N.C. Rep. Virginia Foxx to head House Subcommittee on Higher Education
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In a statement made by her office, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) announced she will be the next chair of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.
The subcommittee’s focus is higher education policy as set by the federal government. In a written statement, Foxx said, “Education is a cornerstone of a prosperous and secure society, and if the United States is to remain competitive in the global marketplace quality higher education will be one of keys to maintaining our edge.”
Foxx earned her Masters in Higher Education from UNC-Greensboro. She then embarked on a long journey in higher education. Early in her career, she was a sociology instructor at Appalachian State University. She also served as president of Mayland Community College from 1987-1994. While in Congress, she received a presidential appointment to the National Advisory Council for Women’s Educational Programs.
But Foxx has remained a fiscal conservative when it comes to spending on education, voting against increased education spending on a number of major bills in recent years.
Foxx has also drawn attention for her comments about education. Speaking on the House floor earlier this year, Foxx said, “Some of the things that have been done, most of the things that have been done by the federal government that are unconstitutional in my opinion, have been done for good reasons, they’re not malevolent reasons. But they’re wrong. We should not be funding education, for example. And some of us who are here tonight have talked about that in the past.”
Despite that statement, Foxx has consistently voted to fund education in the past.
So, how exactly is funding education unconstitutional? And if she really thinks that education is the key to the US staying competitive in the global marketplace, how are we supposed to educate our children without funding our schools, paying our teachers, providing our classrooms with educational resources and literally investing in our education system? Oh, wait, I forgot, she’s a Republi-can’t … *smacks forehead* I’m asking a GOP congressperson to actually explain and rationally defend the blatant nonsense pouring forth from their mouths. Silly me. We ought to be able to have world-class education without having to actually pay for it, because mathematics and economics is a liberal elitist illusion. I weep for my country.
Phyllis,
She is right. Federal funding of education is unconstitutional. The Constitution specifically enumerates what the federal government can do. Anything else is to be off limits to the federal government, and is relegated to the states or to the people. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that the government shall provide education.
Private education would be a better solution all around because it would allow school choice for all people, instead of herding lower class into underperforming inner city schools. It would create more educational equity to move the country forward. If we do want to retain public education, though, it should be state based, rather than run by the federal government. Historically, our schools began to fail when the feds took it over.
Your comments show your naivete of history, and educational policy, as well as a lack of knowledge about the Constitution. Oh wait, I forgot that liberals hate the Constitution (smacks forehead) and want the government to provide them with their livelihood without explaining where they will find the money to do it or justifying their riight to power over the individual. I weep too, but for a different reason.
@JScottlewisphd
Ahhh… I see. To adequately prepare the children of all 50 states to compete effectively in a global economy, the best and most practical solution would be 50 separate, sovereign, non-trod-upon education systems. Each with their own curriculum, textbooks, standardized tests, and selection and hiring practices in relation to educators. It would bring forth the leverage of capitalism, in which state school systems could “compete” with each other and thereby draw “customers”. Why, if Alaska had the premier system (why not, since this is a fantasy United States), then all I’d have to do to get my children the best education available would be to pick up and move all the way across the continent. Simple!
The true genius of the Constitution is that it can be amended or leveraged in whatever way may be necessary, depending on the context of the current times we live in and with the agreement and participation from the necessary number of representatives and citizens. I’ve been a Republican since 1988, and my background is in finance and law.
I have actually read-and understand very well-”The Wealth of Nations” and the Constitution. That’s why I abhor the ignorant and uninformed rhetoric from the new, “true” conservatives. They have no grasp of the fundamental underpinnings of the global economy-which includes education in science, math, and finance-and they treat the Constitution the same way they treat the Bible. They parse out what they agree with, and downplay or obfuscate what they don’t (a wonderful example was the sad and comical way the Constitution was read on the House floor earlier this week).
We live in the 21st century, and have somehow still managed to maintain our position as the premier economy on the planet (most likely through inertia at this point). I am already forced to compete effectively with workers on the other side of the planet, and my children and grandchildren will face even more stringent competition. The United States can’t be governed in the modern world by a strictly 18th century design. The states can not be sovereign. Period. That period in our history ended in 1865.
Phyllis, if there was an emodcon for Thumbs Up you would get it, as would Frank, a real Republican, I can respect, and in fact agree with what you said (yes, I find that scary…………but when the truth is spoken) Now Bscottelwhatever………you, you are just a fool.
[...] Citation: (HORSES’ MOUTH) http://www.americanindependent.com/…igher-education [...]
