Chapter 14 2 Education and Social Issues Public

Chapter 14. 2 Education and Social Issues

Public Education n n Local gov’ts began offering free public education in colonial times. Today, elementary and high school education remains a local responsibility under state guidelines. The local school district is the basic administrative unit. The federal gov’t provides some school funding but imposes rules, such as prohibiting gender discrimination and meeting the needs of disabled students.

continued n The recent “No Child Left Behind Act” authorized additional federal funds for schools but also increased the rules. Students must take state tests intended to hold schools accountable for students’ learning.

continued n School funds largely come from property taxes. Therefore, districts in wealthy suburbs with high property values have more to spend on education than those in run-down neighborhoods and lower property values. As a result, not all students receive the same high-quality education.

continued n n Non-financial problems include low test scores, high dropout rates and crime and violence on school property. Many of these problems are rooted in broader social problems, such as poverty, broken families and substance abuse. To improve academic performance, many states are trying charter schools. These schools receive state funding but are excused from meeting many regulations to encourage innovation.

continued n n Opponents say charter schools take funds and the best students away from public schools. Preliminary studies indicate that charter schools are no more innovative than public schools and are not luring the best students Some places are experimenting with tuition vouchers – a king of gov’t money order. Parents can use the vouchers to pay for their children to attend private schools.

continued n n Opponents say vouchers shift funds from public to private schools. Also, vouchers may violate the 1 st Amendment because they can be used to pay tuition at religious schools. The Supreme Court has ruled that vouchers can be used at religious schools. In a few cases, a private company runs the school. Opponents argue that companies will cut corners on education to increase profits.

continued n n Some state require students to pass competency tests in order to be promoted to the next grade or receive a high school diploma. Supporters of competency testing claim it holds schools and teachers accountable. However, many teachers claim that it forces teachers to spend class time teaching students how to pass tests instead of how to understand the subjects.

Crime n n Crime rates are usually highest in large cities, where many people struggling with poverty may see robbery and drug dealing as a way to a better life. Cities have the country’s largest police forces. Sheriffs and their deputies enforce the laws in rural areas. Every state also has a highway patrol or state police. Its main responsibility is highway safety, but it also deals with crimes and suspects.

continued n n Besides enforcing the law, police officers work to keep the peace. They settle disputes and provide services, such as directing traffic. Under the community policing program, police become a visible presence in neighborhoods. The program also gets residents involved in neighborhood watches.

Social Programs n n Gov’t uses welfare programs to help Americans suffering from ill health, old age, poverty and disabilities. Critics of welfare claim that it undermines selfrespect among the poor and encouraged dependency. Defenders say that it is the only way poorly educated, unemployed single mothers and their children can avoid homelessness and hunger.

continued n n Under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Act (TANF), the federal gov’t gives money to the states to pass on as welfare payments to poor people. The states mostly decide who is eligible and how much they get. The act sets a five-year lifetime limit on receiving welfare and states must develop job-training programs to help the poor become self-sufficient.

continued n The number of people on welfare dropped sharply after the passage of TANF in 1996. Critics claim that the drop is due mostly to the booming economy and labor shortage of the late 1990 s. Some fear that in an economic slump, people forced off welfare won’t be able to find jobs and will be helpless.