Michael Peroutka: No Child Left Behind Act should be left behind (January 10, 2004)

"Dear Friends,

When George Bush was running for President he got a lot of applause by telling audiences --- and these are his exact words, quote: “I believe in local control of schools and I will work with Congress to pass power out of Washington DC,” unquote. But, President Bush’s re-election Web page brags about the fact that his Administration has increased Federal funding of education to the highest level in American history.

Celebrating the passage of his “No Child Left Behind Act” --- legislation that was primarily the work of Teddy Kennedy, who called this law a good bill --- President Bush has said, and I quote: “The new role of the Federal Government is to set high standards, provide resources (he means our hard-earned tax dollars), hold people accountable and liberate school districts to meet standards,” unquote.

In other words, as President, Mr. Bush has done the opposite of what he promised. He has increased the power of Washington DC over education! And all of this is blatantly unConstitutional! There is nothing in our Constitution that even remotely authorizes any involvement by the Federal Government in education --- nothing!

And because any involvement in education by the Federal Government is unConstitutional, this would mean, of course, that there should be no Federal Department Of Education. But, there is, still, such a Department, even though as recently as 1996 the Republican Party Platform called for its abolition. This Platform, among other things, called for the end of, quote, “Federal meddling in our schools,” unquote. But, under President Bush, the Feds have, with a vengeance, continued such meddling. In fact, under President Bush, the Department of Education now has a budget of more than $50 billion a year!

As President, I would obey the law, in this case our Constitution. I would immediately move to abolish the Department Of Education and stop all Federal involvement in education. Under my Administration, this illegal Department and the “No Child Left Behind Act” would be left behind. That’s a promise!"

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ATTRIBUTION:
* Peroutka, Michael. "No Child Left Behind Act should be left behind". Peroutka2004.com, 10 Jan. 2004.