Do you think we should get rid of the Department of Education?

1. 72

   sueroy333posted 14 years ago

   Do you think we should get rid of the Department of Education?
   
   Do you believe the public schools in our country have benefited from the having a Department of Education?

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2. 52

   Beakerposted 14 years ago

   No, it has been useful for setting standards. I do,however, think we should immediately get rid of the American Medical Association. They have messed up the American healthcare system so badly it would take it 20 years to recover even if we got rid of it today.

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3. 80

   Wayne Brownposted 14 years ago

   Yes, I do.  I think education should be moved as far down to the local level as possible along with the money that will support it.  We have prove time and time again on the national level that there is no amount of money sufficient to support education in this country.  In the process we have done away with the things which are important and traded the time for social education...which will not feed your.  We need to get back to the basics and we need to do it at the local levels...get big government out  of education and allow people to once again be challenged and think for themselves. WB

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4. 61

   skarupposted 14 years ago

   According to their website:  "The mission of the Department of Education is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. It engages in four major types of activities:
   
   1.Establishes policies related to federal education funding, administers distribution of funds and monitors their use.
   2.Collects data and oversees research on America's schools.
   3.Identifies major issues in education and focuses national attention on them.
   4.Enforces federal laws prohibiting discrimination in programs that receive federal funds"
   
   I believe we are at a place in our society where government run offices and departments need to step up their responsibilities and streamline their staff. When school budgets get cut it should start at the top and work its way down. Excellent, dedicated teachers and students are the key components in education.
   
     I taught elementary school for fifteen years and did not always agree with the federal/state standards.  I taught children because I had a passion for education and watching one learn. 
   
   I attended public schools and universities and benefited.  My children attend public schools and are currently benefiting.  Let teachers teach so students can learn...

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5. 60

   mkvealshposted 14 years ago

   Absolutely, yes.  I am not sure how the federal government even became involved in education in the first place, but it certainly hasn't helped.  True public education was done at the local level, by the PUBLIC.  In the old days, the schools were run by the people in the community, who hired and payed the teachers, decided on curriculum and policies, and did a great job of it.  Today's schools are not public schools, they are government schools.

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6. 60

   Mark Upshawposted 14 years ago

   Judge the DOE by their results...failure.  Test scores of US citizens continue to decline relative to the rest of the world including 3rd world countries. 
   
   We can successfully make a case for the idea that the DOE has deliberately dumbed down our population.  Why? 
   
   Better consumers, maybe?  I don't know. 
   
   But we are paying more per student and receiving less for it. Sounds like all the money is going into pensions and wages for the public teachers union. 
   
   Let's see, a teacher works 8 months out of the year and makes 50k or more plus health care and pension and can continue receiving all this without actually working if they are accused of reprehensible offenses, but not convicted, because they are not prosecuted. 
   
   How many of you make 50k a year plus all those benefits for only 8 months of work???
   
   Anyone ever wonder how is it that the tuition at all of our universities has soared over the last three years while we have had massive deflation for most everything?  Why is it that their pay increases while our pay decreases? 
   
   Same with the federal government employees?  Why is their pay going up for cost of inflation and other reasons, while for those that receive social security have not seen a cost  of inflation increase, since the feds say there is no inflation for seniors? Unless you are a senior member of society (eg. Senator, Congressman)?

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7. 60

   poorconservative1posted 14 years ago

   Milton Friedman once said, "Public schools should be allowed to exist but they should be forced to compete with private schools through a voucher system." If that was the case there would probably be no need for a Department of Education. Although I think the politicians would find an excuse to have one anyway, anything to spend money. Also if there was a voucher system we wouldn't have one of these teacher's strikes every time we turn around. That crap would stop.

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8. 99

   watergeekposted 12 years ago

   There aren't many teachers who are making 50K, unless they have masters degrees. My sister makes less than that and she's a good teacher (2nd grade). My brother makes a little more than that, but he has a masters in psychology (6th grade) and has been teaching for over 15 years. He also is a good teacher. Both of them get loaded with "problem" kids, once their principals see them teach.
   
   I think it's important to differentiate between government employees and politicians. Politicians might get paid high salaries, but most government employees do not. And government bodies are cutting down drastically, letting positions go empty via attrition, meaning that many employees are now trying to do two or three jobs at once.
   
   I agree about the possibility of a mysterious group of controlling people trying to dumb down our population, but we don't have to let them. We can follow their programs in a token way, while doing our best to give the best. I think the Department of Education is good to have for funding, anti-discrimination policies, and research.
   
   The rest of us need to stand up for high quality teaching. That's our job, and that includes supplementing what the teachers don't have time to teach. It also includes teaching our kids good manners and good study habits. Too many parents are trying to pass those off on teachers. (You wouldn't believe what a time-stealer disruptive kids can be!)
   
   Another possibility: Are parents supportive and proud of our schools? Why should politicians fund them if parents and businesses are complaining about them all the time?

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