None Left Behind Because Everyone Moves Backwards

While admitting that the No Child Left Behind Act will eventually be reauthorized ("doubling down on losing bets is what Washington does"), George Will provides three reasons as to why it, and other federal education reform, was wrong in the first place:

First, most new ideas are dubious, so the federalization of policy increases the probability of continentwide mistakes. Second, education is susceptible to pedagogic fads and social engineering fantasies -- schools of education incubate them -- so it is prone to producing continental regrets. Third, America always is more likely to have a few wise state governments than a wise federal government.

There is much more. This is one of those columns I wish could gain a universal reading.