Follow-up story: https://blnnews.com/2025/12/05/why-cant-3rd-graders-read-dont-blame-covid/
By: Diane Benjamin
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/how-well-are-your-local-third-graders-reading/
Even under loosened proficiency standards, over half of Illinois third graders couldn’t read at grade level in 2025.
District 87 has no schools where over 50% of 3rd graders were proficient. Unit 5 has ONE. Obviously education isn’t the goal. Page down to the bottom – Tri-Valley’s one elementary school is at 78%. No wonder Bloomington’s City Manager lives in Downs.
If your kids don’t go to one of these schools, click the link above and look it up. Area schools scored slightly better than any in town schools.
The students tested are now in 4th grade. Parents need to sit down with a book tonight and have your 4th grader prove they can read.
America’s most vital service is educating its children. America’s most ignored crisis is its failure to do so.
“Obviously education isn’t the goal.”
In your opinion, what is the goal?
Populations incapable of thinking for themselves are easier to control.
The goal is no longer academic learning it’s Social Emotional Learning. (SEL)
Where teachers are to put themselves on the same level as their students so that the students can construct their own meaning, truth and identity.
Where discipline is monitored by those outside the classroom for compliance to statistical requirements.
Where identity is a social construct and its fluidity and personal creation is mandated to be accepted and celebrated by all.
Where race and sex is centered and division is the result.
Where the reconstruction of social norms is put on the backs of children by adults.
Where discrimination based on identity is considered to be the way to equality.
Where current laws and morality are insufficient to achieve its goals.
And we were all sold this nonsense with the promise it would improve academic achievement, reduce discipline problems and make our children happy and healthy. Exactly the opposite has happened which make you wonder who is at the controls and what did they really want to accomplish?
The third graders can probably tell you if they are male, female, or whatever.
Just saying!