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The Public Policy

Florida's Wright Stuff

In the eyes of the famous Florida Supremes, school "uniform" means a straightjacket.

(Page 2 of 2)

With results like these, it seems reasonable to ask if there are alternatives to the status quo that would do a better job of fulfilling children's needs. Reasonable, but illegal. Thanks to the state Supreme Court, state legislators are not allowed to color outside the lines. If they do, no matter what kinds of education alternatives they come up with, they'll likely get rapped on the knuckles by the judiciary.

This makes no sense. The legislature is being asked to squeeze efficiency, safety, quality, and uniformity out of a school system that is still not especially efficient, safe, high-quality, or uniform despite having been around for more than a century.

You don't have to be an advocate of any particular education reform to recognize the seriousness of this problem -- or to see the solution. An amendment to the Florida Constitution explicitly allowing representatives to consider alternative educational options would free them from the straightjacket into which the Supreme Court has forced them.

In the process, it might finally give all Florida children a real chance at that safe, efficient, high quality education they've been promised.

Page:   12

topics:
Education, Constitution, Supreme Court

About the Author

Andrew J. Coulson is Director of the Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom, and author of Market Education: The Unknown History.

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