Fixing Education?

The political season is upon us and some might say that it's on us like a heavy pack on a hot day. Just about every politician will trot out his or her "fix" for education. Have mercy!

Nevertheless, we will most of us do our duty and, eventually, vote. Before then we'll do some reading and listening and thinking about the big issues.

One big bundle of big issues concerns education. Over at Slate they're writing about the big issues too. Here's their take on education.

Here's the executive summary, as an image:You can decide whether these goals fit with your views, or prejudices, or not. What's curious is that the Slate article does so little explaining of these points.

For instance, concerning the "fewer tests" goal, here's the argument:

Administer fewer tests. National tests should be given less often, perhaps in only fourth, eighth, and 11^th grades. This would provide relief from the relentless test march that characterizes elementary- and middle-school years, which would give breathing room for subjects like music and art while concentrating attention on key thresholds in education. Reducing the overall amount of tests should also improve the quality of the tests themselves.

Perhaps it's an "eye of the beholder" question, that is, a question determined by starting point, experience, and perceptions, but this seems not so much a logical argument than simply a series of statements.

Perhaps I misunderstand?