America's Education Crisis: What's Really Going Wrong — And What Parents Can Do About It
- Jun 3
- 3 min read
June 3, 2026
This article was written with the assistance of AI, adapted from a recent podcast episode transcript from the Real Alex Clark Podcast, America’s Kids Are Falling Behind: A Way Out For Teachers & Parents with Dr. Hutz Hertzberg.
Something feels deeply off in American education right now — and more families than ever are starting to trust that instinct.
Kids can't read. Boys are falling behind at alarming rates. Teachers are burning out and leaving the profession. AI is reshaping how students learn. And many parents are quietly asking a question they never expected to ask: What is school actually doing to my child?
Dr. Hutz Herzburg, Chief Education Officer for Turning Point Education, recently joined Culture Apothecary to tackle all of it head-on. With decades of experience leading schools, universities, and educational organizations, Dr. Herzburg offered a frank diagnosis of what's broken — and a genuine vision for what comes next.
Why Can't Kids Read Anymore?
It's not one thing, says Dr. Herzburg — it's everything compounding at once. A distracted generation raised on screens. Teaching quality that has declined steadily for decades. And a curriculum philosophy rooted in progressive thinking that dates back to the early 1900s, one that has gradually moved American education away from the classical model that once produced some of the most literate, capable citizens in the world.
The result? High schoolers reading at a third-grade level. Math scores at historic lows. And a generation that, in Dr. Herzburg's words, cannot truly be free — because freedom requires the ability to read, reason, and think independently.
Boys Are Being Left Behind
One of the most urgent issues in modern education is the struggle of young men. Dr. Herzburg argues that schools have tried to teach boys like girls — expecting them to sit still, stay quiet, and absorb information passively for hours on end. That's not how boys are wired. Classical education, with its emphasis on active learning, nature, exploration, and hands-on experience, offers a far better fit. Turning Point Education has even developed a two-year father-son curriculum called Iron Works, combining physical activity, Bible study, and practical life skills to help boys grow into strong, grounded young men.
Schools Are Spiritually Formative — Whether You Realize It or Not
One of the most sobering points Dr. Herzburg makes is that there is no such thing as neutral education. Every classroom teaches a worldview — and in most public schools today, that worldview is actively hostile to faith. Christian teachers face enormous pressure to stay silent, keep their heads down, or leave altogether. And many are choosing to leave, taking with them the last flickers of light in an increasingly dark system.
Research cited in the conversation puts it in stark terms: only 4% of Americans currently hold a biblical worldview. The school system, Dr. Herzburg argues, has played a significant role in that collapse.
A Growing Movement Fighting Back
The encouraging news is that parents, pastors, and educators are waking up. Homeschooling is booming. Classical schools are multiplying across the country. Churches are rediscovering their historic role in holistic education. And organizations like Turning Point Education are equipping the people on the front lines with tools, community, and courage.
Join the Conversation This Summer
Turning Point Education's 5th Annual Educator Summit — themed Courage in Our Convictions: Cultivating Clarity in Chaos — takes place June 16–19 in Lincolnshire, Illinois. It's built for public school teachers, Christian school educators, homeschooling parents, pastors, and school board members. Featuring 28 speakers including Dr. Al Mohler, Riley Gaines, and George Barna, it's designed to both encourage and equip everyone who feels the weight of this moment in education.
Tickets are just $50 — and with code ALEXCLARK at turningpointed.com, you'll get 30% off. Meals are included, and discounted hotel rooms are available at the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort.