I suspect that all education is biased. What is needed is a bias in favor of those values outlined in our founding father's documents and a commitment, above all things, to teaching the truth. If nothing other than the fact that truth is not relative, and that man cannot survive in civilization without a fundamental code of moral decency toward all (because of the special dignity [hence responsibility] of man, endowed upon us by our Creator) is taught, then we shall be far ahead of the indoctro-pablum that poses as education today.

Re: Don L. Amen. But try explaining that to anyone who is a public educator by profession, and they go nuts. They'll make all kinds of excuses as to why the schools "can't" be doing a better job (usually they blame regulation or a diverse student body or lack of money), yet somehow the US, despite having every possible advantage, still cannot educate its students properly.

When I first saw the video, my thoughts were 'Why aren't they teaching instead of amusing the kiddies?". Such an activity (singing, nursery rhymes) might have been appropriate for a Kindergarten class, but these children were not Kindergarteners. Like Dr. Sowell, I DETEST the word "educator" . There are a lot of teachers in my family (husband, mother and two daughters)-- not an educator among them
We sang in grammar school--patriotic songs, old classics like Santa Lucia, Juanita. but it was before school. They probably did it to ease the pain of those endless math exercises in third grade--multiplying 3 digit numbers by 3 digit numbers without a calculator in site.
I agree that parents have been dumbed down. When in a college chemistry class (circa 1978), my sons were befuddled by a problem which could have been solved by using logarithms. I was surprised, appalled to find out that neither of them had been exposed to logarithms even though one had been in a so called "advanced math" class in high school. When I complained to the school (Catholic) I was told that the teachers felt that the concept of logarithms would have stressed the students too much. The other parents were perfectly happy with that.

Dear Thomas Sowell, Your article is good and brings to mind wnat all Taxpayers are thinking and know the public schools should be eliminated, as they're nothing more than money pits! Let's take, forty plus years ago, when there were 35-40 kids in each classroom, with one (1) teacher, (1) principal, and a paddle with holes in it and everyone understood what that meant. Since government took control, stating you can no longer paddle the mean, unruly,or misbehaved as it will hurt their 'thinking' which is nothing more than a crock! Politicians actually want you to believe this hype! The only hurt the paddling caused, when I was in school, was your pride and when you got home, you received additional punishment! Politicians want you to think this so they can 'save their stance in government' to go on creating more and more illegitimates to create more and more 'terror' on American soil so Taxpayers won't know what they doing with all the money they're taking for building all these fancy schools and jails in hopes that you'll re-elect them! If these people want 'ONE ON ONE EDUCATION', then they need to get off their duffs and start home schooling their own kids or put them in a good Christian School, as this is the ONLY way they'll get an education in todays' world run by politicians! As for the mean, unruly and misbehaved kids today, Taxpayers need to make sure all these 'stay-at-home-illegitimate moms' with 2 plus kids, living off social and welfare programs, come to an end! It's a proven fact, kids born in this type environment will never go to school, will do drugs, steal, rape, maim, or murder as this is 'their way of life!'
Folks, this isn't about race, democrat or republican, it's about doing the right thing for children and future generations. Since Taxpayers are the ones paying for themselves and their families, politicians should not have a say in this matter! Even the Obamas would not have their girls in public schools, why should Taxpayers? This should tell you something about how the politicians think- " DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO!"
THERE'S AN OLD SAYING 'IF YOU DON'T WORK, YOU DON'T EAT - JUST THAT SIMPLE!'

WHY WOULD THE 'DUMBEST MAN ON THE STREET' ALREADY KNOW THIS, AND SOMEONE THAT GRADUATED FROM THE FINEST COLLEGE, WOULDN'T? DOESN'T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO FIGURE THIS OUT, NOW DOES IT???????