Where is Public Education Headed?

 

     Many of us have begun to wonder where education is headed as January 20, 2017 moves closer to the present. Some have mused, "Our lives will be relatively unaffected by the election". I wonder if you asked a public school teacher or administrator if their professional lives have been relatively unaffected by any of the past several election cycles? I don't think so. Many political mandates and policies have arisen; many initiatives have materialized as politicians jockey to achieve their favored educational goal. Language and descriptions may change, but the underlying political directions, one way or the other, usually don't change. Let's examine the historical role of local, state, and federal government as it relates to education.

     From the beginning of our country a 'well educated citizenry' was considered important 'for the general welfare of the people'. Depending on your interpretation of the Constitution, the responsibility for education either lies with the federal (and state and local) governments to promote the general welfare of the people or this responsibility lies solelywith the state and local governments. A history buff will tell you that this has been a long-standing philosophical tug of war. The 10th Amendment stipulates that any power not specifically delegated to the United States is reserved to the States. Does the federal government have a role to play in education? In the 1800's the federal government granted land and surplus funds to the states for the support of public education. Even during these early times, education was one of the largest expenses of state and local government just as it is today and many states used the funds to support education. Fast forward to 2016 and you will find few public school systems that don't depend on federal monies received to support ongoing operational costs. You will find few states that can afford to ignore these federal dollars. And certainly few local communities can afford to pay for their public schools solely through citizen-supported taxation.

     This philosophical difference people hold about the federal government's role in education has contributed to those politicians who try to abolish or lessen the federal Department of Education and the cabinet level roles. Without a federal Department of Education and the public tax dollars that support and advocate for access to public education for all, education becomes less public and more competitive. Some in our country, in our state, in our cities and towns will have the means to afford education and some will not. We can see this in our 'public' health system. 

     Back to January 20, 2017. President-elect Trump has chosen Betsy DeVos as his Secretary of Education to head up the Department of Education. Reportedly, she has not worked in schools as a teacher nor superintendent. She is a 'school choice' advocate and supports school vouchers and charter schools, philosophically and financially with big political donations. Reportedly, Trump himself is a product of an independent high school (which today charges about $36,000/year tuition) which he left for a military high school education (which is a private academy which charges about $14,000-$41,000 plus fees per year depending on whether one is a boarding student). According to a 2013 PICUS report, the Maine 2010 per pupil cost was $12,259.  Even this lower yearly student cost of $12,259 would be beyond many Maine families.

     Without a federal Department of Education and its historical initiatives, states would be free to envision and enact their own education goals. This is what many southern states tried to do for years. The wealthy were able to control much of the access to education and over time were coerced by federal courts to comply with equal access and education for all laws. The education mantra was separate schools and vouchers then, and now we see a President, cabinet level people, and perhaps, a Congress, willing to at least use the same language as was used in the 1960-70's. Will their actions be the same? Could we now count on Jeff Sessions as Trump's Attorney General to advocate and diligently pursue litigation to ensure equal access to integrated public schools for all?

     This bears watching.