The New Purpose of Public Education.

The New Purpose of Public Education.
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It seems fairly obvious that the primary purpose of an education system is to educate. Indeed, in a well-functioning republic, the education of future citizens is essential. As Thomas Jefferson remarked, when considering how the principles of the Constitution might be protected, “by far the most important bill in our whole code is that for the diffusion of knowledge among the people. No other sure foundation can be devised for the preservation of freedom and happiness.” Today, when faith in the institutions tasked with preserving that freedom seems to be waning, Jefferson’s words seem more prescient than ever.

In recent years, the purpose of public education appears to have been forgotten. Public schools “educate” less and less, and instead increasingly serve as tools to further particular left-wing causes. Last month, the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) announced a radical overhaul of its grading system in an effort to combat perceived “racism” in its grading practices. Citing data that showed large disparities in academic performance between ethnic groups, with black and Hispanic students receiving significantly more failing grades than their white and Asian counterparts, SDUSD board members approved changes aimed at “balancing” intra-ethnic academic performance. “If we’re actually going to be an anti-racist school district,” SDUSD Vice President Richard Barrera remarked, “we have to confront practices like this that have gone on for years and years.”

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