Iowa education must not succumb to ‘low expectations’

Recently “The Atlantic” had an article by Idrees Kahloon: “America is Sliding Toward Illiteracy-Declining standards and low expectations are destroying American education.” The piece sheds light on the real problem in our schools.

Smartphone overuse is correctly cited as detrimental to a young person’s learning, but the problem goes deeper. Kahloon suggests “Low Expectations Theory” as an explanation.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress reveals alarming trends since about 2013. Today, 33% of 8th graders read at a level “below basic.” Among 4th graders, the figure is 40%. The average ACT score has fallen to 19.4, the lowest since 1990. One in four students are chronically absent.

Despite all of this, students receiving a grade of “A” in English rose from 48% in 2012 to 56% in 2022. The percentages are similar for other subjects. High school graduation rates have increased from 80% in 2012 to 87% in 2022. Could low standards and expectations be the real problem?

Forty percent of middle school teachers work at a school with no penalties for late work, with no zeros for missing assignments, and where tests can be retaken multiple times.

Iowans must guard against following these unfortunate national trends. Do not tell students that they are doing excellent work, when just average. Do not tell students that they are doing average work, when well below average. Getting disruptive students out of the classroom also needs to happen. Students need to prepare for the real world, which still has meaningful standards and expectations.

Mike Streb

Iowa City