ABSTRACT
None of the federal education legislation since the 2001 No Child Left Behind resulted in any significant improvement in US schools. No Child Left Behind created an era of teaching to the test, test prep and boycotts led by the parent-driven Opt Out movement to keep their kids home on testing day. The US Constitution was written before schooling became an important part of the social fabric. There is nothing in the US Constitution about education and, consequently, the power over schooling has been given to state governments. International studies of happiness or living a satisfying life find that money is important for the food, shelter and health care. Public health studies show that social inequality causes stress for those at bottom of a hierarchy, which in turn contributes to poor health, a reduced life span and a low sense of subjective well-being.
