AND YOU ARE SURPISED?
I ALSO WORK FOR A POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE ENCOUNTERS I HAVE HAD WITH SUPPOSED GOOD STUDENTS, THEY CANNOT WRITE A DECENT SENTENCE, ARE UNABLE TO SPEAK PROPERLY AND THE TAX RATES FOR THE AREA SHOW A 77% SCHOOL DISTRICT RATE. YET THE PRODUCT THEY PRODUCE FALLS FAR FROM WHAT WAS ACCEPTABLE YEARS AGO. WE ALL KNOW THAT WHEN THE AUTO CASH REGISTERS FAIL, THE YOUNG CHECKERS CANNOT ADD, SUBTRACT OR DIVIDE, MUCH LESS MAKE THE PROPER CHANGE.

PARENTS HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR PARENTAL DUTIES AND THE SCHOOLS REALY DON'T CARE.
THE EXCEPTIONS ARE THE FEW THAT MAKE IT!

I think this is the result of at least four issues: 1. Parents don't pay enough attention to their kids and what they are learning.
2. Many teachers and administrators are concerned more about pushing political and social agendas than about educating. In fact, much of the rhetoric and posturing about "improving" education is really about getting more money and trying new "techniques" that don't work instead of pressing on with the tried and true methods. There is too much "no child left behind" sloganizing and not enough serious basic education.
3. Many teachers of science and math are incompetent, and they allow the use of calculators instead of insisting on students learning manual math techniques.
4. Schools lack discipline, primarily because parents have become unwilling to support school discipline. When we protect kids from the consequences that do or should follow their actions, they learn to "get away with" instead of "get to work"

It's not that the schools don't care but if you receive support from home, how much can the educational system do? Many of us expect everything from the school. It starts at home. Instead of buying all the latest and greatest games and TVs in every room, try buying educational CDs or books.

Here is story I keep telling to friends how bad our kids doing math in school:

One day, I was standing in line for ordering food at McDonalds. The person in front of me asking for half a dozen of something. The kid taking the order said, "Sorry, we don't sell half a dozen." The man said, "Well, give me 6 of that then."

I was wondering what math the schools teach to our kids these days. Calculator is not a tool to learn math. Kids need the basic math skill.

Without question, US school systems are failing to produce literate graduates.
Examining polls is a nice way of measuring the position US students against their worldwide peers. These statistics mean nothing if reader does nothing to improve the system under which our students are schooled.
Parents of our students are themselves products of the same failed school system. US parents by enlarge do not know THEY are the responsible agents for the education of their children. Without inciting negative comments, it is also my experience most parents are not present within the school experience. In other words, they do not attend PTA, School events or school board meetings or regularly visit their child’ classroom. So, what can we expect? The answer is clear... an ever downward spiral of non performance and graduates who could not find the USA on a globe if promised financial independence.
Get out and become involved. I am a grandfather... I have no children in public schools and most of my grandkids are now in private schools because of the poor education they would otherwise obtain in the public schools. Demand excellence... you are paying taxes for an excellent school system... not the lip service teacher unions like to give. Help enact school policies that demand the presence of one or both parent’s involvement in their children’s schooling. Only then will this downward trend of illiteracy be stopped.
Unite, take action... and make a difference!