But schools are still characterized by 3Rs, lectures, drills and spelling tests. Contrast changes in education to changes among youth. Advertising, the Internet and celebrities heavily influence them. The result has been a declining influence by the family, the church and the school. There has been much progress since my epiphany in 1963.
Dropouts are down significantly.
College attendance is up. SAT scores are up in almost every category. School standards are higher and there is more accountability. And according to the New York Times, Texas is now leading the nation in public school reform and increasing student achievement. Births among teen-age unwed mothers rose 33 percent in the 1980s alone.