Posted by
Tim Blessing on Monday, March 24, 2008 7:50:00 PM
Should the Federal Government have a role in setting standards for local Public Schools?
My inclination is to say if the Feds provide money then they should have some say in setting standards.
My second inclination is to say that Public Education is traditionally state and local responsibility.
My third inclination is to say that we are competing in a global economy and need to be organized to respond to international competition.
However, companies will not locate in Jacksonville, Florida unless there is a viable workforce available.
Competition for jobs is forcing state and local governments to make improvements in their school systems if they want to attract outside businesses.
What are standards for education? A bunch of principles that fit in a national prism based on imbalances in performance by schools in a diversity of states and the apparent success of public education in other countries.
I guess the root of the problem is should professional bureaucrats in the US Dept of Education set arbitrary standards for every American School Student or should it be done by State and Local Governments who know their own issues better.
In essence, does Federal Money trump Local Control.