Http://www.afar.org/LetToEd3StateTakeoveraMalignancy.htm
State Takeover A Malignancy
Letter to the Editor:
I think all Arkansans should be aware of the following excellent summary of education by a superintendent of a large Arkansas school, a superintendent who for many years has been extremely cooperative with the State Department.
"Recent media announcements have clearly signaled a trend in additional loss of local control of public education. " [Then he says the "most glaring" of these was the takeover of two schools in Arkansas because of , "continued failure of these two districts to show progress in meeting state standards."]
This superintendent further states, "While some may label the phenomenon as nothing more than a series of benign bureaucratic moves that keep eroding local control, some fear the state takeover of Altheimer and Elaine districts is more akin to a malignancy overpowering the local educational process. Some sense that this move is a direct result of the state's gaining increased control of local funds generated by local property tax. By having control of most (up to 24 mills) of the local property tax and all of the state funds earmarked for education as well as having the base of twenty years of legislation establishing 'state standards,' Arkansas is now in a position to selectively 'governmentize' local schools...."
"Governor Huckabee's 'Next Step' plan advocates even more state mandates and accountability to 'standardize' educational performance statewide with little room for local initiatives and/or control. The recently appointed Blue Ribbon Commission Education has raised the volatile issue of consolidation and/or drastic reorganization of education."
This superintendent then refers to President Bush's educational legislation, "No Child Left Behind," saying, "it is increased federal control at the expense of local decision-making."
Isn't it interesting that government control reaches its height during the administration of a Republican Governor and Republican President. Whoever would have thought it?
Debbie Pelley
Jonesboro, AR 72401
(Published in Arkansas Papers
April, 2002)
“LetToEd3StateTakeoverMalignancy”
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