Waiting for Superman

Did anyone watch Oprah on Monday, September 27?  She screened the movie, Waiting for Superman, with her audience and had several superintendents and Charter school advocates as guests.  I agree that the educational system in the US needs help... BUT! 
First, Let's get a few things straight.  FACT: The US ranks 24 out of 29 countries tested last year in math.  BUT... when we compare our test scores to those of countries like India there is something you need to hear along with that fact.  India only educates the students that value education and can afford to be educated.  They, like many other countries, and unlike the US do NOT make education mandatory.  Therefore when they (in India) do national testing, they are testing their best and their brightest, only.  We in the US test everyone.  Every student between 3rd grade (a level that state mandated testing begins) and 12th grade is tested.  The rules have gotten really strict over the years, too.  States only qualify for state and federal money if all tests are complete and since no child left behind every child, with every disability's, test score must be counted to continue to get funding. So the US ranks low, because we include every brain surgeon and every dim bulb.  Every kid that tries really hard and every kid that fills in the dots and takes a nap.  So how relevant are these rankings?  How would the US look on that list were we to test only the kids that really wanted to take the test? 
Secondly, CHARTER SCHOOLs are not the answer!  Oprah seemed to think if everyone was in a charter school, with a GOOD teacher, then every kid would be a rocket scientist.  NO.  The kids in charter schools that are successful are there because their family values education.  Mom reads to the kids.  Dad checks their homework.  Someone goes to Parent Teacher Conferences, EVERY TIME!  If we were to take every kid, from every failing school and plunk them into a charter school, Guess What??  You would get the same population getting the same test scores.   What I ask Oprah is, where is the parent responsibility?  Where is the student responsibility? 
Third, if I hear the words "bad teacher" one more time, I think I will have a stroke!  While yes, there are teachers that are protected by unions and stay in classrooms longer then they should, I think "bad teachers" are way down the list of who's to blame for our current situation.  The Oprah show made is sound like you could throw students off the roof and the union could make it impossible to fire you.  I don't know how it is everywhere else but in Missouri the state dictates how teachers are disciplined.  They have to go through "phases" (awareness phase, correction phase, etc).  No set time is connected to each phase.  How long each phase lasts depends on the severity of the infraction and at the discretion of the administrator.  Tenure means nothing if you have done something wrong or aren't teaching properly.  So maybe the rest of the country needs to take the lead of the state of Missouri when it comes to Performance Based Teacher Evaluations. 
Finally, with the technology and resources that every school (yes, even inner city, public schools) have in 2010 maybe we should be looking at what has changed over the years with respect to students:  their family situations.  Tell me what you think!