The Death of Excellence

January 25, 2004

Here are three related stories on our pursuit of Mediocrity.

The War Against Excellence
There's a new book by Cheri Pierson Yecke, Minnesota's commissioner of education. In a Townhall review, Jonathan Butcher writes:

The War Against Excellence is so meticulously researched and well-documented, so thoroughly explained and rich with supporting evidence that it could only have come from witnessing a set of events over and over again until an appalling scene became etched in the author's mind.

Which reminds us why we created this site. In her book, which focusses on middle schools, Ms. Yecke describes how attempts to achieve egalitarian ends have not only sacrificed our best and brightest, but has resulted in the dumbing-down of education for all students. All in the name of social justice.

Honor Rolls
Joanne Jacobs reports that, "Afraid of lawsuits by the parents of mediocre students, Nashville schools won't post honor rolls." Dustbury.com drolly responds, "Light, meet bushel."

Rejecting the Best and Brightest
Speaking of lights and bushels, the Photon Courier points readers to a story from the Atlanta Journal Constitution which highlights a big reason why our schools are failing.

Marquis Harris writes of his education and life experiences, after which he made an important career decision. In Mr. Harris' words:

I am a 22-year-old African-American male and recent graduate of a respectable liberal arts college in Kentucky. I acquired a 3.75 grade-point average with a double major in Social Studies Secondary Education and sociology.

I was a Rhodes Scholar nominee, inducted into the Mensa society in May 2001, named to the National Dean's List for three consecutive years, successfully competed in intercollegiate forensics and served as student body president.

While in college I was also privileged to serve on mission trips to Mexico, Guatemala and Jamaica. In the summer of 2002 I was granted the opportunity to intern with Saxby Chambliss, who was then a U.S. representative running for the U.S. Senate. I served for two years as a court-appointed special advocate for the state of Kentucky.

Essentially, the man could have written his own ticket to any of a number of career paths. But he writes, "I came to realize that my true calling lay in inspiring, motivating, challenging and educating other young adults."

Bravo.

After applying in numerous school districts in and around Atlanta, he received the following in an email from a principal at a school where he'd interviewed:

Though your qualifications are quite impressive, I regret to inform you that we have selected another candidate. It was felt that your demeanor and therefore presence in the classroom would serve as an unrealistic expectation as to what high school students could strive to achieve or become. However, it is highly recommended that you seek employment at the collegiate level; there your intellectual comportment would be greatly appreciated. Good luck.

Light, meet bushel.

Thomas Sowell writes:

Just as any village idiot can destroy a priceless Ming vase, so the shallow and fad-ridden people in our public schools can undermine and ultimately destroy a civilization that took centuries of effort and sacrifice to create and maintain.

All we have to do is abandon the pursuit of excellence.