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The Dike Breaks

For a dozen years, and against the most formidable pressures, congressional opponents of federal aid to education more or less held the line. The argument that prevailed in session after session: federal aid is bound to lead to federal control. The federal government cannot be expected to enter the school-building business, the argument ran, without assuming responsibility for what goes on in the schools—i.e., for the content of education. Last week Congress once again bolted the back door against federal control: school-construction bills were turned down decisively by both houses. It then proceeded to throw the front door wide open.

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L. Brent Bozell Jr.

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The Dike Breaks

For a dozen years, and against the most formidable pressures, congressional opponents of federal aid to education more or less held the line. The argument that prevailed in session after session: federal aid is bound to lead to federal control. The federal government cannot be expected to enter the school-building business, the argument ran, without assuming responsibility for what goes on in the schools—i.e., for the content of education. Last week Congress once again bolted the back door against federal control: school-construction bills were turned down decisively by both houses. It then proceeded to throw the front door wide open.