dangling over the abyss

I have been mulling the opportunity for Minnesota school districts to participate in the Race to the Top money.

Grants are usually a good thing, and in this economy, districts are desperate for money. Although, let's be honest, even not in this economy districts are desperate. I remember paper rationing when I was in high school – we could afford a new football stadium, but not paper. But I digress.

The Race to the Top funds requires a certain number of things for a school to be qualified. All of them probably make sense in the scheme of things, as everyone wants students to suceed.

But the huge hand of goverment control is looming over these funds, as districts who choose not to participate in the grant will have to make the changes required by the federal governement anyway if Minnesota is chosen as one of the 10-15 states to get the money.

I am beginning to wonder why we have local school districts at all if this is the way things have to be done. Why go through the farce of pretending districts have a choice in this matter? With nearly 80 percent of funding coming from the government, districts can not afford to say no.

They are strapped in golden handcuffs, dangling above an abyss. The governement gives them control of the key, but there is no way to unlock it and survive.