The one thing that has always frustrated and confused me about Americans is how they simply refuse to learn from others, and keep trying to figure out and fix things themselves. We have countries with thousands of years worth of trials, errors, and fixed mistakes to learn from, but America, being only 250 years old, thinks it knows better and can figure things out better on its own. We have tons of other education systems to examine, from places that are kicking our ass when it comes to math, science, and culture. Why are we so arrogant that we forcefully put on blinders and just keep throwing shit ideas at the wall to see what sticks, or trying to throw money at the problem to make it go away, instead of picking the best ideas from all parts of the world to be the best period?
Its all about the $$$, the free market at work. First, the 'new' ideas are not intended to work....as Piper67 knows. They are simply part of the sales pitch. If you actually do something, then your long-term business falls apart...you gotz to keep them coming back.
You give the sales pitch, and the school district buys into it. They do so because when they retire, they work for the sales company. BTW, if other countries ideas actually help sell learning products here, they would be sold. But parents who want to feel like they are being parents(and in denial how they neglect their kids) prefer this hypnosis. They also prefer feeding to be overweight(such as pizza), looking at the sandbox(aka TV), or anything else that results in quick parenting....I understand it, dont get me wrong. Who has the time to actually act responsible for their kids? Heck, who has the time to act responsible for themselves?