The Leonard Lopate Show

Congratulations to Susan, and thank you for letting me know about her and her books. Since I am in complete agreement with her, I think she is right on the money (even with the money that has God's authorization embossed).

Dear Susan Jacoby:

I heard you being interviewed about your book, The Age Of American Unreason. It was broadcast on National Public Radio's Weekend Edition on Sunday, April 6, 2008, about

2 A. M.

You are absolutely right about education being a mess. I was a high school substitute teacher for several years until recently, and

I encountered more dishonesty, ignorance, and some legal ignorance. When some teachers and administrators make mistakes, they scapegoat substitutes and even each other. More experienced teachers will not help new teachers. Many students do not learn basic matters, such as the Watergate scandal in United States history. You made a good point about someone believing that Vietnam attacked Pearl Harbor, thus causing the Vietnam War.

I worked with many Vietnamese as a substitute teacher, and I live in an apartment with Vietnamese. We certainly need national history standards, and we need to stop thinking that a subject competency test is needed for people who already hold a college degree in that subject.