While politicians call for better standardized test scores, more security, The Ten Commandments in every classroom, compulsory classes in Patriotism, and other meaningless solutions to 21st century problems, the 19th century "system" of public education, which absorbs and then spits out all attempts to reform it, goes right on churning out its hapless graduates with meaningless diplomas. As in all huge bureaucracies, self-preservation has supplanted meaningful action and only systemic change of an overwhelming nature can once again bring it to serve our children in a time of blindingly fast economic and social metamorphosis.