"Once test scores are adjusted to take into account variables such as
income level, race, and parents' education level, differences in
student achievement are near zero and of no significance"

This was one of the most important points you made, in my opinion. First of all, we can't lump all (public or private) schools together and say that one or the other has a student population with a greater desire to learn. People want to learn, they do. It gives me hope that these variables mentioned above are finally being seriously and genuinely considered. I am tired of the opinion of some people who say that these factors lead to a poorer education for these students. In addition, we can all agree that some people have used these factors to say that these are the students who just don't want to learn.

The situation with this particular is absurd and a disgrace to the education system. However, one thing that applies to this entire discussion is that all schools and situations are different. There are many factors that effect that. With regards to his situation, I would love to know more about it. I want to know more about his teachers and the school he attended a few decades ago. What were the specifics? How did so many teachers pass him by? How did his students "turn out?"

I believe that this is a story beyond those that we hear about students falling through the cracks or cheating on high school exams and papers. I cannot believe that he was able to move as far as he did with his limited education. Where were the teachers...But to be completely honest, when I first read the story I was angry at him as well. I was angry that he let himself get that behind and then decided to be a teacher??? It's great that when he was approaching 50, he finally decided to learn to read and write, but what about all that time in between? Was he trying to keep sliding by for another 20 years? Did he blame his teachers so he thought he'd be a better one and make up for it? Well, those are my thoughts on the topic for now.