Education
![Doing math problem on chalkboard Doing math problem on chalkboard](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121014012330im_/http://buerkle.house.gov/sites/buerkle.house.gov/files/styles/section_front_boilerplate/public/education.jpg)
Historically, universal access to education is a uniquely American achievement that continues to benefit our children in their pursuit of success.
Historically, universal access to education is a uniquely American achievement that continues to benefit our children in their pursuit of success.
In its current form, however, the American education system is allowing more and more children to fall through the cracks. Once the best public education system in the world, our schools are falling further behind other industrialized nations.
Since the 1970s, the nation’s spending on education has doubled, yet relative performance has remained flat or declined in almost every discipline. It is clear that spending enough taxpayer’s money is not the problem.
The reasons for the relative decline of our schools are complex, and yet there are numerous glimmers of hope. The dedication, passion, and ability of our nation’s educators is self-evident, and through their efforts millions of students receive a quality education every year.
More Federal control of education is not the answer. In fact, more education decisions need to be made at the local and state level, empowering our teachers to practice their craft with the knowledge that their efforts are being made in conjunction with real conditions. Bureaucrats in Washington do not know what is best for our children—parents and teachers know how to make the most important difference in a child’s life.