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Originally Posted by ryandre  We need to give choice back to the parents |
I'd suggest otherwise. Choice exaggerates inequality of opportunity, exacerbating segregation but also impacting on general quality. OECD (2007, Chapter 5: Improving primary and secondary education, OECD Economic Surveys: United States, Vol. 2007 Issue 9, pp 97-124), for example, make the following remark:
"...the comparative weakness of US academic standards may stem in part from the highly decentralised administration of the school system and from the absence of central steering (through central curriculum or external exams)."
This would suggest that we can blame state discretion over academic performance standards for the US education failures.
Education, via a comprehensive school system, should provoke social mobility. Choice ensures a class ridden system where the human capital role of education actually becomes secondary.