When Iowa first recognized that their students were beginning to lack Basic Skills, initially probably in the late 1930s, about 20 years after compulsory education in every state, they begin formulating a solution and then needed to test, get feedback for their solution, the Iowa Basic Skills test first appeared in 1942. For 25 years until 1967 there were improvements, then the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 money with its requirement hit the schools systems. As we know the Iowa Basic Skills test scores plummeted and NAEP arrived in 1970. Since 1970, even with several normalizations, NAEP scores have been stagnant at their current low levels.

My point is Iowa “discovered” a problem and teachers proved they were capable of fixing the problem, at least according to the test results. So far teachers have no been capable of fixing problems discovered by using NAEP or PISA. More important, to me at least, is that graduating students in rural America and many urban settings have not been able to solve their real life problem, growing their prosperity in their community. Over 95% of rural American communities are going extinct. While communities like Detroit, Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia and others have a growing slum problem, as our national debt soars on the backs of fewer small business each year, a growing list of working age folks not in the work force because of a growing list of reasons all defined with entrance qualification by legislation.

My thought is that no reasonable individual would intentionally want to see their life’s work turn to rubble and their savings loose value, only the ignorant can accomplish that task. Return education to the local community, repeal statewide compulsory education. Return the growth of the community to the choices of the community. Teachers will always test to the test, let to them teach to the prosperity of the community test.