[Vision2020] Re:"Government Schools" vs. "Public Schools"
Roxanne Sitler
sitler@ultraplix.com
Wed, 12 Nov 2003 00:28:36 -0800
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=20
Donovan is incorrect in his assumption that local schools are locally =
funded
and therefore locally run. Local control in today's education system is
largely a myth. While it's nice that Donovan believes that the school
system is "public" because, "it's run by people that are elected by the
local public and the public decides policy," it just isn't true. Local
control is a myth perpetrated on a public that evidently hasn't kept up =
with
the thousands of pages of legislation that have been implemented at the
federal level since the late 80's and early 90's. Since that time =
period,
Federal and State legislation has virtually done away with any remnant =
of
local control. Locals give way to state mandates, states give way to
federal mandates and so goes local control. It's all been done via a
process I call "grantocracy" - it's the criteria/compliance/strings for
grant money that controls the education system. Federal grants control
either directly (money goes directly into local districts via =
contract-like
agreements entered into by a myriad of potential recipients) or =
indirectly
through various agencies including state education agencies (also by
contract-like agreements) but not limited to state *education* agencies =
(see
report below). =20
=20
I agree with Donovan when he says, "Government Schools" should be used =
to
describe what they always have, federally run and operated schools." =
Yes,
indeed! Unfortunately, that's pretty much what we have. By Donovan's =
own
definition, we have a system of "government" schools. Check into what =
Idaho
did to comply with and receive federal money under just two pieces of
federal legislation, "No Child Left Behind" and its predecessor, "Goals
2000". Then check the history of Idaho's legislative activity in =
education
over the last ten years. One way to know if the federal government, via =
the
state, is running your local school is to find out what assessments (and =
I
use the term "assessment" rather than the term "test" deliberately) the
children must take. How many states have radically altered the nature =
of
their assessment tools in the last ten years? Yep, all of them - do we
think that these changes were the brainchildren of local school boards.
Remember, assessments dictate curriculum. Have you seen a push for =
federal
assessments/testing??? As for your local district's new "standards,"
"outcomes," etc., were they also a result of some local initiative? As =
they
say, if you believe that one, well, I have a bridge....
=20
In July of 1998, a congressional committee completed a report is =
entitled
Education at a Crossroads. This report states, "It is time for America =
to
take a careful look at what billions of federal education dollars have
purchased, and to make hard decisions about whether to continue =
expanding
the federal role, or to return control to parents and teachers." Wow - =
that
sounds as if someone is acknowledging that parents and teachers don't =
really
have any control. Below are some very important bits of information =
about
federal involvement in education - rather old now, I admit, but still
pertinent. Even the people in our state education agencies are =
federally
funded to administer federal programs. Sounds a little more federal =
than
local to me, sort of like, "we've handed control of education to a bunch =
of
politicians 2,000 miles away that never lived in the community or know =
the
communities values and concerns"... =20
Facts from the Report
Number of Federal Education Programs - 788 known programs
Total FY97 Funding - $96,869,343,420
Number of Federal Agencies, Depts., Boards and Commissions administering
Federal Education Programs - 40 =20
Number of programs directly under Dept. of Education - 307 ( only 38% of =
the
788 programs)
Funding of programs directly under Dept. of Education - $59,000,000,000 =
(
only 61%)
=20
Just a few examples of funding under other Depts.:
Number of programs under Dept. of Labor - 21 (total dollars
5,474,039,000)
Number of programs under Dept. of Health and Human Services - 172 =
(total
dollars $8,661,006,166)
Number of programs under Dept. of Justice - 21 (total dollars
$755,477,149.00)
Number of programs under Dept. of Agriculture - 33 (total dollars
$13,339,630,410)
Number of programs under Dept. of Interior - 27 (total dollars
$555,565,000)
Number of programs under United Institute for Peace - 4 (total =
dollars
$3,371,000)
=20
Number of pages of applications states must fill out to receive federal
funds each year - 20,000
Number of federally funded employees of state education agencies
administering federal education programs - 13,400 full time equivalents
Time for states to complete discretionary grant process - average 20 =
weeks &
216 steps (after streamlining! - was 26 weeks, 487 steps)=20
States and local districts are often dependent on skilled and =
professional
grant writers to obtain these federal dollars and comply with their
requirements
Keep in mind that this was six year ago. Federal control has only =
increased
since that time. Anyone who believes that local control exists in their
town needs to obtain just a few copies of the grants their state has =
written
to obtain federal money and read them for themselves. They tell a
completely different story - the real story about who and what controls =
the
classroom. That process is an education all by itself and a real eye =
opener
about our "government schools."
=20
Respectfully,
Roxanne Sitler
=20
=20
-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-admin@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com] =
On
Behalf Of Donovan Arnold
Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2003 10:22 PM
To: dmcourtn@moscow.com; vision2020@moscow.com
Subject: [Vision2020] Re:"Government Schools" vs. "Public Schools"
Dale is incorrect in his assumption about "public schools" being the =
same as
"government schools."=20
First, Dale points to the fact that there are 171,000 references on =
google
using the term "Government Schools". Well, there are 17 million =
references
to public schools, so who is correct if numbers are pointing to being
correct. What Dale also fails to explain is most of the uses of =
Government
Schools are not referring to public schools. Public Schools are schools =
run
by the public. Meaning they are run by people that are elected by the =
local
public and the public decides policy. Government Schools refer to =
Federally
run schools. These would be run by Federal elected officials and the =
locals
that send their children to the school have little to no say in the =
policy.
In the United States when someone refers to a Government School in large
cities they are referring to schools on military bases. These are =
different
than public schools. In most of the articles that Dale is referring to =
are
other nations where the Federal Government runs the school.=20
Using the term "Government School" as a synonym to "Public School" is =
abuse
of the cultural context of the meaning in about 99.9% of the world and =
the
United States.The only exception to this would be if they called it =
"Local
Government Public School". This would define it as separate from that of
"Federal Government School".
However, if they were to call it a "Local Government School" it would
eliminate the fear that people have of handing control of their child's
education to a bunch of politicians 2,000 miles away that never lived in
their community or know their values and concerns. This I imagine is the
sole reason why they try to propagate the misuse of the term "Government
Schools".=20
I would concede the term "Government School" to be used if they also =
allow
the term "Profit off your child Schools" or "Religious Indoctrination
Schools" or "We don't let anybody in here Schools" to be used in turn =
for
the schools they want to steal public dollars to support. Names can be
destructive, that is exactly what they are trying to do.=20
So let us use the correct terms, "Public Schools" in reference to =
schools
that are locally funded and run, "Government Schools" should be used to
describe what they always have, federally run and operated schools. And,
"Non-Public Schools" to refer to privately run and operated schools. To =
do
anything else is being dishonest, inaccurate, and full of malice.=20
Donovan
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<DIV><SPAN class=3D934570007-12112003><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>All:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D934570007-12112003><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D934570007-12112003><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>Donovan is incorrect in his assumption that local schools are =
locally=20
funded and therefore locally run. Local control in today's =
education=20
system is largely a myth. While it's nice that Donovan believes =
that the=20
school system is "public" because, "it's run by people that are =
elected by=20
the local public and the public decides policy," it just =
isn't=20
true. Local control is a myth perpetrated on a public that =
evidently=20
hasn't kept up with the thousands of pages of legislation that have been =
implemented at the federal level since the late 80's and early=20
90's. Since that time period, Federal and State legislation =
has=20
virtually done away with any remnant of local control. Locals give =
way to=20
state mandates, states give way to federal mandates and so goes local=20
control. It's all been done via a process I call "grantocracy" - =
it's the=20
criteria/compliance/strings for grant money that controls the education=20
system. Federal grants control either directly (money goes =
directly into=20
local districts via contract-like agreements entered into by a myriad of =
potential recipients) or indirectly through various agencies including =
state=20
education agencies (also by contract-like agreements) but not limited to =
state=20
*education* agencies (see report below). </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D934570007-12112003><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D934570007-12112003><FONT color=3D#0000ff><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D2>I agree with Donovan when he says, <FONT =
color=3D#000000>"Government=20
Schools" should be used to describe what they always have, =
federally run=20
and operated schools." </FONT><FONT color=3D#0000ff>Yes, =
indeed! =20
Unfortunately, that's pretty much what we have. By Donovan's =
own=20
definition, we have a system of "government" schools. Check into =
what Idaho=20
did to comply with and receive federal money under just two pieces =
of=20
federal legislation, "No Child Left Behind" and its predecessor, =
"Goals=20
2000". Then check the history of Idaho's legislative activity in =
education=20
over the last ten years. One way to know if the federal government, via =
the=20
state, is running your local school is to find out what assessments (and =
I use=20
the term "assessment" rather than the term "test" deliberately) the =
children=20
must take. How many states have radically altered the nature of =
their=20
assessment tools in the last ten years? Yep, all of them - do we =
think=20
that these changes were the brainchildren of local school=20
boards. Remember, assessments dictate curriculum. Have you =
seen a push=20
for federal assessments/testing??? As for your =
local district's new=20
"standards," "outcomes," etc., were they also a result of some local=20
initiative? As they say, if you believe that one, well, I have a=20
bridge....</FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D2><FONT color=3D#0000ff><SPAN=20
class=3D934570007-12112003></SPAN><SPAN=20
class=3D934570007-12112003></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D934570007-12112003>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff><FONT size=3D2>In July of 1998,<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>a congressional committee =
completed=20
a report is entitled <EM>Education at a Crossroads</EM>.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This report states,<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“It is time for America =
to take a=20
careful look at what billions of federal education dollars have =
purchased, and=20
to make hard decisions about whether to continue expanding the federal =
role,=20
<STRONG>or to return</STRONG> <STRONG>control</STRONG> to parents and=20
teachers.”<SPAN class=3D934570007-12112003> Wow - that =
sounds as if=20
someone is acknowledging that parents and teachers don't really have any =
control. Below are some very important bits of information about =
federal=20
involvement in education - rather old now, I admit, but still=20
pertinent. Even the people in our state education agencies =
are=20
federally funded to administer federal programs. Sounds a little =
more=20
federal than local to me, sort of like, "we've handed control of =
education to a=20
bunch of politicians 2,000 miles away that never lived in the community =
or know=20
the communities values and concerns"...<FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"=20
color=3D#000000 =
size=3D3> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT><?xml:namespace=20
prefix =3D o ns =3D "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" =
/><o:p><FONT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT face=3DArial><FONT =
size=3D2>Facts from=20
the Report<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D2><SPAN class=3D934570007-12112003>Number of </SPAN>Federal =
Education=20
Programs<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>- <B=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">788 <I=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">known</I> =
programs</B></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D2>Total FY97 Funding - <B=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: =
normal">$96,869,343,420<o:p></o:p></B></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D2>Number of <SPAN class=3D934570007-12112003>Federal =
</SPAN>Agencies,=20
Dept<SPAN class=3D934570007-12112003>s</SPAN>.,<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Boards and Commissions=20
<U><STRONG>administering</STRONG></U> Federal Education Programs - <B=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">40<SPAN =
class=3D934570007-12112003> =20
</SPAN></B></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D2>Number of programs directly under Dept. of Education - <B=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">307 ( only 38%<SPAN=20
class=3D934570007-12112003> of the 788=20
programs</SPAN>)<o:p></o:p></B></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D2>Funding of programs directly under Dept. of Education - <B=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">$59,000,000,000 ( only=20
61%)<o:p></o:p></B></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> <SPAN=20
class=3D934570007-12112003><STRONG>Just a few=20
e</STRONG></SPAN></SPAN><STRONG>xamples of funding under other=20
Depts.</STRONG>:</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Number =
of programs=20
under Dept. of Labor - 21 (total dollars =
5,474,039,000)</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Number =
of programs=20
under Dept. of Health and Human Services - 172 (total dollars=20
$8,661,006,166)</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Number =
of programs=20
under Dept. of Justice - 21 (total dollars =
$755,477,149.00)</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Number =
of programs=20
under Dept. of Agriculture<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>- 33=20
(total dollars $13,339,630,410)</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Number =
of programs=20
under Dept. of Interior - 27 (total dollars =
$555,565,000)</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Number =
of programs=20
under United Institute for Peace - 4 (total dollars=20
$3,371,000)</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><I=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><o:p><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> </FONT></o:p></I></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D2>Number of pages of applications states must fill out to =
receive federal=20
funds each year - <B=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: =
normal">20,000<o:p></o:p></B></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D2>Number of federally funded employees of state education =
agencies=20
administering federal education programs - <B=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">13,400 full time=20
equivalents</B></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D2>Time for states to complete discretionary grant process - <B=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">average 20 weeks & 216 =
steps</B> (<I=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">after streamlining! - was 26 =
weeks, 487=20
steps) <o:p></o:p></I></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2>States=20
and local districts are often dependent on skilled and professional =
grant=20
writers to obtain these federal dollars and comply with their=20
requirements</FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
class=3D934570007-12112003><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>Keep in mind that=20
this was six year ago. Federal control has only increased since =
that=20
time. Anyone who believes that local control exists in their =
town=20
needs to obtain just a few copies of the grants their state has written =
to=20
obtain federal money and <STRONG>read them</STRONG> for =
themselves. They=20
tell a completely different story - the real story about who and what =
controls=20
the classroom. That process is an education all by itself and a real eye =
opener=20
about our "government schools."</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
class=3D934570007-12112003><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff=20
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
class=3D934570007-12112003><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff=20
size=3D2>Respectfully,</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
class=3D934570007-12112003><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>Roxanne=20
Sitler</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D934570007-12112003><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D934570007-12112003><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV></DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2>-----Original =
Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>=20
vision2020-admin@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com] <B>On =
Behalf Of=20
</B>Donovan Arnold<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, November 11, 2003 10:22=20
PM<BR><B>To:</B> dmcourtn@moscow.com; =
vision2020@moscow.com<BR><B>Subject:</B>=20
[Vision2020] Re:"Government Schools" vs. "Public =
Schools"<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV>
<DIV>
<P>Dale is incorrect in his assumption about "public schools" being =
the same=20
as "government schools." </P>
<P>First, Dale points to the fact that there are 171,000 references on =
google=20
using the term "Government Schools". Well, there are 17 million =
references to=20
public schools, so who is correct if numbers are pointing to being =
correct.=20
What Dale also fails to explain is most of the uses of Government =
Schools are=20
not referring to public schools. Public Schools are schools run by the =
public.=20
Meaning they are run by people that are elected by the local public =
and the=20
public decides policy. Government Schools refer to Federally run =
schools.=20
These would be run by Federal elected officials and the locals that =
send their=20
children to the school have little to no say in the policy. In the =
United=20
States when someone refers to a Government School in large cities they =
are=20
referring to schools on military bases. These are different than =
public=20
schools. In most of the articles that Dale is referring to are =
other=20
nations where the Federal Government runs the school. </P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<P>Using the term "Government School" as a synonym to "Public School" =
is abuse=20
of the cultural context of the meaning in about 99.9% of the world and =
the=20
United States.The only exception to this would be if they called it =
"Local=20
Government Public School". This would define it as separate from that =
of=20
"Federal Government School".</P>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<P>However, if they were to call it a "Local Government School" it =
would=20
eliminate the fear that people have of handing control of their =
child's=20
education to a bunch of politicians 2,000 miles away that never lived =
in their=20
community or know their values and concerns. This I imagine is the =
sole reason=20
why they try to propagate the misuse of the term "Government =
Schools".=20
</P>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<P>I would concede the term "Government School" to be used if they =
also allow=20
the term "Profit off your child Schools" or "Religious Indoctrination =
Schools"=20
or "We don't let anybody in here Schools" to be used in turn for the =
schools=20
they want to steal public dollars to support. Names can be =
destructive,=20
that is exactly what they are trying to do. </P>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<P>So let us use the correct terms, "Public Schools" in reference to =
schools=20
that are locally funded and run, "Government Schools" should be =
used to=20
describe what they always have, federally run and operated schools. =
And,=20
"Non-Public Schools" to refer to privately run and operated schools. =
To do=20
anything else is being dishonest, inaccurate, and full of malice. </P>
<DIV></DIV>
<P>Donovan</P>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff=20
size=3D2></FONT></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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