We need solutions, not more slogans
AJC columnist Jay Bookman and 20th century journalist H.L. Mencken have it right: We crave simple, clear answers to complex problems (even when they are wrong or impractical) so much so that many gravitate to otherwise unqualified politicians who will repeat a slogan we want to hear (“Trump: ‘Solutions that are simple, clear and wrong,’” Opinion, Dec. 1).
Isn’t it ironic that we can accept the conventional wisdom of football? “You don’t choose a true freshmen quarterback to run your SEC offense,” or “Ideally, even your first-round draft-pick Heisman-winning quarterback would study under a grizzled veteran for year before leading an NFL team.” But in politics, we reject wisdom and instead advocate putting the most powerful nation in the world under the leadership of folks with no government or foreign policy experience whatsoever. Of course, we do spend more time studying the stats of our fantasy football players then evaluating candidates, so obviously, rejecting conventional wisdom makes total sense.
If we accept the Obama narrative that a former community organizer with one term in the Senate is unqualified, what does that say about some of the Republican candidates? Whatever it says, it’s not positive.
MARK A. JENNINGS, LAWRENCEVILLE
Value common education standards
Of all arguments against the Common Core educational standards, and there are several, the most specious is that it is bad because children are individuals with different learning needs (“Should states stay the course with Common Core? No,” Opinion, Nov. 30). Nonsense! That is exactly why a common standard could be useful. A standard framed as an outcome is not a method. A student’s ability or life situation can be huge issues in education, but having a common goal would allow educators and parents to learn which methods work best for any kid of any background.
State and local school systems could be laboratories of methodological innovation, and we’d begin to learn what works and what doesn’t. The soft bigotry of low expectations would be exposed. So, too, the political chicanery that hides low achievement. Excessive testing, costs and federal intrusion are very relevant concerns about Common Core, but not child ability or need.
JAY JOHNSON, DRUID HILLS
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