ABSTRACT
Elementary and secondary schools in the United States today face the daunting task of preparing all children—the next generation of workers—for an increasingly competitive national and global economy. Unfortunately, it is still fashionable today to blame schools for the perceived failures of U.S. education. In my estimation, the main problems are not bad teachers, inadequate facilities, or watered-down curriculums. Nor is the problem a lack of parental involvement in partnerships with schools and teachers. The main challenge facing schools today is the changing family. If schools have failed, it is largely because they have been unable to keep pace with the profound demographic changes in the family.
