George Washington and the Federal Role In Education

On May 14, 2013May 14, 2013 By Kevin R. KosarIn Other ItemsLeave a comment

The U.S. Constitution carries no explicit authorization for the federal government to have any role in education. Nevertheless, this did not preclude the nation’s first president from advocating the creation of federal civilian and military universities. George Washington made his case to Congress repeatedly, perhaps most forcefully in his eighth presidential address (1796):

I have heretofore proposed to the consideration of Congress, the expediency of establishing a National University; and also a Military Academy. The desirableness of both these Institutions, has so constantly increased with every new view I have taken of the subject, that I cannot omit the opportunity of once for all, recalling your attention to them…. Amongst the motives to such an Institution, the assimilation of the principles, opinions and manners of our Country men, but the common education of a portion of our Youth from every quarter, well deserves attention. The more homogeneous our Citizens can be made in these particulars, the greater will be our prospect of permanent Union; and a primary object of such a National Institution should be, the education of our Youth in the science of Government . In a Republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? and what duty, more pressing on its Legislature, than to patronize a plan for communicating it to those, who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the Country?

The Institution of a Military Academy, is also recommended by cogent reasons. However pacific the general policy of a Nation may be, it ought never to be without an adequate stock of Military knowledge for emergencies.

Washington was dispirited by his inability to see his vision into existence. He declared in a 1797 letter,

My Sollicitude for the establishment of a National University in this Country, has been great, and unceasing; but as the Sentiments of the Legislature have not been in unison therewith, I had postponed the further consideration of the subject to a moment of more leizure (than has lately been my lot) to see if I could devise some Plan by which my wishes could be carried into effect.

Washington died two year later. In 1802, Congress established the United States Military Academy (AKA West Point), the first of five national military schools. Congress later established civilian higher education institutions, including Gallaudet (1857) and Howard universities (1867), but it did not create a national university for the study of government as Washington desired. Legislation to establish a United States Public Service Academy was introduced in the 109th through 111th Congresses; none of these bills emerged from committee .

Below are links to four Washington documents that mention his proposal for a national university.

Source: John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799 (1931-1944), at http://etext.virginia.edu/washington/fitzpatrick/.

Gerald E. Sroufe, Politics of Education at the Federal Level

On April 10, 2012April 13, 2012 By Kevin R. KosarIn ArticlesLeave a comment

Gerald Sroufe Politics of Education at the Federal Level 1994 — Gerald Sroufe, "Politics of Education at the Federal Level"

Why bother studying the federal politics of education? Today, the question seems a little obtuse, what with the recent outpouring of studies on the topic. But when Gerald Sroufe posed the question in 1994, it was not in jest. The federal government supplied six to eight percent of school funding; it neither operated public schools (with rare exception) nor had it a significant a role in choosing what was taught in them. So, was the politics of education really worthy of scholars’ time?

Sroufe answers this question emphatically in the affirmative. His first argument holds that the study of federal education politics furthers the conceptual analysis of politics. Continue reading “Gerald E. Sroufe, Politics of Education at the Federal Level” →

The National Education Goals Reports 1991-1999

On February 24, 2012September 12, 2015 By Kevin R. KosarIn Organizations, Studies1 Comment

The National Education Goals Reports provide a trove of education data. Reading them also gives the researcher a feel for the big subjects of the tumultuous federal schooling debates of the 1990s. Additionally, the movement to establish education standards grew out of the effort to reach education goals—standards being the benchmarks for progress thereto.(1) The National Education Goals reports were published by the National Education Goals Panel (NEGP). This organization formed after the historic 1989 Charlottesville education summit, which was attended by governors and President George H.W. Bush. NEGP was established to report annually on the nation’s progress toward the nation’s education goals. The 1994 Goals 2000: Educate America Act (Sections 201-207) gave federal statutory recognition to NEGP, which further heightened its position in the education policy debates of the time. NEGP was effectively abolished by Section 1011 of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002. Continue reading “The National Education Goals Reports 1991-1999” →

Paul Manna, Collision Course: Federal Education Policy Meets State and Local Realities

On October 21, 2011October 23, 2011 By Kevin R. KosarIn Books1 Comment

Paul Manna, Collision Course: Federal Education Policy Meets State and Local Realities (Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2011)

You may order a copy of this book here.

Reviewed by Kevin R. Kosar

This website is devoted to the history of federal education policy. Manna’s study of the No Child Left Behind Act is not a history of the law. Those wanting a sense of the political wrangling that produced NCLB ought to look here. So why bother to mention this book on this website?

Simple—Manna’s book instead focuses on the administration of education policy—a critical and often over-looked part of federal education policy.

Put generally, policy-making and policy analysis are highly regarded in the U.S. Plenty of universities have well-funded, high profile policy schools that funnel wonks into government. Politicians, meanwhile, may seize the mantle of statesman or law-maker (Solon!) by crafting sweeping legislation.

Continue reading “Paul Manna, Collision Course: Federal Education Policy Meets State and Local Realities” →

School Lunch Poster 1944

On June 17, 2011March 6, 2013 By Kevin R. KosarIn Other ItemsLeave a comment

The National Archives and Records Administration writes:

“In its early years, school lunch was a child welfare program. Later it became a matter of national security. Malnourished children did not grow up to be good soldiers. In 1943 the War Food Administration took over—and dramatically expanded—the federal school lunch program.”

Just two years later, Congress enacted the National School Lunch Act, which directed excess farm products to America’s schools.