U. S. Department of Education

Since 1980, the U.S. Department of Education has been a Cabinet level position.

On November 16, Heather Cox Richardson in her Letters from an American presented an outstanding overview of the Department and its history.

I would highly recommend everyone read it, particularly those with any past, present or future relationship to education.

Best I can gather from the internet, about 70 million Americans are under 18 years of age.  That is about 20% of the nations population who cannot vote, and are subject to the good or bad judgement of whoever makes the political decisions relating to school, including those who opt for private or home school options.   This includes children of pre-school age, and a significant percentage of high school seniors who have not yet turned 18 (I turned 18 on May 4, 1958, a high school senior, for example).

In the cited article, I especially noted May 5, 1980, which is when the U.S. Department of Education came to be.  This was in the administration of President Jimmy Carter.

For some unremembered reason, in January of 1980, I was part of a group of Minnesota Education Association professional staff who went to D.C., and were at a briefing in the Cabinet Room of the White House.  My recollection is that there were fewer than 10 of us, I only recall for certain Kenn Pratt, who is the one who took the below photo of me at the approximate spot reserved for Press, even today.

Dick Bernard, January, 1980 White House, Washington DC

The Department of Education, as Heather’s Letter points out, has great importance to this country; it has also been under assault, and probably will be again.

The adage is “to be fore-warned is to be fore-armed”.  Read carefully, and spread this post widely.  It will help you to know what you’re talking about.  This is one of those situations where the young people without power, need the help of those who have the capability of helping.

PS: In January, 1980, my staff assignment was to the Anoka-Hennepin Education Association.  In later assignments in various locales, I watched the conflicts over education policy play out in assorted ways in assorted places.

In 2006, as part of a group working on a program on Family-School-Community Partnerships, I wrote a brief (2-page) piece on “Community” in the context of school.  If you wish, here it is: Community by Dick Bernard 2006

COMMENTS:

from Mary Ellen: Thanks, Dick!

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