Education Advisory

Abolishing school boards should lead to parents being the governors of their own individual schools. Yes, like the one-room school house of old.

Trustees would be the parents in that school – not a host of “civic-minded” politicians, often teachers and teacher union activists. Parents would be the overseers of school quality and achievement, the ones to hire and fire staff and teachers. The intent of schools would be actualized, and the taxpaying public would trust parents to pursue efficiencies and effectiveness.

Consumers, the parents on behalf of their children, would determine the needs of that school, and would NOT succumb to pressures of the self-interests of so many in the industry –  catering to their own agendas and survival/growth/power  “needs”.

That is how private and independent schools operate, so why shouldn’t public (government) schools follow the same principles?

As a young parent in the 70’s I quickly perceived that trustees and the whole machinery of the school board system was counterproductive to the hopes and aspirations of parents. I took advantage of a traveling government commission to express my disappointment with large school districts and trustees overseeing large populations.  Attending board meetings did not help parents in individual schools.

I was flattered to have a member of the audience ask me for a copy of my brief. A few weeks later I was flattered to be invited to a dinner with the trustee association. It was not till years later that I had a “Eureka” experience, and realized I was being grilled as to my "dangerous" views and assessed as to my influence on others.

Also, I realize now that some of the very “helpful” and “friendly” officials who talked to parents at board meetings were probably “assigned” to keep tabs on parents and the groups they belonged to.  In some instances these same people asked to be involved with our advocacy groups, whether it was for more attention to the basics or special needs.

I think it is detrimental to parent causes to have activist teachers and trustees shape briefs, letters, demonstrations, etc.  Too often, naive and trusting parents become pawns in advocating for more funding, better working conditions for teachers, and on and on.  They have been diverted from advocating for their children.