A new Department of Education

[jzk]

The Department of Education has a budget of $69 billion and 3000 employees, and I can find little benefit being currently derived.

One option is to completely dismantle it, and leave education to the States.

However, what if we had the Department create a comprehensive online education system for grades K-12. Certainly that could be accomplished with, let's say, 5 employees and perhaps a billion per year? Of course, they would be hiring out most of the work.

The work would be getting teachers and computer programmers together to create an interactive curriculum designed for the online participant. It would be a system of lectures, text, problems, etc. such that the problems test the child and hone in on where the child needs the most help. The system would give the child feedback and additional explanations/problems in the areas that they need the most help.

There could even be discussion forums where live, interactive help was available. Or it could even flag live teachers in a local school system to take time to give a student live tutoring where needed.

And, with a billion dollar budget, it could be developed and innovated in ways beyond my current imagination.

And, the system would monitor progress to keep the kid from "screwing around," which is not all that hard to do.

So, the point would be to give every kid/parent the ability to obtain a first class, accredited, education. The students could view the material in a school library, public library, or if able even at home provided they showed adequate progress. That is that they had a sincere interest in using the system to gain an education rather than just a means to blow off school.

This way, everyone would have access to whatever level education they desired. And, all schools could utilize the system to supplement/aid the system they currently have.

It could even be the system that gives standardized tests to the students, and then it could, based on the individual results, give the students a followup educational course in all the areas in which the student needs help. The possibility is really endless.

Of course, such a beneficial system would never be allowed to happen because of the teachers union "cartel" that would oppose it at every turn. But imagine the benefit it could have on society. And, it might even reduce the need for as many teachers as we currently have, and allow the very best teachers to spend more time one on one focusing on individual trouble spots, etc.

One problem would be the view that the overbearing "big brother government" would "programming the children" to a certain ideology. That problem could be handled with oversight, and I am not sure it is much different than the ideological educational system we have today. York High School in Elmhurst, IL shows Michael Moore movies as a part of its social studies program which is about as absurd as it gets. But, I am free to attend a school board meeting to find out what is going on. We could, however, certainly start with more ideological neutral topics like math and reading.

So, while I can't stand big government, here is actually a way that government could be useful. And, it would make more sense for the system to be created by the Federal government because math in Florida is the same as Math in Oregon. Why have 50 systems that do the same thing?

There are, of course, private systems that schools already employ that are getting at this like lexia and ixl, but they are only scratching the surface, and the point would be to ensure that every student has free access. The answer, might be just that the Department of Education would employ these private services into a comprehensive, unified system. These people would be competing and bidding for the "math contract" etc. That competition would undoubtedly lead to some serious excellence in this system.

[WouldaShoulda]

Originally Posted by jzk

The Department of Education has a budget of $69 billion and 3000 employees, and I can find little benefit being currently derived.

One option is to completely dismantle it, and leave education to the States.

However, what if we had the Department create a comprehensive online education system for grades K-12. Certainly that could be accomplished with, let's say, 5 employees and perhaps a billion per year? Of course, they would be hiring out most of the work.

Already available to home schoolers without, get this, without the "benefit" of a controlling central authority!!

[jzk]

Originally Posted by WouldaShoulda

Already available to home schoolers without, get this, without the "benefit" of a controlling central authority!!

Yeah, I certainly hear you on that one. But I am talking about taking the home school systems that you cite and, perhaps we both use, and taking them to another level. And, perhaps the market will do that on its own, but it would be nice to allow every child in the US access to that kind of technology.

[PBzeer]

First of all, the Constitution, neither explicitly nor implicitly addresses education, as has been determined by two Supreme Court decisions.

Secondly, it is a state prerogative, based on each states constitution. Thus it falls under the 10th Amendment, as there is no enumeration of federal control over education nor any protected right to an education.

In other words, there is no ambiguity on the role of the federal government in regards to education.

So while the idea may have merit, it has no constitutional validity, unless some Court creates out of thin air (ie:Roe v Wade), a "right", hitherto unknown. Thus it is a further encroachment upon the 10th Amendment.

[jzk]

Originally Posted by PBzeer

So while the idea may have merit, it has no constitutional validity, unless some Court creates out of thin air (ie:Roe v Wade), a "right", hitherto unknown. Thus it is a further encroachment upon the 10th Amendment.

As you know, I support that idea maybe even more than you. So let's instantly stop all spending not so authorized. That would be my first choice. However, if that is not going happen, and since they are spending $69 billion of partly my tax dollars, I do get to have an opinion about how to better spend it.

Stated another way, my belief that certain government spending is unconstitutional does not take away my right to have an opinion on how it is spent if they are going to spend it regardless of the Constitution.

Then, the States could just get together and do the same thing without the Feds involved. No problem.

[WouldaShoulda]

Originally Posted by jzk

Yeah, I certainly hear you on that one. But I am talking about taking the home school systems that you cite and, perhaps we both use, and taking them to another level. And, perhaps the market will do that on its own, but it would be nice to allow every child in the US access to that kind of technology.

Every child with a committed stay at home parent already does.

No matter how well intended, no matter how hard we try, nothing can replace a committed stay at home parent!!

[jzk]

Originally Posted by WouldaShoulda

Every child with a committed stay at home parent already does.

No matter how well intended, no matter how hard we try, nothing can replace a committed stay at home parent!!

Nothing could be more true than that. But some just don't have that. And the internet offers a fantastic way to help shore that up. I suspect that through education, the people without committed stay at home parents will better learn the need for such.

[bwalker42]

Originally Posted by WouldaShoulda

Already available to home schoolers without, get this, without the "benefit" of a controlling central authority!!

And The Good Lord knows I'm all for the parents having and excercising their own authority as parents.


My foirst thought was "return power to the parent and make it not necessary in society for the mother to work unless she wants to.
Mother's used to be the teachers.


\With all the good curriculum around through home schooling networks etc.. socializing is a naturally taken care of afterthought.

Also
children who are home schooled are more likely to be focussed on their true talents, and, those talents are more properly developed through tlc.

making home schooled children more adapatable in the work force and more innovative through self confidence.

no.. im not gonna make sp and grammer corrections. I text

[WouldaShoulda]

Originally Posted by jzk

I suspect that through education, the people without committed stay at home parents will better learn the need for such.

Are you sure a special corriculum is needed to appreciate that committed stay at home parents are more desireable??

[PBzeer]

There's more than ample evidence that the Dept of Education is more interested in subjective results rather than objective ones.