Public education is the only institution that has a hope of counteracting tribalism and divisiveness in America. Its compulsory nature, taxpayer support and common core curriculum are critical pieces of the public school model.
Jon England’s recent Tribune op-ed, (“Utah Fits All Scholarship won’t destroy public schools”) claims to be concerned with students who don’t fit the model, but his only example of the model failing was the chaos his district experienced during the COVID pandemic.
England referenced an Nov. 8 Deseret News poll finding that 16% of parents “aren’t sure or feel that the school is not a good fit” for their children. The Deseret News’ article doesn’t drill down to clarify parental concerns but England’s explains his in an Aug. 4 Daily Herald op-ed, “Public education is a sinking ship,” where he states that efforts to reform public education will fail because “they are based upon a state-level bureaucrat deciding what is important for children to learn.”
As a former principal and current Libertas Institute’s Education Policy analyst he knows that Utah’s 15 Educational Districts elect (and they are now partisan races) members of the Utah State Board of Education who, along with local elected district boards, determine what Utah’s core curriculum is — not a bureaucrat.
His Deseret News op-ed takes aim at 19th century reformer Horace Man who is widely credited with inspiring the public education system. England says, “The problem with public schools is in their very foundation. Horace Mann wanted to create a standardized education system — one that would create a common school where children would be taught his view of American values.” Per Wikipedia, one of Mann’s main principles was that education “should be paid for, controlled, and sustained by an interested public” not any one person; bureaucrat or dictator.
England advises parents to “look for a school or style that matches your values.” Mann felt that education is best provided in schools that embrace children from a variety of backgrounds, be nonsectarian and taught by well-trained, professional teachers using the tenets of a free society. Which philosophy do you believe will make us a better United States?
James Allred, Millcreek
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