American Education: Much Worse Than You Think

This submission mostly pertains to English grammar and style, and is based on anecdotes. Another submission today

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2600580

refers to mathematics, and is based on international data from two scientifically designed series of educational achievement studies.

I was a willing victim of an Ivy-League humanities education and I learned virtually nothing except that people will spend all kinds of money for connections, since connections combined with frenetic activity is what leads to more power and money in the current age. I also realized that the true ticket to elitism is denying that one is an elite and then gushing for the little man that one never sees but vaguely plans a tax credit or boost in spending to (preferably at election time and without any measurable results). I've seen so many grades go to people who simply towed the appropriate line I stopped caring early on.

The simple fact is that the educational system is working for its intended purposes. The American elite cares not that the elite has actual talent or ability, only that it becomes a part of the next American elite, which since the Boomers grew up has been primarily determined by saying the correct political slogans. We assume, on the basis of some reality, that virtually everyone is forced to play in our sandbox, so it doesn't matter if our own citizens are educated well -- we can outsource virtually everything and import finished products so long as our hands stay on the financial spigot.

Americans used to be great, they used to dominate the world by the force of their actions, because they were great builders and, moreover, believed in sacrificing for their nation and ideals. I think even of the great entrepreneurs, the Fords, Rockefellers, and Carnegies that built empires on fresh American soil -- and gave back virtually every penny to future generations.

This present generation of elites is nothing but a bunch of dullards more committed to talking about how much effort they spent avoiding military service and making vague promises to the rest of the world on the basis of Twitter and other things they didn't create, while pretending to cut back the immense growth US government but then voting for military intervention and pork projects as soon as a dollar slips into their grubby hands.

It is pitiful what this country has become. Since it is Memorial day, let me say a word for our veterans. I salute you, I salute every American soldier who has fought in every war that this nation has been engaged in, whether waged under false pretenses or on the basis of true American ideals. You are the backbone of this country. When I was in high school I facilitated a forum where World War II vets told their stories to the upcoming generation. They had hardened eyes and weathered bodies, showing the signs of those who had stared death in the face -- and emerged victorious. There were many true heroes among them, not dithering for some constituency, but wiling to pay the ultimate sacrifice for the nation they loved.

This may make some uncomfortable, but I pray for this country, that it would become what once was -- a nation dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal -- not that some people are more equal than others by inheriting wealth or because of well-placed slogans. If we kill the American dream, we kill America.

In some ways, that's why I believe in YCombinator so much. I think it is one of the few ways where we can see the American dream flourish again.

The only way to a renewed America based again on hard work is through entrepreneurship. Higher education will not voluntarily reform itself, it will continue to inflate and suck up capital until their ugly bubble is popped by a real alternative.

Unschool? Uncollege? I don't know, but do know that Khan and others committed to math (and hopefully also a renewed humanities) will be a major contributing factor to any chance America has to re-make itself.

Btw, if anyone is working on educational startup ideas, please contact me.