This is the first in a series that will address the failed agencies within the federal government. The time has long passed where programs that were started by the political elite, with professed good intentions, be re-examined. As we all know, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. We also know that to continue to throw more money at programs that are failing is just plain stupid behavior. This behavior also demonstrates the gutlessness of our elected officials by their failure to correct these situations. This also falls into the category of cruel and unusual punishment of productive American taxpayers.
The United States Department of Education
Education became part of the cabinet level of the Executive Branch of the federal government on April 11, 1953 as part of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. It was transitioned to a stand-alone cabinet-level agency on May 4, 1980. It has approximately 4,000 employees with an annual budget of 66.6 billion dollars.
During the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, America’s education system was consistently ranked as one of the best in the world. However, with the implementation of the U.S. Department of Education the deterioration of the quality of education began a steady downward spiral. In 2021, the quality of the American education system has now achieved a marvelous ranking of 20th or 22nd in the world, depending on which survey you look at.
The primary lesson is that when local and state governments were in control of education, children and college age students were actually learning something. When parents and local governments were in control, a better quality education occurred and the cost of education was under control, as well. The U.S. Department of Education is a case study of how trying to centralize the education system (or any function), more often than not, fails miserably.
Today’s curriculum is taught at the lowest common denominator
Another symptom of this failure is the cost of education today. Bureaucrats always think the solution to any problem is to throw more money at the problem. The result of this approach is skyrocketing costs for a poorer quality product. For example, the federal government tried providing more grants and scholarships, which only resulted in college tuition rising accordingly. When federal money is sent to primary and secondary schools, you get more administration rather than money reaching the classrooms for which is was intended. It is more important for these minor bureaucracies to perpetuate themselves than to actually provide a first class education.
In our woke world of 2021, no child is left behind as they are passed to each succeeding grade level whether they are qualified or not. Today’s curriculum is taught at the lowest common denominator. The result of this is the dumbing down of students that are far more capable. Frankly, that’s criminal. This isn’t fair to those students or the nation these people are turned loose on.
There are several steps needed to correct the education system in America. The first step is to get federal money out of the education system by “sunsetting” the U.S. Department of Education as soon as possible. The second step is to terminate all future federal grants and scholarships. In conjunction with that action, don’t forgive any student loans that are outstanding. Why in the world should taxpayers that couldn’t or didn’t go to college pay the bill for those that did? That is a horrible precedent to set.
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The only thing that is more expensive than education is ignorance
Third, all colleges must order their programs so that they can operate based on tuition, private grants, and giving from alumni. The quality of the education will then drive the market, not the unconstitutional charity from the federal government. Lastly, the local taxpayers should support their own primary and secondary schools. That requirement in and of itself will generate greater local interest in the quality of their children’s education.
"Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government." ~ James Madison
The local population will then need to determine if the unionized socialists currently teaching junk science, junk philosophy, and junk history should remain on the job in their schools. Local parents must take control away from the brainwashing system that is all too prevalent in American schools today.
The federal bureaucrats and Deep State operatives within the federal government have tried to create a “one size fits all” nationwide education system, and it has and is failing miserably at a cost of nearly 67 billion dollars a year. To perpetuate such a system is morally wrong, fiscally irresponsible, professionally negligent, and demonstratively a failure on the world stage. We should all be ashamed for allowing this to go on as long as we have. The time is long past for Americans to take back our education system and hold our politicians accountable for their negligence and lack of the integrity to correct this foul problem.
"The only thing that is more expensive than education is ignorance." ~ Benjamin Franklin
After a 55 year career as a professional pilot in the military, in law enforcement, in the private sector, and in federal civil service, I am now retired.
In many of these positions I repeatedly took an oath to defend the United States Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.
This is the first in a series that will address the failed agencies within the federal government. The time has long passed where programs that were started by the political elite, with professed good intentions, be re-examined. As we all know, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. We also know that to continue to throw more money at programs that are failing is just plain stupid behavior. This behavior also demonstrates the gutlessness of our elected officials by their failure to correct these situations. This also falls into the category of cruel and unusual punishment of productive American taxpayers.
