In a way this is a good thing, because mucking around in education policies is probably less destructive than having bright ideas on foreign policy or Social Security. They are both right, of course. For the most part, presidents only make things worse, not better, particularly in education. It is like heroin addiction. Let us be candid with ourselves.
Nothing can save public schooling in America.
There is no magic bullet, and if there were, the unionized teachers, principals, and superintendents would steal it and keep it hidden forever, in full knowledge that they are the Draculas and werewolves that have to be eliminated if American kids are ever going to learn anything. Wait a minute. You promised a column on ideology, and instead you're talking about education reform. The simple point is this. State education is a leftist movement that was, from the beginning, opposed to the authority of parents, the teachings of Christian churches, and the pursuit of excellence.