[andyfox]

I've had experience, both personal and with my kids, with many different school systems, public and private, in different states, and I didn't see this one-size-fits-all nationwide system which you're alluding to. That there might be national standards to adhere to doesn't necessarily mean that all teachers take the easy way out or do things the same way. Likewise, that some administrators are worried about falling graduation rates doesn't mean that education will necessarily suffer.