Early in our nation’s history,
some taxpayers accepted the principle of public schooling but balked at
government funding of schools.
The early proponents of public
schools won the discussion by making some strong points:
They asserted that the
education of all children is a vital public interest and, more to the point, a
shared responsibility.
They believed that public
funding was critical to give schools a consistent base of support and make them
accountable to the American people.
These early advocates also felt
that public funding would lessen inequities in education and that it would help
ensure a basic level of quality among all schools.
They felt that public
responsibility for education would improve opportunities for children whose
schooling was neglected.
In 1903, the civil rights
leader W. E. B. Du Bois wrote:
“Education and work are the
levers to uplift a people. Work alone will not do it, unless inspired by the
right ideals and guided by intelligence. Education must not simply teach work –
it must teach Life.”
These points formed the strong
basis for public schooling that endures to this day. Consistent public funding
and a shared responsibility for educating all of our children must always remain
core values.
