Reagan’s Goal to End the Department of Education Is Finally Gaining Momentum – IOTW Report

Reagan’s Goal to End the Department of Education Is Finally Gaining Momentum

FEE:
Patrick Carroll

Ending the Department of Education may seem like a radical idea, but it’s not as crazy as it sounds.

The debate over the federal role in education has been going on for decades. Some say the feds should have a relatively large role while others say it should be relatively small. But while most people believe there should be at least some federal oversight, some believe there should be none at all.

Rep. Thomas Massie is one of those who believes there should be no federal involvement in education, and he is actively working to make that a reality. In February 2021, he introduced H.R. 899, a bill that perfectly encapsulates his views on this issue. It consists of one sentence:

“This bill terminates the Department of Education on December 31, 2022.”

This position may seem radical, but Massie is not alone. The bill had 8 cosponsors when it was introduced and has been gaining support ever since. On Monday, Massie announced that Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) decided to cosponsor the bill, bringing the total number of cosponsors to 18.

Though it may be tempting to think Massie and his supporters just don’t care about education, this is certainly not the case. If anything, they are pushing to end the federal Department of Education precisely because they care about educational outcomes. In their view, the Department is at best not helping and, at worst, may actually be part of the problem.

“Unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. should not be in charge of our children’s intellectual and moral development,” said Massie when he initially introduced the bill. “States and local communities are best positioned to shape curricula that meet the needs of their students.”

Massie is echoing sentiments expressed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, who advocated dismantling the Department of Education even though it had just begun operating in 1980. more

25 Comments on Reagan’s Goal to End the Department of Education Is Finally Gaining Momentum

  1. Mindless “departments” include-
    Department of Energy
    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
    Department of Education
    The Federal Bureau of Investigation

    Mindless, superfluous federal fungi.

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  2. This bill terminates the Department of Education

    That means march them all (according to W2s) out back, and bill their families for the bullet? Right?

    2
  3. @Brad ~ with ya, my man … getting long in the tooth, can’t sleep from the broken vertebrae & associated sciatica & nerve damage …
    whine, whine, whine … like Bette Davis said, “gettin’ old ain’t for sissies”.

    but, as long as I can stand on the line, I will

    5
  4. Carter formed it toward the end of his term. All it does is collect data and spend money in a completely political manner. And a different department can collect data.

    6
  5. @Brad ~ I give thanks every day I’m here

    & thanks for the Tritt … haven’t listened to him in a while

    hang in there, bro … we ain’t much, but we’re all we got … & that’s enough

    4
  6. TN Tuxedo April 25, 2022 at 10:24 pm

    The subject of education is never mentioned in the US Constitution.

    “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

    Education belongs at the state and local levels.

    10
  7. Ending the DOE is a start but not enough

    I propose this amendment to the constitution, ether as a stand alone amendment or an addition to the 10th amendment.

    Congress shall not fund direct impose or force any public education policy upon the States, nor shall congress bribe or coerce any state to implement such policy or policies.

    Except as a benefit of employment with the federal government or as a benefit, for military service, Congress shall not fund or guarantee, any funds for the education of any individual.
    .

    3
  8. Said here many times GWB’s “common Cor” would never have been were it not for a hyper liberal GOPe Dole. Reason #4 i did not vote for Dole.
    Ronny tried 8 straight !”…GOVT IS THE PROBLEM!”!?!@#$%^&*!

    Dole, unlike the Bush/Rove clique, was a good
    Republican; but as Gore said in ’96 debate “Most liberal man in Congress for 50 years!”!

    1
  9. DOE was created as a payback to teacher unions by Jimmy. It educates no one. It certainly doesn’t raise standards. Who can show me where scores are higher now then they were in the early 70s

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  10. I get the feeling this joeyb character is the anonymous that use to haunt these pages back before the handle “anonymous” was banned. He has the same insipid responses. Amirite?

    1
  11. Having worked in the Education field for 15 years, I can tell you that eliminating the Federal DOE is EXACTLY what is needed.

    That stupid Common Core? The states started with it and when they realized it was a pile of crap, they started dumping it like dominoes.

    Keep whatever the US Constitution does NOT give the federal government (as their duty) with the states. That’s why we are a Constitutional Republic.

    The federal government has NO POWER except what the Constitution gives them.

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