Dear Editor:

In the 1960s the John Birch Society (JBS) targeted the end of public education. It began with the repeated refrains “public education is in trouble” implying the educational system was “broken,” “not working” and “inadequate for the times.” Most people heard these statements, but paid little or no attention, or they joined in the rhetoric. No statement purported a cause or provided statistical proof.

Since the 1960s there has been a shift in who was responsible for curriculum — politicians or educators. Politicians took the helm and without using hard data or countries that rank higher than the U.S., they designed a myriad of solutions (mostly standardized tests) while continuing revenue reductions. From 2009-2012 Arizona reduced its education budget by $400 million. From 2008-2013, Maine’s education budget reduced by $110 million.

Everyone is responsible for the end of public education in the United States. In Maine we agreed to contract with K12 Inc., to provide virtual education at a lower cost to them, but a higher $2,000 per student price than standard public schools who also incorporate computerized education in the classroom. K12 Inc. results are D- as students stop K12 Inc. and return to the classroom educationally behind their peers.

We agreed to pay K12 Inc. with public tax dollars.

Reducing public university revenues reduces our competitive abilities and public patents and innovation. It causes rising tuitions leading to student loan debts. Once we were in the top 10 countries for high school graduation; today we are not. The top 10 graduation rates range from 96 percent to 89 percent; the U.S. is 76 percent.

For those who believe politicians know more about education than educators, we end this debate with Harvard researcher Dr. Tony Wagner’s 7 must-have skills of the future: critical thinking and problem-solving; agility and adaptability; collaboration across networks and leading by influence curiosity and imagination; accessing and analyzing information; initiative and entrepreneurialism; and effective oral and written communication.

Politicians cannot teach or statistically assess these skills, but good teachers exercise these skills in the classroom all the time. Will we continue to fall behind Portugal, Slovenia, Findland and Japan? Has the public deserted public education?

Jarryl Larson

Edgecomb