On Education Reform

After watching the Republican Primary Debate that took place on September 22, 2011 got me thinking about several different topics that were brought about in the debates. One struck me very much so because of the several different responses given by all the candidates. Ironically, it’s an issue that is almost looked over, though it is a serious topic: Education.

Some general comments made by some of the candidates were:

Johnson: “ [I] promise to advocate the abolishment of the Federal Department of Education.”

Rick Santorum: “[It is] the parent’s responsibility to educate their children.” He states that the government forces parents out of the picture when it comes to their children’s integration into the established school systems set by the government

Ron Paul: “If you care about your children you’ll get the Federal Government out of the business of educating our kids.” He brought up a point that I personally agree with- parents should have the option to say no the public school system. I will elaborate on my stance later in the blog.

Perry: Promotes “school choice”.

Romney: “Education has to be held at the local and state level, not at the Federal level.” He supports the idea that we need to hire the best and brightest teachers in order to properly educate the children of the nation.

What they all seem to agree on is that the Federal Government should step away from controlling the educational system. Reform needs to happen at the local and state level to serve the school system and families of that region. Ron Paul brings up an interesting topic- opting out of the state school system. Personally, I feel it is unfair for people who choose private schools, but still have to pay a tax for the public school system that they don’t participate in by choice. My family had to pay taxes for the public school system even though they chose to not support it.

Education is a very loosely defined item in American politics. Yes, it is held in control at the Federal level, but is it the Federal government’s right to control it completely? Other issues brought up were the teachers’ union interference. What I find horrible is that some politicians feel the best teachers should be hired, when schools can’t afford to hire new teachers and thousands of teachers and educators have been laid off due to budget cuts.

 We have yet to absolutely define education as a privilege, right, or an obligation. Each definition carries its own economic plan and government responsibility. Undefined, it remains  a mess of control and educational instability.

Educate your children to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies subject to an upright and reasoning will, and you have done much to abolish misery from their future and crimes from society. - Benjamin Franklin