While we must remain vigilant, it's hard to imagine the deeply split 2001 Congress approving even a modest experiment when vouchers so clearly lack broad public support. So we allow ourselves a sigh of relief. But then we take a deep breath as we resume the struggle. We cannot fool ourselves that disenchantment with vouchers equates to enchantment with every public school. The latest results of New York State's grade 4 math and grade 8 English and math tests underscored the fact that dismaying numbers of children are not even within reach of meeting the state standards.
Critics focus on problems with the tests or the timetable on which they are being introduced.
But common sense tells me there is no way such problems could account for the failure of half of our children to meet the standards statewide. Some analysts have speculated about changes in societal characteristics and their impact on school performance. Nationwide the figure is 66 percent. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 7 million children ages 5-14 are left by working parents to care for themselves an average of six hours a week. The Republicans would require federally funded child-care and preschool programs, including Head Start, to adopt a core curriculum stressing reading.