Critics Say Education Dept. Is Favoring Political Right

The Washington Post ^ | January 2, 2004 | Michael Dobbs

[neverdem]

When Arizona schools superintendent Lisa Graham Keegan and a group of predominantly conservative educators launched the Education Leaders Council (ELC) in 1995, their proclaimed goal was to upset an educational establishment long dominated by the Democrats and left-leaning teachers unions.

[CyberAnt]

"pretty good whine"

THAT'S AN AWESOME WHINE!! And .. it shows how the democrats thought they had a lock on everything .. they don't like it when somebody takes their freewheeling lifestyle away from them. Pathetic!

[luckydevi]

I miss Newt( the limited government version)

[raynearhood]

I think taking control of the Dep. of Ed. by conservatives is a great idea... if taking control of it means that there wouldn't be federal meddling in each state's school systems.

I'm sorry, did I say "take control of"... I meant " the destruction of."

[WOSG]

Yes. we can and we must defund the Left.

The left knows it, which is why they squeal like stuck pigs when the shoe is placed on the other foot.

We dont need $70 million going to conservative-oriented education .... we need $150 BILLION going to conservative-oriented education! That's 50% of the $300 billion + we spend in total on education in America. It seems only fair to ask for 50%.

[Bonaparte]

That is an excellent idea! Every couple years, the students in each of the two systems can be rigorously tested and the available funds allocated according to their scores. Hehe...

[Doctor Stochastic]

You did suggest distruction, abolishment, etc. I don't think this is what most conservatives desire. I think most conservatives (and liberals) would rather struggle over control.

I'm for abolishment.

[raynearhood]

Destroy? Abolish? It's all the same to me. We just need to get rid of it. Having the Dept. of Education at all means Federal control of the school systems. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the helping out when help is NEEDED, but to attach all the criteria to the "help", then to force the criteria on every public school system in the country is wrong. Those aren't Federal Grants anymore, they are payment for socialization. The only way to end it is to end the D of E.

[jagrmeister]

The complaint seems to be made by liberals who feel that money should not be used to fund organizations whose principles differ from theirs. There is nothing illegal or unseemly going on but the fact that money is being granted to an organization that supports a policy, school choice, that they object to- they are complaining. Governments spend money on things we don't always agree with- that's life.

[Tim Osman]

If they favored the political right to which I belong, they'd abolish the Dept. of Education tomorrow.

And Ted Kennedy sure as HELL wouldn't be writing the education bill! What's up with that?

[neverdem]

And Ted Kennedy sure as HELL wouldn't be writing the education bill! What's up with that?

I think that was the "new tone" of the hardball politics called "compassionate conservativism". It only seems to have infuriated the rats further. We'll see what results it yields in November, after which I'm praying for a more traditionally conservative approach and Karl Rove finding a new employer.