Gulf Coast News Today - Byrne Says Federal Government Should Stay Out of Public Schools

News Article

By Cathy Higgins

U.S. Congressman Bradley Byrne believes the federal government should not be involved in policy making for public schools.

The District 1 representative made that statement during his town-hall meeting with Perdido Beach last week.

"My view is it's not the business of the U.S. government what school systems do," Byrne told the audience seated at the Perdido Beach Volunteer Fire Department.

He likened the federal government's involvement in public education as a "blunt instrument."

"Everything we try, it doesn't work," Byrne said, pointing to programs devised by the last few presidential administrations.

The congressman voiced his position when an audience member asked him what he thought about the Common Core Standards Initiative and what he could offer as an alternative. He maintained that stance even when pressed to offer his own opinion on a solution.

"We'll make a mess of it," Byrne said of the federal government's attempt to pass a different policy.

Instead, he advised putting curriculum development in the hands of local educators.

"I'm actually an advocate of letting schools develop and design their own curriculum," Byrne said.

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