Two Cheers for Education’s G-Men

TWO CHEERS FOR EDUCATION’S G-MEN

As conservatives probe into more of the cul-de-sacs of public policy, no set of issues has proved more perplexing than those associated with education. There is no domain in which it has proved more difficult for conservatives to reach reasonable consensus among themselves. Describing the failings of the current system is easy enough, and not especially divisive. We can readily agree that the public schools are, on the average, doing an inadequate job of imparting to our children either basic skills or basic values, and that in some particularly bad cases schools have become morally unhealthy or even physically dangerous places. It’s when we seek solutions that disagreement sprouts. Higher minimum standards or more parental choice? A larger core of prescribed studies or enhanced diversity? Tighter regulation by the state, a revival of local community control, or a move toward school-level sovereignty? More emphasis on religion or on technology? A classical curriculum or one that stresses useful skills?

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E. Finn Jr.

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TWO CHEERS FOR EDUCATION’S G-MEN

As conservatives probe into more of the cul-de-sacs of public policy, no set of issues has proved more perplexing than those associated with education. There is no domain in which it has proved more difficult for conservatives to reach reasonable consensus among themselves. Describing the failings of the current system is easy enough, and not especially divisive. We can readily agree that the public schools are, on the average, doing an inadequate job of imparting to our children either basic skills or basic values, and that in some particularly bad cases schools have become morally unhealthy or even physically dangerous places. It’s when we seek solutions that disagreement sprouts. Higher minimum standards or more parental choice? A larger core of prescribed studies or enhanced diversity? Tighter regulation by the state, a revival of local community control, or a move toward school-level sovereignty? More emphasis on religion or on technology? A classical curriculum or one that stresses useful skills?