VDH: Epidemic of Ignorance

Liberal education of the type my farming grandfather got was the reason why the United States grew wealthy, free, and stable. But without it, the nation of his great-grandchildren will become poor, docile, and insecure.

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Back-to-school blues.

By Victor Davis Hanson

NATIONAL REVIEW

Last week I went shopping in our small rural hometown, where my family has attended the same public schools since 1896. Without exception, all six generations of us — whether farmers, housewives, day laborers, business people, writers, lawyers, or educators — were given a good, competitive K-12 education.
But after a haircut, I noticed that the 20-something cashier could not count out change.

The next day, at the electronic outlet store, another young clerk could not read — much less explain — the basic English of the buyer’s warranty.

At the food market, I listened as a young couple argued over the price of a cut of tri-tip — unable to calculate the meat’s real value from its price per pound.

As another school year is set to get under way, it’s worth pondering where this epidemic of ignorance came from...

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