And the data for science, civics, history and geography aren't available. Goal No. 4 calls for more and better teacher preparation. By the year 2000, U.S. students will be the first in the world in mathematics and science achievement. There are no numbers yet to indicate progress, or a lack thereof. Drug use is up from 24 percent in 1991 to 37 percent in 1998.
Drug sales are up, violence against teachers is up, violence against students is down.
Goal No. 8 calls for more parental participation in public schools. Call it the Goals' second whack at parents. The data aren't in on this one, either. The tale of a decade's long, wasted opportunity. I'd say the Goals' most transparent element was their impossibility.