How bad is it in school nationwide? Less than one half are proficient in reading. Among seniors, 82% are not proficient in science. Among 8th graders, more than 40% cannot understand general information from science. About 40% of them cannot search for specific information in reading material. About 20% of black students are proficient or advanced in reading. For whites, it is about 34%. Makes you want to join the NEA, doesn't it. And they wonder why people are flooding to private schools. If you are Black, you should definitely support vouchers for private schools. Forget the NEA nonsensical objections. Support vouchers, take your kids to the hardest private school you can find and try to reverse this trend. A Black child who cannot read will not make it in the adult world. And all the affirmative action in the world won't save him.