When most of us were younger, our education system was considered the best in the world. From elementary school through college, we turned out kids that had basic skills such as the ability to read, write, and solve math problems. Not everyone, I understand, but we always did well in standardized tests but more importantly we had a knowledge base that allowed us to either continue our education or begin our careers. What happened?

I think the biggest catalyst was the shift away from expecting kids to learn, which often involved failure if they did not, to a focus on feelings and curing societal ills. Educators started worrying about protecting self-esteem more than educating and creating character and confidence by expecting kids to overcome obstacles or failures. Thus we lowered expectations.

We also took parents out of the equation. Parents were no longer necessarily welcome in schools because we were told they didn't understand the educational concepts being used. Or parents might put unrealistic expectations upon kids that would cause stress and bad feelings.

Now too many kids graduate from high school, or don't graduate, without the requisite basic skills necessary to function in society. If they go on to college, they have to take orientation and remedial classes. Orientation classes teach them how to open a bank account or get utilities turned on at their apartment. When we rented our first apartment, we opened a phone book and looked up the electric company. Now kids get college credit for learning that.

The University of South Carolina is breaking state law by not requiring students to take, and pass, courses on the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and the Federalist Papers. Rather, they can take a class in Tailgating 101, which will teach them the fine arts of starting a gas grill or lighting charcoal; how to cook meat or create your own recipes; even how to tap a keg. How did we learn to tap a keg without a college course? Is it any wonder that many college students support socialism?

In this debate over immigration, many people don't like skilled workers being invited to come and take American jobs. But the simple fact is that many of our kids are not being taught the knowledge and skills necessary to obtain high paying jobs. Employers don't have the time to teach them the basic skills necessary to become valuable employees.

We have let that happen. We have let educators push us out of the system. We have bought into their argument that we don't understand the concepts. But they are wrong. We can understand the basics by drawing upon our experience when we were in school. Expectations need to return to education both for the students and the teachers. Discipline needs to return as well. If kids are allowed to run the asylum, then education cannot happen. Parents need to be allowed back into the process. Once again, we hold the power. Do we have the backbone to use it?