Education. In every campaign we hear politicians say we need to spend more on education. We are already spending record amounts, but getting poor results. Why do we need to spend more when what we are spending isn’t doing the job?

Last year, the Department of Education’s National Assessment of Educational Progress revealed that less than one-quarter of grade-school students are proficient in civics and American history. These are the subjects meant to prepare them to be responsible citizens.

This is a trend. In 2001, civics was the only subject in which more than half of high school seniors could not demonstrate basic knowledge.

Liberals who run the government schools are embarrassed about America. Their multi-cultural approach teaches kids there is nothing special about America and, in fact, much wrong with our country. There are so many illegal immigrants in the U.S. that the education establishment won’t teach them about America either. Don’t tell me we need more dollars for education. We need school choice so more people can flee the government schools.

Cal Thomas is a syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.