It  has been more decades than I would like to admit since I sat in a  classroom and followed along with a teacher at the front of the room.  But it's not been that long ago since I watched with pride when my  youngest son graduated from high school and later from college.

What  I have noticed is that schools today, in spite of all the technological  advances, do not seem to be producing the same quality of learning as  when I was a student. The focus of educators seems to be less on  providing a basis for life ahead and more on making sure that students  pass standardized, mandated tests coming out of Washington D.C.

I  have seen teachers more intent on keeping the test scores up for the  teacher's own job security rather than insuring the students have a  well-rounded education. I know personally of teachers who spend an  entire grading period not focusing on the lesson plans, but rather  devoting all the time and energy into a standardized test.

The  biggest issue I find and the reason that today's students seem less  educated and less prepared than those of my generation is how control of  policy and curriculum has been taken away from local school boards,  teachers and principals and been shifted instead to state boards who  must comply with federal rules and mandates being handed down from  Washington DC.

There  seems to be less and less attention on the individual students. Schools  must compete on standardized tests to make sure funding comes in and to  keep accredidation to remain open. It doesn't matter that the tests  have little to do with learning or preparing students for the future.

Localities  are best suited to determine what will be in the best interest of  students as they learn and prepare for life ahead. Sadly, that has been  lost as more and more authority has been taken away and consolidated in  state boards which simply are there to execute the dictates from the  federal Department of Education.

If these tests and mandates are so essential why are we constantly reminded of the dumbing down of America?

If federal involvement is needed, why do American students fare so badly compared to students in other countries?

Another  issue is parental involvement has decreased. Schools have become  surrogate parents and babysitters rather than institutions of learning.  Parents have forfeited their responsibility of making sure their child  learns to teachers, who too often are more interested in putting in the  hours and getting a paycheck and less concerned with making sure his or  her class is actually learning.

When  I think back to my own educational experience and compare to today's  learning environment, I see that I was the lucky one. Even though I went  to 15 different schools before graduating high school, I was better  taught than most students today.

Growing  up in 5 diferent states, the curriculum often had a local flavor which I  believe made me a more rounded individual. As I moved from school to  school, the sharing of information made for a better learning experience  and climate. Teachers and students would relish learning about other  communities and other states from someone who could provide first hand  accounts.

Today,  we have a classroom where not just students, but teachers can't wait  until the bell rings. We have students studying to pass standardized  tests while learning nothing about the subject of the class.

From  the Cornfield, we need less federal involvement in education. We need  to bring education back to the local school boards and teachers. We need  parents to take back their parental responsibility in assiting their  children learn.