EDUCATION AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: A Historical Record

by Americo D. Lapati ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 1975

We're so accustomed to the giant role played by the federal government in education that we're likely to forget, if indeed we ever knew, that the word ""education"" is never mentioned in the Constitution. Still, as Lapati points out, despite the view that schools were a local affair, the federal government has always been involved with the teaching process and even before 1789 was undertaking material assistance to the states by means of land grants. This volume provides a record of the federal government's role through the acts of Congress and the decisions of the Supreme Court up to the first few months of 1974 along with some historical background and analysis. Lapati begins with the formation of the Office of Education in 1867, the foundation of the service acadamies, the Morrill acts, the School Lunch Act of 1946, G.I. Bill, the many bills passed under Kennedy and Johnson, international aids such as the Fulbright fellowships, vocational assistance, help for the handicapped, and so on. Part II is an examination of the Court's role starting with the recent Coons theory that inequality in local school spending violates the Fourteenth Amendment. Included are decisions affecting private and religious institutions--a section on released time, bus transportation, prayers in school, Bible reading, etc. With regard to the civil rights of teachers the author covers contracts, loyalty oaths, freedom of expression and association. Court rulings re student fights are at issue in saluting the flag, protest activities, reverse discrimination in admissions. Integration details cases preceding the 1954 Brown decision, desegregation in higher education, busing, redistricting. Obviously not intended for the general reader but it is a valuable reference work, if not a textbook, for educators and/or students.

Pub Date: June 1, 1975

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Mason/Charter

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1975

Categories: NONFICTION