Double Standards Abound:
What I Learned About ‘Uniformity’
from 25 Years as a K-12 Parent
| William Mattox
T
his past fall, for the first time in
25 years, my wife and I didn’t
buy any school supplies, monitor
any homework assignments, or attend
any “Back-to-School Nights.” With our
youngest child now away at college, we are,
at long last, empty nesters.
Our “graduation” from the K-12
phase of parenthood has given us reason
to reflect on the many happy memories
our four children made – and the many
excellent teachers from whom they learned
– during their schooling years. I could
probably fill a book writing about those
things.
But our graduation from the
K-12 phase of parenthood has also given
us reason to lament the persistence of
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some nagging “double standards” in
public education that policymakers need
to address. These double standards are
hindering many students from getting
the education – and fair treatment – they
deserve. Several stories from our 25 years
of K-12 parenting may serve to illustrate
five of the worst double standards we
encountered.
Double Standard #1: Students whose
interests align with the financing of their
local public schools get treated better
than those whose interests do not.
Our K-12 years began in
Washington, D.C., where our eldest child
attended a public school three blocks from
our Capitol Hill home. We had heard many
good things about this small school –
which offered full-day programs for pre-K
and kindergarten students – but we weren’t
sold on the idea of all-day kindergarten.
So, we met with the principal and asked
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if Allison could be enrolled part-time –
either attending classes every other day or
until noon every day.
The response we received would
prove to be very revealing (though we
didn’t know it at the time). The principal
said that she’d accommodate our request
so long as we did the half-day plan instead
of the every-other-day plan. She explained
that public schools receive funding for
every day that a child is marked present,
so her school would come out ahead
financially if we did half-days rather
than every-other-day.
We liked the half-day option better
anyway, so this turned out to be a winwin solution. But, we would find over
the next 25 years that this would not
be the only time our children would be
steered in certain directions – and away
from other possibilities – based on what
was financially best for the local public
schools and their personnel, rather than
what might be best for the student.
For example, during his high
school years, one of our boys wanted
to take an online course through the
Florida Virtual School (FLVS). He had
taken several FLVS courses previously and
had appreciated their scheduling flexibility
(with FLVS, you could start and finish at
any point in the 12-month calendar, do the
coursework from anywhere at any time of
day, and proceed through the coursework
at your own pace).
Curiously, our local public school
tried to steer him away from taking this
FLVS course and toward the same course
offered by a brand new virtual school
program established by the school district
in which we lived.
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We didn’t understand why
tend to get treated better than those who
switching enrollment providers was
have none.
so important. The online courses were
After that first year in the D.C.
identical. In fact, the school district’s new
public schools, our family moved from
virtual school actually sub-contracted with
Capitol Hill to the Washington suburbs,
FLVS to provide its course.
where our children attended a highly
So, why did our local school district
rated public elementary school that
want so badly for our son to take his online
emphasized the “multiple intelligences”
course in a computer lab at his brick-andconcept championed by Harvard scholar
mortar school rather than benefiting from
Howard Gardner. Rather than labeling
all of the flexibility of FLVS? Because the
some kids “smart” and others not, the
local school district got more money that
multiple intelligences concept argues that
way.
all children have innate
Ultimately,
we
talents and gifts. Some
“...we
would
find
over
decided to go along to
are “word smart” or
the
next
25
years
get along. We didn’t want
“math smart” in the way
that this would
to alienate the officials
that academia has always
at our son’s school over
defined intelligence; other
not be the only
a matter that just wasn’t
students have athletic
time our children
all that important. So, we
prowess (“body smart”)
would be steered in
had him take the course
or creative talent (“art
certain directions
through the less-flexible
smart”) or emotional
and
away
from
county program rather
intelligence
(“people
other possibilities
than through the moresmart”) – gifts that
flexible FLVS. But this
academia has not always
- based on what
episode left us wishing
honored or appreciated.
was financially best
that parents (rather than
While our local
for the local public
school
administrators)
school had a multiple
schools...”
controlled the per-pupil
intelligences mindset, the
dollars allocated for their
surrounding county had
children. Because conflicts between what
a special program that offered projecta school wants and what a student needs
based enrichment opportunities to higharen’t always trivial – and even though
achieving “gifted” students one day a week.
parents aren’t perfect, we care more about
Students from our school were eligible
our kids than about the schools. And
to participate in this program upon the
education, first and foremost, should be
recommendation of the principal.
about doing what’s best for the students –
We wanted one of our kids, in
not what’s best for the schools.
particular, to have the opportunity to
participate in this program because he’s a
Double Standard #2: Public school
kinetic learner who loves to do thematic
parents who have other schooling options
projects. So, we went to meet with the
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The Journal of The James Madison Institute
principal, a woman we knew well from
and students would stand a better chance
various community activities. She seemed
of getting the “customized” learning
somewhat skeptical about whether our son
opportunities that my wife and I sought
would be as well suited for this program
out for our child.
as we seemed to think. But she also knew
that our family, on occasion, had chosen to
Double Standard #3: When a member
homeschool one or more of our children
of the “education establishment” does
for a year or two. And rather than risk the
something shady, it’s considered a
possibility that she might lose a student
failing of that person; when someone
(and the per-pupil funds that came with
outside the “education establishment”
him) to homeschooling, she decided to lay
does something shady, it’s grounds for
aside her misgivings and recommend him
questioning the legitimacy of an entire
for the program.
category of schooling.
It should be noted that we did
Not long after we arrived in sunny
not (and would never)
Florida, we enrolled our
threaten to leave the
middle son in a public
school if we didn’t get
high school that had a
“Just as private
our way. I’m not “One of
principal who paid greater
businesses seek to
Those Parents.” And my
attention to “regular”
do whatever they
wife certainly isn’t the
students than any we
can
to
retain
valued
type to make trouble. But
had ever witnessed. This
customers, public
one of the things that we
trait – and his infectious
educators often do
witnessed then – and
enthusiasm – made him
saw at other times with
a very popular principal.
the same.”
other families in similar
So popular, in fact, there
situations – is that even
were public protests after
though public schools talk a lot about
the local school superintendent removed
“uniformity,” they are very aware that some
this principal from his school in order to
families have other options. Just as private
“promote” him (against his will) to a desk
businesses seek to do whatever they can to
job in the central office.
retain valued customers, public educators
In time, the former principal got a
often do the same.
chance to retaliate. He compiled a notebook
Now, this isn’t a bad thing. The
of incriminating evidence alleging that
only thing that is bad is the fact that many
the school superintendent had given a
families don’t enjoy the kinds of options
series of “sweetheart” school construction
we had. Were K-12 education a welldeals to some builders who had supported
functioning market in which parents
the superintendent’s election campaign.
controlled their child’s per-pupil dollars
The notebook of evidence launched an
and could seek out the best educational
FBI investigation (which is ongoing)
programs available, schools would be
and spurred the release of some counter
more responsive to all of their students –
information that the former principal had
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once had an “inappropriate relationship”
options, but also hinders the adoption of
with a teacher under his supervision
innovations that promise to help students.
(in clear violation of sexual harassment
Rather than using the misbehavior of a few
regulations).
rogue actors to call into question an entire
Meanwhile, across town, the head
category of education, it would be far more
of a technical school faced charges that he
constructive for all of us to agree that
used public funds (and public employees)
every mode of education – public, private,
to build a fence at his private residence.
charter, homeschool, etc. – is at times like
Now, I’m not sure what to make
the nursery rhyme about the little girl who
of any of this. Or whether any of these
had a little curl right in the middle of her
allegations are true. But
forehead. When she was
here’s one thing I know:
good, she was very, very
“We recognize that
At no point in all of this
good; but when she was
many of today’s
scandal-mongering has
bad, she was horrid.
students
attending
anyone suggested that
nonpublic schools
the allegations against
Double Standard #4:
these public educators
Some students and
will grow up to play
call into question whether
families who contribute
important roles in
we should have a local
to public life get the
our communities.
school system, or a local
educational equivalent
And
we
know
that
high school, or a technical
of “roast beef ” while
some of these
training school.
others get none.
students, like those
To make such
One year our son
a suggestion would be
who
loves to learn-bymiddle school
absurd. Yet, curiously,
doing put together a
boys, are already
this is often what
history fair project that
contributing to our
happens when someone
advanced all the way
shared
public
life
in
outside the public school
to Florida’s statewide
meaningful ways.”
establishment
does
competition, where it
something that could
placed third. Then, when
be considered shady. If the leadership of
a scheduling conflict prevented one of the
a charter school is found to be corrupt,
top two finishers from attending National
advocates in the “Education Establishment”
History Day, my son got to go to the
will use this incident to argue that all
national competition as an alternate.
charter schools should be considered
Thankfully, our local school
suspect (and ought to be shut down).
officials had some funds to defray my son’s
The same holds true for private
travel costs to Washington, D.C. These
schools or homeschools or online programs
school officials not only reimbursed the
or other alternative forms of education.
amount they originally promised, they
This double standard not only
ended up covering all of his expenses. “It’s
hinders the growth of alternative schooling
the end of the fiscal year, and we haven’t
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yet spent all our money,” they explained
when cutting him a bigger-than-expected
reimbursement check.
My son had a great time at
National History Day, and I would’ve
been completely thrilled about this whole
experience had I not been aware of a great
injustice surrounding this trip.
You see, among the students
also representing Florida at the national
competition were three middle school
boys who placed first at the state fair –
and also received special recognition at
National History Day. In fact, their WWII
documentary was so good that several
community organizations invited them
to show their work at special programs
honoring local veterans.
Nevertheless, these boys were
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denied travel reimbursement from our
school district. Why? They didn’t attend
a public school. So, they were expected
to foot their own bill, even though they
were representing our county and state,
and their middle-income parents are all
taxpayers. And even though they were
contributing to the life of our community
by showing their film at special events
honoring veterans.
It should be noted that one
government agency – the Museum of
Florida History – did not discriminate
against these boys. It awarded gift
certificates (vouchers) to all Florida
History Fair winners, no matter what type
of school they attended.
What did this episode illustrate?
In Florida today, there are two schools
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of thought about public
funding in education.
One says that financial
support
should
be
given only to schools
the Florida Education
Association supports –
namely, traditional public
schools. The other school
of thought has a more
inclusive mindset, similar
to the Museum of Florida
History. It says parents
should be empowered to
choose the best school for
their children, regardless of
whether the teachers union
approves of it. This means parents could
choose a private school with a voucher
-- money directly from the state treasury
-- like they do in the McKay Scholarship
program for children with special needs.
Or they could choose a private school
under Florida’s tax credit scholarship
system -- where money never reaches the
state treasury.
My wife and I really liked our son’s
public school, and we were very grateful
for the learning opportunities he received
there, including the chance to go to
National History Day.
But we didn’t think it was right that
our son’s gain came at others’ expense. And
when the Florida Courts are asked to rule
on several lawsuits now before them, we
hope the Courts will affirm the inclusive
philosophy that led the Legislature to
create the “education choice” programs
now under attack.
We recognize that many of today’s
students attending nonpublic schools will
grow up to play important roles in our
communities. And we know that some of
these students, like those middle school
boys, are already contributing to our
shared public life in meaningful ways.
Double Standard #5: When it comes to
public education, many who ordinarily
champion the cause of the underdog
refuse to challenge the “Education
Establishment.”
Several years ago, I had the privilege
of taking part in a panel discussion
at Florida State University about the
documentary, “Waiting for Superman.”
The film profoundly moved me – in part
because the documentary’s D.C. student,
Anthony, reminded me of some of the
young boys in our daughter’s kindergarten
class on Capitol Hill.
Moreover, the film’s Los Angeles
student, Daisy, attended a middle school
in a south-central L.A. neighborhood not
far from the public middle school where
our daughter volunteered when she was in
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The Journal of The James Madison Institute
college.
Rather than doing what good
Very early in the panel discussion,
liberals should do – and say, “Let a thousand
an FSU student asked all of us on the panel
flowers bloom” – too many liberals instead
a good question: “What one thing do you
say, “No” to the desperate need for school
think is most preventing us from solving
choice that kids like Anthony and Daisy
these problems?”
have.
My response probably surprised
While it’s great that there are many
some people (since I had just praised
conservatives making very compelling
Jeb Bush in my opening remarks). I said
free-market arguments in favor of school
something like this:
choice – and reminding us that greater
“The biggest obstacle keeping us
competition tends to improve performance
from addressing these problems in public
across the board – it sure would be helpful
education is that there aren’t enough “good
if we had more good liberals to fight the
liberals” anymore. Liberals
“Education Establishment”
are supposed to stand up
for the sake of kids like
“Too
many
kids
for the little guy. They’re
Anthony and Daisy.
supposed to come to the aid
In the years since that
in our nation and
of the oppressed. They’re
panel discussion, little has
in our state are
supposed to champion
changed. Too many kids
being denied
the cause of the poor, the
in our nation and in our
the
learning
downtrodden, the needy.
state are being denied the
opportunities
They’re supposed to have
learning opportunities that
that they need to
a special concern for
they need to reach their
minorities.
full potential. And while
reach their full
Yet, when it comes
universal school choice isn’t
potential.”
to education, some liberals
a magic wand that can make
have “sold out.” Instead of
all educational problems go
fighting for kids like Anthony and Daisy,
away, it is the most significant reform that
they’re defending the “Establishment.”
policymakers ought to adopt.
Part of the function that liberals are
That’s because it puts decisionsupposed to serve in society is to remind
making power in the hands of the people
us of the importance of the individual. Of
who know and love their kids most –
every person’s uniqueness. Of the fact that
parents. Moreover, it also provides a
we’re not all the same. And that we should
way for eliminating many of the double
celebrate diversity.
standards in education that are being
Yet, when it comes to education,
perpetuated, ironically, by the champions of
some liberals seem to think that all kids
uniformity.
should go to one-size-fits-all schools rather
than learning in an educational setting that
William Mattox is the director of the J.
is tailored to their own unique interests,
Stanley Marshall Center for Educational
talents, needs, beliefs, and learning style.
Options at The James Madison Institute.
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