Many Attend Education Panel at Lourdes University, Thursday 2023-11-9
Democracy and Education Are Interdependent
“An Educated Public Needs Public Education” was the title of a League sponsored panel discussion at Lourdes University Franciscan Center on Thursday evening, November 9, 2023. Promoted as a Hot Button Issue, the event was well-attended. Panelists Teresa Fedor, Amy Natyshak and Randall Parker III provided perspective, reviewed concerns and answered questions from the audience.
Ms. Fedor is District 2 State Board of Education Member, Pastor Parker is a TPS School Board member, and Ms. Natyshak is a Marshal Melhorn attorney, who practices education law.
Among the issues discussed were: student privacy, vouchers, divisive culture clashes, the pressure on teachers and local school boards, legislative objectives, lack of regulation and oversight of homeschoolers, private school lobbyists, curriculum control, substitute teacher standards,
Background Information
90 percent of Ohio children attend public schools, yet private schools are receiving 25 percent of taxpayer funding.
The Ohio Constitution (Article VI, Section 4) established the State Board of Education in 1953.
It has now been supplanted by the legislature.
Article VI, Section 2 (effective 1851) of the Ohio Constitution addresses school funding: “The General Assembly shall make such provisions, by taxation, or otherwise, as, with the income arising from the school trust fund, will secure a thorough and efficient system of common schools throughout the state; but no religious or other sect, or sects, shall ever have any exclusive right to, or control of, any part of the school funds of this state.”
Article VI, Section 3 (effective 1912) gives local school districts administration and control responsibility of the public school systems of the state supported by public funds.