The Need For Local Control of Education

by Lee F. McKenzie (Utah)

In education as in other fields there are many theories. Some theories are right and some are wrong. By placing the governance of all education in the hands of a small group of people and their theory's, we run a high risk of universal error. Local education professionals become "puppets" to State officials in their attempts to comply with State and Federal regulations, and in efforts to secure State and Federal funding. At the same time by having local educational professionals subject to the dictates of State personnel, we suppress creativity, growth and excellence among equally qualified and in many cases better experienced local educators. Ph.D., Masters and Bachelor educators on the local level are just as intelligent and probably more experienced with current needs than people with similar training on the State or Federal level. Another important point is that State Legislators know less about education than local school boards, local administrators and local educators. It would be wise for State Legislators to stop manipulating policies in primary and secondary education and give control back to local professionals.

While I see some merit in State aid to local areas which are financially depressed I believe accountability for the use of all primary and secondary educational funds should be in the hands of local educators, local administrators and locally elected school boards.

The very forceful trend toward Federal and State control of primary and secondary education is ill conceived in light of the history of American education. Local control of education provided the diversity and the competitive excellence which has propelled America into the industrial age, the technology age and the information age. To scrap such a successful system of education is a foolish step toward mediocrity and further sets the stage for centralized control of American thinking. In addition, State and Federal control of education puts in place a system which could easily be perverted to control and manipulate the morals and thinking of future generations of Americans.

PROGRAMS TO CURTAIL

In the forefront of attempts for implement Federal and State control of education are the following programs:

• Goals 2000
• School to Work
• School to Careers
• Charter Schools

These programs should not be implemented. Where already in place they should be terminated.

RECOMMENDED LEGISLATION

1. Emphasize local funding of primary and secondary education.

Funding almost exclusively from county and city taxing entities.

Paychecks to personnel from local districts.

2. Local control of all curriculums and policies (for primary and secondary schools).

3. Accountability for performance and use of all funds exclusively in the hands of local elected school boards and their hired administrators.

4. Federal and State aid to primary and secondary schools:

1. Permitted only in financially depressed areas.

2. Determine eligibility for Federal and State aid in school districts by average per capita income in the respective school district . (These figures obtained by correlating zip codes and state income tax records).

   Affluent local school districts which fail to adequately fund their primary and secondary public schools shall not be entitled to Federal and State aid.

   All Federal and State funds allocated to local school districts shall be subject to 2 and 3 above.

5. Activities of the State Board of Education restricted to Colleges and Universities.

6. The State Legislature shall refrain from tampering with policies, curriculums and funding of local school districts.