This year is the 160th anniversary of public education in California. That might seem to be a landmark — a cause of celebration in some circles. However, the dream that motivated the pioneers of taxpayer-supported schools in the mid-19th century has evolved into a nightmare of illiteracy, chaos, incompetence and indoctrination.

In 160 years, California and, indeed, the nation have gone from the one-room schoolhouse — which was considered a privileged place of learning for m ...

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