Education 
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Don't Just Blame the Government
Cato education scholar Neal McCluskey details how education spending in the U.S. has doubled in the past 40 years without seeing increases in education outcomes. In fact, results may have become worse. However, we can not blame the government entirely. No matter how bad public education has gotten, Americans' gut reaction to any discussion of spending cuts is outrage, so even principled politicians think twice about proposing reforms. McCluskey notes that the problem is that Americans don’t know how bad the situation is, because, “as with most things you buy, people generally expect that spending more on education will get a better product.” Throwing money at structural problems will not fix them, but it will waste scarce resources. In contrast to blank-check reforms, McCluskey explains the details of the problems and offers solutions to address them.
Cato Scholars Evaluate State of the Union Address
A group of Cato scholars -- ranging in discipline from education to foreign policy to economics to health care and more -- analyze President Obama's State of the Union speech. They evaluate the strength of his policy positions, including what he did well and what he could do to improve.
School Choice Week
This week is National School Choice Week, when advocates gather across the nation to shine a spotlight on effective education options. Cato's Education Policy scholar Andrew Coulson explains, in a two page overview, why we should consider a market approach to schooling rather than our existing monopoly approach. For a dose of modern statistical evidence, check out the corresponding analysis.
In light of this week's national focus on education, the Cato Institute will be hosting an international panel for an event, Cloning "Superman": What Other Countries Already Know about Scaling Up Good Schools, that will discuss what's the way forward and how the U.S. can learn from other countries' experiences. Register for Friday's event here.
Public Education Drowning America
The Cato Institue's Education Policy Department is hosting an event on Tuesday, January 11th at 12:00, entitled: "Fiscal Undertow: How Public Schools Are Drowning State and Local Budgets, and What to Do about It"
Health care is the budget buster at the federal level, but K-12 education is what's poised to bankrupt state and local governments. Come hear Overstock.com CEO and The Foundation for Educational Choice Chairman Patrick Byrne, Cato's Adam Schaeffer, and others discuss the most important state and local spending issue of 2011.
Snooping on Teens Isn't Cool
Cato's Gene Healy remarks on the growing rate of government intrusion into the lives of American youngsters. Students have been monitored by GPS tracking, hacking into their laptop webcams, submitted to impromptu strip-searches, and are now being deterred from public places by age-targeted high-frequency devices (i.e. dog whistles for teens). These efforts, Healy notes, mark not just the increase of government in kids' daily lives, but the increasing propensity for the youth generation being much more accepting of Big Brother. Besides the disturbing nature of government taking advantage of kids' acceptance, the rising role of government in personal life restricts the individualism and free-thinking disposition that has hallmarked American culture for many prior generations. But all hope is not lost; Healy explains that, “as our cousins across the pond are showing, the trend can be reversed.”
Degrees Are No Substitute for Experience
Cato scholar Dan Mitchell analyses Obama’s track record on improving the economy. He notes that the Obama administration sets the record for having the least private sector experience. And, sad to say, their private sector inexperience has not been offset by their academic experience. In fact, the Obama administration has done a fairly good job doing exactly the opposite of what it claims to pursue. Mitchell states that for businesses to contribute to the economy, they need confidence that their efforts will be awarded and not punished or hindered – and taxes, restrictions, and bureaucracy are not the way to do that.
What's so Wrong About Grade Inflation?
In a timeless piece in The Freeman, George Leef notes that the problem with the growing focus on higher ed is that professors face rising pressure to graduate more students, even if their work is not good quality. The incentives are misaligned and the result is that a “C” has become the new “F.” When education becomes an industry that undermines its very purpose with artificial credentials, and when the government supports that cycle with billions of dollars in subsidies, many people loses – the qualified grads whose job market gets flooded by incompetent degree-holders, the kids and families that spend fortunes on school but don’t have what it takes to graduate, and the economy as a whole as we misallocate resources.
Public School Bailout Bad News for Americans
In response to a proposed $23 billion bailout for public school employment, Cato education scholar Andrew Coulson illustrates that public school employment has dramatically increased over the past 40 years while student performance has shown no growth. If public schools lobbyists are claiming that more teachers are needed to ensure education levels, the data don't back them up. Coulson notes, “Throwing billions more at the system would only worsen the problem and delay the solution, which is to help ease the transition of these workers from their current unproductive employment back into the productive sector of the economy.” Perhaps there's a more effective way to improve education. One such example is the school choice revolution currently emerging in Florida, as documented by Cato's Adam Schaeffer here.
A Plague of 'A' Students
Political satirists and Cato fellow P.J. O'Rourke says that "America has made the mistake of letting the A student run things." 'A' students assume the high levels of society that change our way of life, but everybody else drives the engine of the country. (i.e. "B students work for C students — A students teach.") The problem is that the impact of top-level decisions made by elitists is not seen for decades, when negative effects have become institutionalized. So while they seem the best suited to run our society, it may just be an impression of their fine grooming and not their actual ability. With an article that is one part humor and two parts clever insight, O'Rourke serves up a message relevant to students at all levels – from ivy leagues to the school of hard knocks.
Florida's Unheralded School Revolution
Choice is a good thing. And so is education. When you put the two together, you get the current school reform sweeping across Florida. Adam Schaeffer, Cato education policy analyst, details the expansion of Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, which was signed into law in April. The program allows for businesses to donate to education non-profits in lieu of paying taxes. The non-profits provide scholarships to low-income students to attend private schools. This type of reform has proven to raise academic performance, in the private schools and the public classrooms, which must compete to retain students. The program saves the State money through the efficiencies of the non-profits and raises achievement levels. Schaeffer heralds that as this Florida program continues to develop, "other states will find it hard to resist enacting broad-based school choice."
Campus Conundrum: Free Speech or Non-Discrimination?
The University of California - Hastings law school will not grant funding to the Christian Legal Society because CLS does not grant membership to those who advocate or engage in sex outside heterosexual marriage. Cato constitutional studies scholar Ilya Shapiro and center for educational freedom scholar Neal McCluskey discuss the case. Legally, CLS wins the case, as protected under the First Amendment. That a government entity could grant funding to some and deny it to others is a form of discrimination in itself; and a group that cannot restrict membership ceases to be a group. Ultimately, though, this is not ideal, as some would be forced to fund (via tax dollars) something to which they object. The only way to prevent government from violating the constitutional rights of its citizens is to get the government out of education.
Courts Won't Hear Free Speech
While there is much value in keeping church and state separate, that cannot be cause for limiting freedom of speech. Cato scholar Nat Hentoff raises this concern as U.S. Courts have opted to remain silent on the issue of students' First Amendment rights being trodded upon by school administrations and policies. Hentoff advises that if the Constitution is going to last, its understanding must be renewed in society. Schools provide a great place to do this, and should not be used instead to undermine the Constitution.
That this debate falls on the inherent conflict of ‘free speech’ and ‘separation of church and state’ is cause to revisit the government monopoly of the education system, which is discussed much by Cato's Neal McCluskey.
Ask the Expert: Dan Griswold on the DREAM Act
Dan Griswold, Cato's Director of the Center for Trade Policy Studies, analyzes the merits of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, which has appeared before both the House and Senate. He explains that, ideally, such legislation should be a misnomer, if there were more options for legal immigration and if government were less involved in education. However, based on the current system the DREAM Act would alleviate some systemic problems and lead to a more productive American economy.
Is Healthcare a "Right"?
Economics professor Steven Horwitz discusses the danger of declaring things like healthcare and education a "right." Many rights, such as free speech, force people to refrain from obstructing another's right. Ensuring universal healthcare, however, is different because it would force people to do something for others. The problem with positive rights is that they distort incentives and do not result in successful policies without infringing on the negative rights of others. (It is impossible to provide a social program for some without taking money from others.) Horwitz explains that the libertarian end goal is the same as the leftist's, namely that the most people have the best healthcare. The difference is how that happens.
Leave No Parent to Decide
In addition to the power grab of healthcare, government is increasingly laying hold of the nationalized education system by imposing across-the-board standards. Cato scholar Gene Healy explains the problem this creates, "(T)he drive for federal standards ignores the risks inherent in enforced uniformity." Several states have risen up against federal control and experimental programs (which have included such initiatives as "creative spelling"). While that is one step closer to localizing education choices, Healy sides with Cato education scholar Neal McCluskey, who documents how public schooling inescapably produces social conflict. Healy, therefore, offers a novel concept: how about letting parents decide?
The Real Cost of Public Schools
Cato education policy analyst Adam Schaeffer explains how many public school districts across the country lie about spending figures per student, making schools look more efficient than the reality. Schaeffer notes that a real debate on education alternatives - such as private schools and school vouchers - cannot take place without transparency. The Cato Institute has recently published a Policy Analysis by Schaeffer entitled, "They Spend WHAT? The Real Cost of Public Schools."
Federal Education: Too Much for Too Little
In light of the ballooning costs of the federal education system and its stagnant results, Cato education scholar Neal McCluskey calls for action. McCluskey notes that education is essential, but states that "federal involvement absolutely is not," because education "works best when tailored to the unique needs of individual people and communities." In the current system, those whose livelihoods rest on the government-dominated education system are the ones in positions to expand it, while those negatively effected by it – the American people – are occupied living their lives without the knowledge that federal education is costing more while providing less. McCluskey therefore offers a solution, "Get the feds out of education."
Are You Ready for Some Football... and Taxes?
It's college football bowl season, and with 34 games to choose from, viewers have a lot of choice. However, one choice the public does not have is who is going to pay for the games. Cato scholar Neal McCluskey reveals that college football is subsidized by taxpayers. He outlines how bowl games get direct subsidies, tax-exemption status, and how most public universities end up running deficits that are passed on to students and taxpayers. "While college-gridiron fans will tell you that many major programs make money, what they won't tell you is that they do so largely with taxpayer help. And when those programs lose money, taxpayers are hit even harder" McCluskey says, adding that "With the most exciting part of the college football season upon us, you'd better take in all the games. After all, you're paying for them."
Charter Schools Key to Rescuing Michigan
It's no surprise that the state of Michigan is facing looming budget deficits and cuts to programs such as education. However, Andrew Coulson, Cato's Director of the Center for Educational Freedom, explains how this situation gives the state an opportunity to turn things around through freeing education. Coulson documents how charter schools are more effective at graduating more students with better education; they also cost 20 percent less while having more teachers per student. Educational reform in Michigan is inevitable, so making it more effective and less costly sounds like a great idea, especially when we're talking about our country’s future.
Following China on Education... Bad Idea
Cato education scholar Neal McCluskey compares Obama's education objectives with that of China, where the number of college graduates has been dramatically increasing. Obama has stated a commitment to churn out more college graduates, and he has dedicated the funds to do so. But, McCluskey notes, there are problems when simply increasing the number of graduates. One issue will be, as it already is in China, “(not) nearly enough jobs to employ all the newly credentialed.” If America doesn’t change course, Obama’s investments in education will largely be a waste.
Ivy League Diversity Contortions
John Stossel, former 20/20 anchor and new Fox Business contributor, presents the issue of discriminatory affirmative action practices at ivy league schools. Examining several studies on college admissions, it turns out that sometimes the determining factor of admission is as deep as the color of one's skin. These policies have been defended by university administrators, who say that not discriminating would “severely limit the level of minority enrollment at top-tier colleges.” Stossel notes that, "Every slot that an undeserving student occupies comes at the expense of a student who earned it."
Policy Forum: Taking Control of Spiraling College Costs
"Rising at a faster rate than even health care costs, the price of college is skyrocketing."
The Cato Institute will host a policy forum on the topic of Spiraling College Costs, on October 6th. Cato education scholar Neal McCluskey personally extended an invitation to CatoOnCampus visitors for this event. Join us for this event that bears more heavily on students than anyone else.
And if you can't attend the event, watch it online here.
Kids Sing Obama-Praises
'-- Hello, Mr. President we honor you today! --
-- For all your great accomplishments, we all doth say “hooray!” --'
Thus rang the words not of the Democratic party but of our nation's public school-children. Neal McCluskey, Cato education policy scholar, notes that a disturbing aspect of this issue isn't the fact that such a display took place, but what the district superintendent said, "The recording and distribution of the class activity were not authorized." McCluskey says, "Allow me to summarize: This is an outrage — who the heck let you people know what was going on in my school?"
Hey, Mr. President, Leave Those Kids Alone
In his weekly Washington Examiner column, Cato VP Gene Healy calls for a back-peddling of Presidential involvement, particularly in our schools. President Obama is scheduled to address school children nationwide on September 8th to, with the help of lesson plans from the Dept. of Education, "inspire" kids to serve their fellow classmates, their future, and their elected officials - which Healy views not only as partisan, but an over-step of power. "The framers thought of the president as a mere constitutional officer, whose main job is taking care that the laws are faithfully executed. Students -- and presidents -- could stand to learn a lot more about how far we've drifted from that ideal."
Is College a Scam?
In a short video, 20/20 Co-Anchor John Stossel analyzes the $75.1 billion industry of higher education and the statement by Pres. Obama that, “We expect all our children not just to graduate high school, but to graduate college and get a good-paying job.” He evaluates that claim by looking at data and interviewing students, professors, administrators and professionals. The figures of college success typically touted by public figures are based on skewed data, and it's probable that many of the people who make good money after college could have done just as well without it, and not been under all the debt.