that one person is more talented than the other.
I do not think it is that easy. I did very, very well in High School, but I also have an absolutely wicked case of ADD and was lazy to boot, so I never really tried. I went to a very prestigious college and I did the same, very good grades, but well short of potential. My brother is the opposite. Out of my family he is the least intellectually gifted (a fact he recognizes and has commented on) but has an insane work ethic and is very, very successful. It was not until well into adulthood that I really learned to study, and even now I have problems. So I think you are right, but I think there is usually more to the equation.
I take education very seriously, I feel that it is in a certain sense the most important profession for shaping the democracy. Unfortunately though our schools have serious problems ridiculous problems, and it will take sound leadership to straighten these problems out. I fear we may need an entire revolution in poor people's perception of education.
It is very embarrassing that in our society someone who can hit, throw, or kick a ball better than most of the population makes 7 figures but people like teachers, police officers, and firemen are paid relatively little for their efforts. This is capitalism, however.
I taught at a school that was a middle school and an elementary school in one. One time a parent called a fifth grade teacher at the school and told the teacher that "She never had to learn her times table so I don't think my daughter should have to either." Just think about that, and think about how 1/3 of all freshman drop out of school and every 26 seconds someone drops out of school. We need a hero to provide sound leadership and get this country on the road to recovery, Gobama or go crazy![/QUOTE]
For a developed nation, the US is HORRIBLY undereducated. Compared to other, dare I point out more socialist, nations we are far, far behind in educational achievement. It is sad because so much scorn is heaped on teachers and the NEA and other similar educational organizations. This is not to ignore problems that exist and many of the problems do come from parents abandoning their role in education, but we need to recognize how important education is and work to change it.