Burmaster’s New Constitution

Superintendent Burmaster stated the following yesterday in reference to the announced allocation of $1.25 million in Keeping the Promise money to 123 local educational agencies serving students with disabilities from 149 school districts:

“All children are entitled to a free appropriate public education.” “Some of our students have severe or multiple disabilities that require very specialized equipment and services that can cost three or more times the average expense for educating a student. This aid will help school districts offset some of the costs for these services.”

Please note that the Superintendent is now dramatically increasing the scope of this obscene leviathan known as the government school monopoly to not just its constitutionally mandated and perversely limited scope but to "all children" without reservation.

Furthermore, the Superintendent has now officially and unilaterally taken the position that not only is the irrational notion of "free" being touted, but that a "free" education must be "appropriate."

Then you have the new motto for the DPI, "New Wisconsin Promise: A Quality Education For Every Child."

Folks, words mean things. And the words you use as the elected Superintendent of Public Instruction carry implications. The vetted and published words take on an even greater significance - purposeful and intended not to be misconstrued as casual conversation...

The state constitution is clear, and the Supernintendent is playing fast and loose with it and someone needs to sit Ms Burmaster down and explain to her in no uncertain terms that she is not free to change the constitution to be concurrent with her cradle-to-grave, taxpayer subsidized, educational monopoly world-view...

The legislature shall provide by law for the establishment of district schools, which shall be as nearly uniform as practicable; and such schools shall be free and without charge for tuition to all children between the ages of 4 and 20 years; and no sectarian instruction shall be allowed therein; but the legislature by law may, for the purpose of religious instruction outside the district schools, authorize the release of students during regular school hours. [1969 J.R. 37, 1971 J.R. 28, vote April 1972]

Please note that Article X, Section 3 refers only to children aged 5 through 19, and not "all children." Nor does the section even use the word "appropriate." Can you imagine a system where "appropriate" was a constitutional standard? Good grief...

bildanielson @ OTBL