1977 NCTE Annual Business Meeting in New York, New York

Background

Several bills are currently pending before the United States Committee on Governmental Affairs that would consolidate existing education programs into one executive-level department.

Arguments for a cabinet-level department of education seem clear and compelling. During the 1977–78 academic year, for example, total expenditures for education at all levels in the United States are expected to reach $144 billion and to affect the lives of 63.7 million Americans for whom education will be a major occupation.

While federal interest in education has been evident both in direct funding of education-related research and development activities and in special aid to education at the preschool, school, and college level, the impact of this commitment has been dissipated by a lack of coordination and planning. Be it therefore

Resolution

Resolved, that the National Council of Teachers of English urge the establishment of a Department of Education within the Executive Branch of government headed by a cabinet-level Secretary of Education;

that NCTE transmit this resolution to President Carter, Senator Abraham Ribicoff, Chairman of the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the United States Senate, and to other appropriate governmental officials;

that NCTE actively solicit the support of other professional organizations for this resolution; and

that NCTE urge its members and affiliates to campaign among their governmental representatives and the general public for the creation of a cabinet-level Department of Education.

This position statement may be printed, copied, and disseminated without permission from NCTE.