In Its Most Basic Form, Everything is Simple

In an otherwise unobjectionable column about the difficulties facing the current and any future superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District, columnist Steve Lopez opens with perhaps the most ridiculous statement about education that I have ever read.

In its most basic form, the idea is pretty simple. The bell rings, students file into class, and teachers share knowledge and tap into natural curiosity.

Well, sure, if you want to be ultra-reductionist about it, everything is simple. Let's try some others:

In its most basic form, the idea is pretty simple. The patient is wheeled into the room, you cut into the chest, fix the heart, and close it up.

In its most basic form, the idea is pretty simple. The judge enters the courtroom, you tell the jury why the defendant is guilty, then everyone goes home.

In its most basic form, the idea is pretty simple. The astronauts enter the rocket, someone pushes "Fire", and the rocket lands on the moon.

In its most basic form, the idea is pretty simple. You sit down at a computer, write an intelligent column, and give it to your editor.

Hey, this is easier than I thought! I don't know why I've ever worried about anything!