Sadly, people find virtually nothing sensational or emotionally stirring about good schools. In contrast, reading or listening to reports about bad schools can quickly stir emotions. Therefore, the media will continue to depict schools as bad. Instead it shows a pattern of schools facing chronic adversity and not performing up to public expectations. Much of the blame and responsibility for correction is misplaced.
Society needs to be a partner in assuming blame and implementing corrective action.
As the demand substantially exceeds the supply, school districts will do whatever it takes to fill the void. Unfortunately, many times this means lowering the bar. With almost two million teachers needed in the next decade, higher standards for selection will exacerbate the supply and demand imbalance. In summary, we can expect lower standards as one strategy for getting minimally sufficient numbers of teachers into the classrooms where children are waiting. Under certain conditions, international comparisons are fair.