Kim Burningham, Utah State Board of Education, District 5
Some politicians seem inclined to turn education into a political football. I am convinced this is very dangerous.
Revered educator, Karl G. Maser was the first Superintendent of Schools in the LDS Church Education system, and played a major role in the building of BYU. His opinion on mixing politics and education was vivid:
“Politics is a curse in educational matters,” he said. When politics infiltrate the educational process, “some officers and teachers may…play the role of political weather-cocks and change their coats to the fashion of the times.” This interference “would cast a blight upon the pupils….Our schools would become political hotbeds [and]…the filthy stream of party politics would pollute the sanctity of the school room.”
He concluded, “There is danger that the contagion will … reach the school and the children, and spoil the work.” (Maeser, Karl G., School & Fireside, 1898, pp. 73-75.)
Maeser was not alone. Writers of the Utah constitution understood this problem and cautioned against partisan constraints imposed in education. Article X, Section 8 is specific: “No religious or partisan test or qualification shall be required as a condition of employment, admission, or attendance in the state’s education system.”
To debate the merits of the core is, of course, appropriate, but now we are seeing some advocates move away from the issue of maintaining a strong educational experience for our pupils to the political arena. The football is being heaved high.
Today, many partisan politicians at all levels want to leave their footprint across the page of education. Nationally, we have watched “No Child Left Behind” establish ridiculously impossible standards and measurements. When this action was motivated by the effort to provide quality education it was, in my opinion, good; when it played the partisan game it had unfortunate consequences.
Making Boards of Education political is unwise
Some state legislators and executive branch members seem eager to make the schools “political hotbeds.” Current law requires state and local Boards of Education to be selected in nonpartisan elections. Unfortunately, some politicians aim their football and seek to turn both of these boards’ selection under partisan control. To do so would be unfortunate.
The Core Curriculum should not be built by politics
Currently, much debate is centered around establishing a more rigorous core of curriculum standards for the state. This move is an effort to strengthen education standards and to insure Utah students are the recipients of strong educational curriculum.
To debate the merits of the core is, of course, appropriate, but now we are seeing some advocates move away from the issue of maintaining a strong educational experience for our pupils to the political arena. The football is being heaved high.
Although countless educational analysts locally and nationally applaud the new academic standards, one state senator seems outraged when his permission was not given!
Educational standards are being politicized.
Some politicians announce support for the core standards, but when their political fortune appears in jeopardy, their support takes flight with the football.
The determining factor should always be what will result in a strong educational experience for Utah students. Bowing to political pressures or winning support for an approaching election should never be the criteria.
If we throw the political football into the educational arena, we may “spoil the work.”
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