“The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation.”
Adolf Hitler uttered these words.
How long will Maryland families “happily endure” the curtailment of their children’s education? Maryland students and their families are approaching the end of a second year of virtual (aka pretend) education.
For the second year in a row, public school graduation ceremonies and senior proms are cancelled or modified. Final exams are cancelled. School athletics and extracurricular activities are cancelled, suspended, or abbreviated. The exception is private schools.
Most private schools in Maryland have been open for in-person instruction since September 2020. Private schools have found a way to host graduations, proms, athletics and extracurriculars. My children attend a private school where families have the choice of how to participate: all virtual, all in-person or hybrid.
Choice is the operative word. What about those families without the resources to make choices in their children's education?
It is astonishing that as of April 27, 2021, only 18 of 24 Maryland school districts are open for any type of in-person instruction. Charles County has yet to announce any re-opening dates. The details are published at the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) website along with innumerable reports and links. It's a bureaucratic treasure trove to boggle the mind.
Fourteen months into the COVID-19 lock downs, yet not a single county has announced plans to fully re-open schools. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has received a total of $1.2 BILLION in federal Coronavirus aid. The total state budget for education is $7.5 BILLION.
So, what is MSDE doing with the $8,700,000,000 in federal and state funding (aka your tax dollars)? What stands in the way of your child’s education?
The answer, quite simply, is the alliance of the education bureaucracy at all levels of government and teacher unions.
This post is the beginning of a series of articles on the state of education in Maryland, from funding to curriculum to the history of the US Department of Education and the role of teacher unions.
If you are concerned about American children’s education and future under federal, state & local governments that are increasingly bloated, corrupt, reckless and invasive, there are countless ways to actively engage as a Patriot Parent.
Get involved in your child’s or grandchild's education by becoming active participants in parent organizations. Also get involved with your local school boards. Yet the government-run and highly regulated education industry in America is a big problem that requires a big solution.
We must also call a Convention of States to bring accountability and power back to the states and the people, where it belongs. Be a 21st Century Patriot Parent. Join us and Sign the Petition.
