Sure, toughen standards - but put some trust in teachers. Across the country, local and state governing bodies are moving toward holding students accountable for rigorous academic standards. On one level this is an admirable endeavor.
Democracy depends upon a literate populace.
I only wish improving education were this simple. What reform-minded politicians don't seem to understand is that schools are complex communities. Some of these communities, like the one in Santa Monica, Calif., where I have worked my whole professional life, are built upon trust. Looking for a quick fix, administrators don't trust the successful teachers and practices already in place. In all too many school communities, there is little trust.