Education in America Part II
As stated yesterday the federal government has no place dictating curriculum to local public schools. It becomes too controversial. However, this doesn't mean that without the Feds everybody agrees on what should be taught. For example any attempt to teach religion, sex ed or science becomes a battle between special interest groups. Nobody wants to give an inch. And so the students become the losers. They fail to learn important information that may help them in the future and parents lose confidence in the school systems.
Although these subjects may remain controversial if left to the state and local governments it would be much reduced. Special interest groups tend to concentrate on national issues in order to make the biggest impact. They are less likely to be effective if they have to try to fight in 50 states and thousands of localities than if they can just stalk the halls of Congress in DC. Also, because the populations of individual school systems and states tend to be more united than the country as a whole it is easier, I believe, to agree on a curriculum.
But what about the teaching of evolution being supplanted by religious idealogues in Southern States? Well, that may happen. Sex ed would probably be removed in those states as well. However, if that is what the people in those states want then let them do it and accept the consequences. Many are already seen as backward and ignorant. Let them start teaching Creationism and have their children ignorant of birth control and methods of protecting against STDs and you'll see a backlash against these views. As their rankings against the other states and other countries plummett their populations will be demanding reform or they will begin moving to states with better rankings. This kind of population migration can already be seen in real estate prices. Areas with better schools often have higher real estate prices compared to those with poorer performing schools. Sometimes even in the same city or county you will see this. It is sad to think it may come to this, but I believe in a free society we should empower people, not hold them back. Even if this means they make stupid decisions.
Although these subjects may remain controversial if left to the state and local governments it would be much reduced. Special interest groups tend to concentrate on national issues in order to make the biggest impact. They are less likely to be effective if they have to try to fight in 50 states and thousands of localities than if they can just stalk the halls of Congress in DC. Also, because the populations of individual school systems and states tend to be more united than the country as a whole it is easier, I believe, to agree on a curriculum.
But what about the teaching of evolution being supplanted by religious idealogues in Southern States? Well, that may happen. Sex ed would probably be removed in those states as well. However, if that is what the people in those states want then let them do it and accept the consequences. Many are already seen as backward and ignorant. Let them start teaching Creationism and have their children ignorant of birth control and methods of protecting against STDs and you'll see a backlash against these views. As their rankings against the other states and other countries plummett their populations will be demanding reform or they will begin moving to states with better rankings. This kind of population migration can already be seen in real estate prices. Areas with better schools often have higher real estate prices compared to those with poorer performing schools. Sometimes even in the same city or county you will see this. It is sad to think it may come to this, but I believe in a free society we should empower people, not hold them back. Even if this means they make stupid decisions.
posted by Jdeer76 at
2:50 PM
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