Monday, May 19, 2008

Grand Theft Education

Grand Theft Auto is a series of games where the player tries to steal cars. As a game many people seem to enjoy it. Over 65 million copies have been sold.

In real life society takes a harsh view of criminals who steal a car. Cars are a major capital investment. Used cars sell for hundreds and thousands of dollars. Brand new cars sell for thousands, tens of thousands, and more.

K. Lloyd Billingsley has a recent column on Grand Theft Education. Mr. Billingsley writes about a California Department of Education (CDE) whistle blower, James Lindberg, who tried to stop the theft of millions of dollars, and was stonewalled, and then sued, by the Department of Education. Juries kept awarding Lindberg money, and the CDE kept apealing. The incident with James Lindberg may finally be over, but as K. Lloyd Billingsley points out there is strong reason to believe there are other incidents of abuse.

Grand Theft Auto may be a fun game, but Grand Theft Education is wrong. The root problem is there is no public outcry. There is no media holding corrupt officials' feet to the fire. The result is Grand Theft Education will continue.

(K. Lloyd Billingsley is editorial director of the California-based Pacific Research Institute)


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Technorati tags: government schools, public school, public education, education

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