“U.S Department of Education”

The U.S. Department of Education has an historic background which brings to light many of the power struggles that occurred as education was finding its identity. “The mood of the nation has often been reflected in political activity that has a direct bearing on education”(Pulliam &Patten, 2007, p. 125). As early as the founding fathers there existed an idea that there should be a governing body in charge of education in the U.S. on a national level. Several political struggles prevented them from doing so until 1867 (Pulliam &Patten, 2007). The road to having equal school and education for everyone has been a long struggle including years of segregation and political issues which prevented the Department of Education from being able to offer every child an opportunity to a free and equal education across the nation. The idea that contemporary children have an equal opportunity to an equal and free education is still debated. The U.S. Department of Education has been handcuffed by racial and social boundaries which were at times enforced by political movements ( i.e. segregation). Furthermore, the states and local governments are reluctant to release their hold on controlling education at the local level, making it difficult for politicians to move forward with a federal governing body over education.

“Federal pressure on local schools comes through court-ordered plans of desegregation, laws for equal educational opportunity –including opportunities for disabled, disadvantaged, and limited English proficient children – and regulation programs supported by federal taxes. There exists a great deal of resentment over the involvement of central government in matters many consider to be the business of local school boards”(Pulliam &Patten, 2007, p.123).

I feel that the U.S. Department of Education was been held back by politics in implementing an equal school system for every child for free. The slow movement to organize an efficient federal governing body that could create universal educational standards is slowed due to the state's reluctance to relinquish their power over the education system, the low investment financially of central government into education, and the Federal governments low profile image when it comes to education. If the Federal Government were more involved with education they could establish universal education and higher teacher standards, promote equality in the school systems –especially in the inner cities, and promote educational goals of the Federal Government.

Before any formal Department of Education was formed, education was administered at a local level by states and local organizations such as churches. State and federal governments still debate the duties of the other within the educational spectrum. Many states set their own standards and testing. The federal government is more concerned with funding and distribution of tax dollars into the education system. But states essentially set their testing standards and educational goals. “...the history of the early national period clearly indicates that education is a state function even though the states have traditionally permitted a high degree of local control” (Pulliam &Patten, 2007, p.124). The Federal government pays for little of the education systems in the United States.

“That means the Federal contribution to elementary and secondary education is a little under 9 percent, which includes funds not only from the Department of Education (ED) but also from other Federal agencies, such as the Department of Health and Human Services' Head Start program and the Department of Agriculture's School Lunch program”(www.ed.gov/about/overview/fed/role.html, 2009).

I think the U.S. Department of Education is responsible for more of its budget to go to education. The graduation and school standards should be set at a Federal level. The inner city schools that flounder because of the lack of local tax dollars should be the priority of the central government. I realize how hard it would be for an agency to cover so much that has been locally provided for such a long time. But if the government were to take the initiative to lead the education system it could build schools in the inner cities, the more schools the less the over-crowding. The Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution gives every child a right to an equal and free education regardless of race, gender or ethnicity. If the inner city schools are not equal to rural schools in wealthy areas than the government should be responsible for building schools that can offer a free and equal education. It would be unconstitutional to do otherwise. I understand that local agencies do not want to be micromanaged by the central government, but it should have the right to come into certain areas and establish schools that will provide free and equal education opportunities to every child. This is not the responsibility of the local governments that must use a vote for higher taxes in order to raise school standards and school dollars.

The quality of teachers could be improved by free government grants for teachers seeking classes for improvement and for keeping up the latest teaching methods. Teachers in the state of Ohio are required to take so many hours of education a year in the field in which they teach. The Federal government could easily provide grants for any teacher wishing to better themselves as an educator. The federal government could also give grants to local school districts for teacher salaries. That way inner city schools could recruit some of the best educators money could buy. In a marriage with the Federal government the inner city schools could lower class sizes and school sizes by building more schools accompanied by better education for teachers or possibly a federal teaching certificate the government could control the quality of educators as well as give local school districts the money they need to hire quality educators.

Why are federal goals of education set by the individual states? For example, the Federal educational goals implemented by the Clinton administration were;

“The goal is for all states to establish standardized tests that students must pass in order to graduate and advance from the 4th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grades. The standards require students to reach a certain level of math, science, writing, and a mastery of the language. In addition, federal standards require students to achieve a certain level of analytical decision making, by choosing which answers are better than others” (www.allsands.com, 2009).

So again I wonder if the government were more aware of what these graduation requirements were they could spend the tax dollars accordingly and promote schools and programs of interest which failed to meet a federal goal, or a federally issued standardized graduation test. By monitoring the results of this test the government could be more active than reactive when it comes to education. I feel if the government took more initiative and hands-on with local authorities the overall education system would be improved. I also think that not every child is truly given and equal and free education, and how would we ever find the deficiencies without a standardized test.

The U.S. Department of Education needs to take more of a financial liability for education as well as be in control of not just promoting but providing a free and equal education to all children of the United States. If the Federal Government provided the funds in low income areas and in inner city projects thay could raise the overall standards of the education system to the point that there could be standardized government graduation requirements. The states could still retain the right to make harder standards, but the federal would be the minimum standard. Overall, I think the Federal Government needs to take the lead in education and quit hiding in the shadows behind a low profile.

Works Cited

Pulliam, J.D., and Van Patten, J.J,. (2007) History of Education in America. Pearson Publishers; Columbus, Ohio.

Anonymous. (2009)Extracted April 14 2009 from www.ed.gov/about/overview/fed/role.html

Anonymous. (20000 Extracted April 14 2009 from http://www.allsands.com/kids/education/federaleducatio_wqh_gn.htm