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Guest Commentary: June 7, 2001
Flexibility Needed for Local School Boards
The Honorable Craig Thomas
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The Senate needs to move on to education. It has been on this issue for quite a long time. It has not moved. We have had a certain amount of obstruction. When there are still 300 amendments, it is a little hard to talk about wanting to move forward, but perhaps we will be able to do that.
I hope when we do, we take a long look at where we want to be in education. Too often, we get so involved with little issues that are either political or they have to do with one minute thing. The fact is, we do not have a clear vision of what the role of the Federal Government is in education, and we need to define that role.
In elementary and secondary education, the Federal Government provides about 7 percent of the funding. Why should they also provide all the rules and regulations that go with it? That has been the position many have taken: If we are going to give them any money, then we have to tell them how to do it.
One of the arguments, of course, is how do we help support education, have a policy on education, but allow the differences that exist in the local education facilities.
What is needed in Chugwater, Wyoming, is different from what is needed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We have to allow flexibility for local school boards and States.
I hope to take a look at where we want to be and have a vision of where we are going. Of course, we want high-quality education. We want accountability for education. We have to have quality teachers. We need to have choices for families, whether it is charter schools or schools of choice as we have in my hometown. The public schools have a different approach to it. Parents can decide where they want to send their children. These are the items about which we have to have a vision instead of coming out every day and wrestling over something that has very little impact. Where do we want to be 10 years from now or 15 years from now with regard to education.
Our hope as we change leadership -- and that is not the end of the world -- is that we move to govern and we move to do the things for the American people that we want to see happen over time: Where do we want to be and what is our role in getting there, that we can measure; high standards; we have to have funding that works; increased flexibility for local control; provide options for students. Those ought to be our goals.
Note: This column has been adapted from a speech Sen. Thomas delivered on the floor of the Senate, June 5, 2001.
 How to contact Sen. Craig Thomas (R-WY)
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