It's Poverty, Stupid! - Teachers Were Never The Problem

Social science research provides the empirical evidence that over two thirds of student achievement is a product of out-of-school factors - among the most powerful of those is economic status.

 By David Sirota

Google the phrase “education crisis” and you'll be hit with a glut of articles, blog posts and think tank reports claiming the entire American school system is facing an emergency. Much of this agitprop additionally asserts that teachers unions are the primary cause of the alleged problem. Not surprisingly, the fabulists pushing these narratives are often backed by anti-public school conservatives and anti-union plutocrats. But a little-noticed study released last week provides yet more confirmation that neither the “education crisis” meme or the “evil teachers' union” narrative is accurate.

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