I've been reading — or trying to read — the 139-page document that is currently out for public review, which identifies proposed changes to the rules promulgated by the state Department of Education.

I believe that the goal of the document is to improve the performance of students in public schools. However, the form, structure, and content of the document more or less guarantee that this goal will not be met.

There are two ways of looking at the relationship between the rights of individuals, and the powers of government.  The first, which is based on the ideas of the Declaration of Independence, is that people have the right to do pretty much anything, except when they delegate specific powers to government for the purpose of protecting those rights…

For students, fairness in education means:  You get exactly the same adequate education as everyone else.  No more, and no less.  No matter who you are, or where you live, or what your parents can afford.  And this takes as long as it takes.

For taxpayers, fairness in education means:  Your taxes are used to pay for public benefit, but not for private enrichment, or political influence.  And they are used to pay for results, not for time spent, or for good intentions. 

What could be fairer than that? 

In the context of school funding, parents and students are not customers, as proponents of school choice programs like to proclaim. They are beneficiaries.