Fixing Education’s High Cost

History of Education

Throughout history, most students have been responsible for their own education.  Parents homeschooled and taught them to read and do math and teach them how to do things they needed to know, like grow food, care for animals and keep themselves free from harm. 

Like all humans throughout history, each child was unique.  They would eagerly learn the things that interested them the most.  Wise parents would watch for signs of talent and would insist that they learn to survive, behave and contribute.

Children learned to read the Torah and later the Bible. The printing press opened the way to the resources we enjoyed over the past several centuries.  Extremely ambitious students were motivated to learn what they needed to know to pursue their goals.  The wealthy made sure that their children had all the educational advantages available. True talent rose from all quarters.  Poor but bright children managed to advance and some wealthy but dull children did not.  

Education in the early years of America was Bible based.  Every home, no matter how poor, owned a family Bible.  Parents taught their children to read and they were expected to read the Bible every day.  As other books became available, children read those as well.  Math was simple and basic and needed to count and measure. 

Children who grew up on farms or working in the family business learned the chores and how to care for the crops, the animals and the customers.  Some of these children went on to become Physicians, Lawyers, Bankers, Merchants, Tradesmen, Inventers and Scientists.  Some of these children were not motivated to learn these new skills to enter these Professions.  They stayed on the farm or ranch or continued to work in the store or business.  These children eventually inherited the farm or ranch or store and ran it successfully.  Others took what they learned and got jobs they were qualified to do.

Fast Forward

Today we may have 20% of the students in some schools who do not graduate, or graduate without having mastered reading, writing or math.  These are not dissimilar from those children who were not motivated to learn new skills.  Most no longer have family farms, ranches or businesses, but they can get jobs, if there are any.  And they can start a business if they have a truck and some tools and some customers.  America is full of stories of “late bloomers” who don’t look like they will succeed, but eventually do succeed. 

Make Students Responsible Again

Legislators need to adopt this view of Education and leave it to Communities of Parents and Teachers to determine what should be done from here forward and be unencumbered by bureaucracies with financial interests in the current system. 

Education is not one of the enumerated powers given by the States to the federal in the US Constitution.  The federal government needs to close the USDOE and leave it to the States and the People.  The smartest states will give it to the Counties and grant the students the freedom to take responsibility for their own education.  Parents and teachers are ready to help.  Contracting education out to corporations should not be considered a good alternative.  Elected County School Boards should be accountable for county funds spent on Education.  Education now costs 4 times more than it should.  Local control, creativity and the internet can help. 

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader