What is the purpose of the public school system?
25 years ago at that landmark Leandro The Supreme Court of North Carolina has ruled that its purpose is to at least provide every child in the state with the opportunity to receive a “sound basic education.”
This week, the court will have another debate (and perhaps try to craft a permanent solution) in the same seemingly endless case.
The question is whether the state legislature can force a comprehensive plan to be funded by court-appointed experts. This makes such a sound basic education finally truly available to all students.
Republican legislative leaders argue that it is beyond the constitutional authority of the judiciary to order the General Assembly to fund such programs. They argue that only a majority of
But plaintiffs and their supporters argued convincingly, and if the original 1997 decision and the constitutional rights it affirmed had practical implications, the court would affirmatively answer the question. We must answer. Without such a ruling, decades of litigation were effectively rendered useless, and what was thought to be a constitutional right to a sound basic education was shown to be an illusion. will be
Interestingly, and importantly, however, even if the court took the courageous course urged by plaintiffs and moved to enforce the original judgment a quarter-century after it was issued (the Mind you, the grunt emanating from political rights if such a judgment were to be made (decision would shatter eardrums), there is still much work to be done.
As Chief Justice Earl Warren so eloquently explained 68 years ago to a unanimous United States Supreme Court: Brown v. Board of Education Judgment – A decision that ended legal racism in American public schools – The purpose of public education in American society goes far beyond mere provision of academic instruction by well-trained educators. Prepare your kids to do well on tests, move on to higher grades and get good jobs.
Warren said:
Today, education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments. The compulsory education law and high spending on education demonstrate recognition of the importance of education in a democratic society. It is required in the performance of our most basic public responsibilities, even in military service.It is the very foundation of good citizenship. Today, it is an important tool in helping children awaken to cultural values, prepare them for later professional training, and successfully adapt to their environment. These days, it is questionable whether a child can reasonably be expected to succeed in life if denied educational opportunities.”
In other words, public schools should not be viewed merely as distributors of useful information, although it is a very important function. That is, it should not be seen as a box store-like institution that families patronize or avoid when looking for the best path to career advancement for their child. lowest price.
Schools are also one of the key public institutions that unite a vast and diverse country. They are a place where American children and adults of all backgrounds come together equally to learn about each other. Or at least it should. They are places where you learn how to coexist (and perhaps even thrive). It is a place not only to consume, but also to participate and contribute as citizens.
The Good People of the Federation of American Teachers said in describing their vision of a “community school”:
Community schools are more than just centers of education…. They are places where teachers, families, community members, and service providers can come together in collaborative, purposeful, results-focused partnerships. Be at the heart of your community by providing services that best meet your needs while promoting stable and healthy neighborhoods. ”
Unfortunately, in this age when so many aspects of society have been commoditized and marketed, even proponents of public education who work for progressive change avoid the term consumerism. It is difficult.
And even in the most important and potentially game-changing cases, Leandro It suffers somewhat because it relies on a rather solid and inadequate language.
The bottom line: Providing access to a sound basic education for all North Carolina schoolchildren is a “must” and an opportunity for the Supreme Court to exercise such fundamental constitutional rights for years. It seems almost unfathomable that I could not grasp the
But ultimately, our schools must play a wider and more important social role.And hopefully it was long overdue Leandro Guarantees are just one of several steps in North Carolina toward such an outcome.
