Michael Zwaagstra: Empower Parents, Not the Educational Bureaucracy
Commentary
Hillary Clinton famously said it takes a village to raise a child. Was she right? It depends on what we mean by village.
On one hand, children benefit from the support of a broader community, particularly at school. Most parents appreciate it when teachers help their children acquire the knowledge and skills that they need now and in the future. But if we’re talking about the educational bureaucracy, then it certainly does not take a village. In far too many cases, bureaucrats have assumed too much power for themselves at the expense of parents. When this happens, children are harmed rather than helped….