The Spark

the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist

“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx

"High Schools in Terrible Shape"—Say the Politicians Who Made Them That Way

Mar 7, 2005

The governors of 13 states announced they were forming a coalition to rescue the nation’s high schools. Speaking to the media, the governors announced their commitment to have "more rigorous courses in English and math and tougher exams."

You bet that’s needed. Today three out of ten students do not graduate from high school. Almost half of those who graduate lack the knowledge and skills to go on to college or get a job in the modern work force.

But to do what the governors promise costs money. Yet these governors–and the ones before them–have been CUTTING school funding, reducing or eliminating all the things that improve education and help students do better. Smaller classroom sizes, hiring the most capable teachers in their fields and giving them time to prepare classes, grade papers and set up tutoring programs–these are the things that go out the window when school funding is cut.

At the same time, more and more money has gone into privatization of schools and charter schools–beginning to destroy the public school system.

The governors demonstrated once again that old politicians’ adage:"Talk is cheap!" That’s why they talk so much and do so little!