Your Mandarin received the following electronic letters regarding the Education at What Cost post.

Mandy,

You hit that one out of the park. You’re pretty much dead on. There is only one element with regard to public schools in underserved areas that you left out.

That element is graft.

When I was a lad growing up in an anonymous state in the Northeast, the best schools in my area of the state received ~$8,500/student in funds (1985-1990 dollars). The worst schools in the state, in the worst city in the state received ~$12,000/student in funds. My BFF’s dad, a lawyer who did pro-bono work for said worst-city in the state informed me that of the $12,000, the students only saw ~ $4,000. The other $8,000 disappeared into the ether.

Pretty sad.

Best,

Dr. J.

The esteemed royal surgeon is correct in that graft is a major factor in the demise of the educational system. Your Mandarin didn’t bother to point this out since graft and union/government are almost synonymous in his vast and complex mind. But the royal surgeon was kind enough to explain this point to those of you playing along at home that are new to the game.

Honorable Power-ringed Antagonist of Iron Man:

I am (of course) impressed and in agreement with your new post on Buchanan’s article. It’s worth noting that these progressive educational ideas fall under the heading of “educational romanticism”, which I have discussed over at my place on occasion. If you’re interested in any of this, I strongly recommend Robt. Weissberg’s Bad Students, Not Bad Schools, which came out last year. He’s getting the Cassandra treatment, but like Cassandra, he’s right.

With inappropriate fondness bordering on a bad touch,

Prof. Mondo

Your Mandarin would like to thank the erudite Professor Mondo for his fondness of the article. But your Mandarin would warn the good professor to keep his hands to himself at least until this “rash” or whatever it is clears up. And your Mandarin commands all of you reading this post to click on the links that Professor Mondo has so graciously supplied. What are you waiting for, click on them now or your Mandarin will unleash the power and the fury of his orbital annoyance ray. The effects of the ray include nausea, intense itching, minor hair loss on your left leg, and the intense urge to make a hat out of corned beef hash. Now don’t you think you would be better served by clicking on those links?

The Mandarin

The Mandarin, whose real name is 吏恆, joined the order in 1309, and introduced the Gormogons into England during the 18th Century.

The Mandarin enjoys spending time with his pet manticore, Βάρἰκος, or Barry (who can be found in the Bestiary). When not in the Castle…well, frankly, nobody is quite sure where he goes.

The Mandarin popularized the fine art of “gut booting,” by which he delivers a powerful kick to the stomach of anyone that annoys him. Although nearly universal today, the act of gut booting or threatening someone or something with a gut boot is solely due to him.