Should we eliminate the Federal Department of Education?

Question

Wayne Allyn Root, Bob Barr's vice Presidential running mate states.

*I support Freedom and Parental Choice in the Educational System- The constitution does not allow for federal government interference in the education of our children. As a matter of fact, the word "education" never appears once in the Constitution. We need to get federal government out of the education business. We need to give parents and students the freedom to pursue the education of their choice- just as my wife and I do by choosing to home-school our 4 children. I support giving parents control of the education of their own children, instead of government bureaucrats. I support utilization of school choice, vouchers or tax credits on the state and local level to increase education competition; encourage private, parochial and home-schooling; reward superior performance for educators; create magnet schools which give principals autonomy over budgets, hiring and firing; and streamline bureaucracy- giving our education dollars to teachers and kids, NOT bureaucrats and administrators.

*I support the total elimination of the Department of Education on the federal level. The more we spend on education, the WORSE the results, the more damage we do to our children. In 2000, the Dept. of Education budget was $33 billion. Today it is $64 billion. Has education improved? Have drop-out rates improved? Have reading or math scores improved? We've doubled the budget- yet the results are worse than ever. What a great example of bureaucracy, hypocrisy and waste. Hey a billion here and a billion there- pretty soon we have some real money at stake!

http://rootforamerica.com/home/wherestands.php

Answer 1

As you state, the federal government has no constitutional power to do anything with education, that is left to the states or to the people.

Answer 2

i agree

never trust anyone who tells you if you give them a dollar, they will give you back 2.50.  

Answer 3

No.

The Department of Education maintains standards. What Root is doing is arguing against standards for which all educational institutions may be held accountable. With no accountability on the Federal level, some schools would really be little more than babysitting centers. Schools cannot benefit from Federal grants and still expect that there will be no oversight by the Federal government - one brings the other.

Answer 4

Yes and also outlaw teachers unions

Answer 5

Out of that 64 Billion I have not seen a dime for financial aid, even though I am a housewife of a service member. They say we make to much money...

We don't make THAT much money.

Now on to your question, I think drop out rates have to do more with the particular school and their willingness to help students succeed. I think a lot of these things come down to individual schools.

I do think though that standardized testing is a big crock of nothingness because the teachers end up spending all of their time and energy teaching only what is on the tests in hopes of making the grade. Honestly, I think if they put a little more fun into education and worked with children's learning styles then we would be better off.