rising tide of mediocrity' in our schools. States such as New York have responded to the

findings and recommendations of the report by implementing such strategies as the

'Regents Action Plan' and the 'New Compact for Learning'.

In the early 1980's, President Regan ordered a national commission to study our

education system. The findings of this commission were that, compared with other

industrialized nations, our education system is grossly inadequate in meeting the

standards of education that many other countries have developed. At one time, America

was the world leader in technology, service, and industry, but overconfidence based on

a historical belief in our superiority has caused our nation to fall behind the rapidly

growing competitive market in the world with regard to education. The report in some

respects is an unfair comparison of our education system, which does not have a

national standard for goals, curriculum, or regulations, with other countries that do, but

the findings nevertheless reflect the need for change. Our education system at this time

is regulated by states which implement their own curriculum, set t

society and within the school system. There are two aspects to drug use that teachers

the state has accomplished much of what it set out to do, but the need to continue to

serious problem. The influx of weapons in schools creates a dangerous situation for

consequences for the future. Our society need to understand that the schools are not

schools. It is not clear whether there is a rise in the occurrences of abuse or whether

and child abuse are all issues that educators are confronted with when working with

babies that are now entering the schools. These students have extremely low attention

Some topics in this essay:
Risk' NY, President Regan, Compact Learning', Competency Tests, Action Plan, Risk' American, education system, , Action Plan', intervention programs, child abuse, standards education, single parent, minimum competency, Nation Risk', changing family structure, teacher preparation, education provided, success rewarded, society school system, and/or neglect, single parent homes, schools begun deal, abuse and/or neglect,