Please post at least TWO replies to your peers' postsAfter reading Chapters 1 - 3, answer the following questions, using the textbook as well as your own understanding of the topic.Your...

Please post at least TWO replies to your peers' posts

After reading Chapters 1 - 3, answer the following questions, using the textbook as well as your own understanding of the topic.

Your assignment:

It is often said that one of the ideas behind American Federalism is to allow States the latitude in policy making. In short, States are "laboratories of democracy".

Rather than enact sweeping legislation at the Federal level and require all States to comply, it is argued that individual States should have the freedom to "experiment" with policies which might fit their geography, culture, resources and reflect the will of State residents. Some policies are better suited to one state, but not to another, so the argument goes that each State and its residents gets to decide what works for them locally.

Disparities abound, however, and no matter how well-meaning a State might be in its pursuit of a successful "experiment", its policies are only as good as its ability to enforce and invest in its residents' education, in its infrastructure and its ability to use its natural resources to its economic advantage.

Public education (K - 12) is funded about 90% through State and local taxes - heavily reliant on property taxes from homeowners - while the Federal government kicks in very little.

Because public education relies so heavily on State - and in particular county - revenue, the quality of education varies widely between the 50 states, as well as within the states themselves, but the quality of education impacts income earned later in life.

1. How does the US Constitution compare to State Constitutions (example, the FL Constitution) when it comes to education polices? In other words, what powers does each constitution grant to those making education decisions?
   
   
   
   
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     The Constitution of the United StatesLinks to an external site.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
   
   
   
   
   • Take a look at Article IX in theFlorida State ConstitutionLinks to an external site.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   




2. Should public education be left up to individual states?
   
   
   
   
   • Here you can also reference the recent debate regarding what textbooks and literature should/should not be allowed in the classroom.
   
   
   
   
   • Whether or not teachers should be armed with weapons (handguns in the classroomLinks to an external site.
     
     
     
     
     
     ) in order to fight off school shooters
   
   
   
   
   • Howequitable schoolsLinks to an external site.
     
     
     
     
     
     really are - equitable meanshaving equal accessLinks to an external site.
     
     
     
     
     
     to any and all resources necessary for teachers to teach and students to learn
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   




3. Should public education be funded more equally between the States?




4. Finally, if all public schools had equal access (equitable) to resources to educate children (let's say the Federal govt provides funds to level out the playing field), would States still produce vastly different results in the outcomes of student education, or would it be more or less equal?
   
   
   
   
   • Here you can consider local cultures, the diversity (or lack thereof) of a state/locality, and a state's economy and industry in general.