A New Agenda For Education. Critical Issues.

Overview & Synopsis

The recurring theme of this volume is that centralized control of education has failed and control of education should be returned to parents and the local community. Five papers are presented that clarify the conservative stance on public education and describe specific measures that could replace liberal concepts and programs: (1) "The Demise of the Teaching Profession" (Annette Kirk and Russell Kirk); (2) "Public and Private Schools" (K. Alan Snyder); (3) "The Growth of the Federal Role in Education" (Eileen M. Gardner); (4) "Higher Education Today" (Philip F. Lawler); and (5) "The Courts and Education" (Thomas R. Ascik). In a summary of the ideas set forth in these papers, a new agenda for education is proposed. Among the recommendations made are: accrediting Master Teachers to foster quality teaching, restoring educational choice to parents through tuition tax credits, establishing English as the sole teaching language, and allowing parents to deduct tuition from their taxes. All contributors recommend the elimination of centralization of educational direction at the federal level where, it is maintained, it falls into the hands of special interest groups and loses its ability to adapt to the diverse schooling needs of local communities throughout the United States. (JD)