Breaking News -- Utah State Legislature Set to Repudiate No Child Left Behind

UTAH STATE LEGISLATURE SET TO REPUDIATE 'NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND'

Posted: February 28, 2005
1:05 AM Eastern
NewsWithViews.com

While President Bush has made much of his 'No Child Left Behind' Act, a large percentage of Americans were dead set against it and home schooling has continued to grow because of this type of government program which many call "government indoctrination." (search)

Rep. Margaret Dayton is a Republican serving in the Utah State Legislature. She's also a mother of 12 who spear headed this effort to make the State of Utah the first to pull out of the 'No Child Left Behind" Act. "This is not a partisan issue; this is a states' rights issue," she said. "We share the same passion President Bush has for quality education, but there is not one opponent [to opting out] in the entire Legislature, which is 2-to-1 Republican."

It is highly unusual for a state to pull out of government programs because of the loss federal dollars, but since Congress has never had the authority to legislate education, Utah's withdrawal is causing celebration among those who want the government out of education. These supporters of Utah's move want the federal government out of their states regardless of the loss of federal dollars which constitutionalists maintain the government never had the right to anyway.

No Utah state senator has indicated any opposition to this measure to pull out of No Child Left Behind and the education committee is set to act this week. Utah's Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. says he will sign the measures.

Bill sponsors say the No Child Left Behind Act is a federal intrusion on states' rights and public education. "We want to send a message to those in the federal government that Utah has a great education system and that we know best how to manage that education system," said Rep. Kory Holdaway. " She went on to say, "The time and money could be used to improve student achievement in our state. This is federal intrusion. The state runs public schools. My accountability is to the State Board of Education, the state Legislature and the governor. I shouldn't have the additional piece of the federal government on top of that."

This comes as bad news for the Bush Administration whose representatives have been working non stop in negotiations to keep Utah from taking such an unprecedented step. This idea of pulling out of a presidential favorite and government subsidized program may not appear to crazy as some might think because there are more states lined up who are also considering pulling out: Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Vermont and Virginia.

Should a majority of states revolt and take the same course, constitutional hawks indicate "there may be hope yet for getting rid of the unconstitutional Federal Department of Education" which they strongly assert has no jurisdiction inside the states of the Union and "drinks money like a hole in the ocean for nothing more than dumbing down America's children." Utah may soon make history with this move and set a new trend for states standing against the federal government and big brother's intrusion into areas many say they have no right.

Time will tell if other states follow. This will largely depend on parents and voters making it known to their state legislators that they want the Federal Department of Education out of their states and want nothing to do with their programs, regardless of loss of federal dollars and grants.