Editorial: Higher-education meddling ill-advised

It's becoming distressingly clear that one of the problems with the Georgia General Assembly is that too many of this state's legislators really would rather be members of the University System Board of Regents, judging from their all-too-frequent attempts to assert their will over higher education in this state.

For good reason - apparently either not understood or blithely ignored by a host of lawmakers - the legislature's influence over the state's higher-education system, now comprising 35 colleges and universities, has been limited for more than a half-century to deciding how many dollars of taxpayers' money go to the system.

The roots of that limitation date to the 1940s and Gov. Eugene Talmadge's continued meddling in the affairs of University System of Georgia institutions. In 1941, he removed the dean of the University of Georgia's College of Education after packing the system's Board of Regents with people sympathetic to his aims. Eventually, Talmadge's interference undermined public confidence in the regents and, worse, prompted the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to revoke the accreditation of 10 University System institutions for a time.

Ellis Arnall, who succeeded Talmadge as governor, spearheaded efforts to get the governor and other politicians out of the affairs of higher education. As part of those efforts, the Board of Regents was given constitutional status, which gave it sole control - with the exception of the aforementioned fiscal control of the legislature - over higher education in the state.

The reason that such separation is a good idea was made clear as recently as last year, when state Reps. Calvin Hill, R-Canton, and Charlice Byrd, R-Woodstock, took issue with some human sexuality research being done at UGA and elsewhere in the system and suggested it would be perfectly appropriate for the legislature to take money away from schools doing research they found distasteful.

That stand ignores the obvious proposition that pushing the boundaries of knowledge sometimes can lead into uncomfortable territory, and lawmakers shouldn't have the power even to try to stop research that, for reasons po

Comment on "Editorial: Higher-education meddling ill-advised"

Home Site Map Advertise For Sale Subscribe to our Monthly Email Newsletter	Attend Editorial: Higher-education meddling ill-advised It's becoming distressingly clear that one of the problems with the Georgia General Assembly is that too many of this state's legislators really would rather be members of the University System Board of Regents, judging from their all-too-frequent attempts to assert their will over higher education in this state. For good reason - apparently either not understood or blithely ignored by a host of lawmakers - the legislature's influence over the state's higher-education system, now comprising 35 colleges and universities, has been limited for more than a half-century to deciding how many dollars of taxpayers' money go to the system. The roots of that limitation date to the 1940s and Gov. Eugene Talmadge's continued meddling in the affairs of University System of Georgia institutions. In 1941, he removed the dean of the University of Georgia's College of Education after packing the system's Board of Regents with people sympathetic to his aims. Eventually, Talmadge's interference undermined public confidence in the regents and, worse, prompted the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to revoke the accreditation of 10 University System institutions for a time. Ellis Arnall, who succeeded Talmadge as governor, spearheaded efforts to get the governor and other politicians out of the affairs of higher education. As part of those efforts, the Board of Regents was given constitutional status, which gave it sole control - with the exception of the aforementioned fiscal control of the legislature - over higher education in the state. The reason that such separation is a good idea was made clear as recently as last year, when state Reps. Calvin Hill, R-Canton, and Charlice Byrd, R-Woodstock, took issue with some human sexuality research being done at UGA and elsewhere in the system and suggested it would be perfectly appropriate for the legislature to take money away from schools doing research they found distasteful. That stand ignores the obvious proposition that pushing the boundaries of knowledge sometimes can lead into uncomfortable territory, and lawmakers shouldn't have the power even to try to stop research that, for reasons po Continue reading the rest of "Editorial: Higher-education meddling ill-advised" by Athens Banner-Herald © 2009 http://onlineathens.com - Athens Banner-Herald - All rights reserved. Rate This Article: Comment on "Editorial: Higher-education meddling ill-advised" Your Name Your Comments Verification Code: C9Z7U6 Enter Code: Private schools continuing battle to join UIL for competitions AUSTIN (AP) - After years of being defeated in courtrooms and the state Capitol, some Texas private schools are still trying to get into the league for public school sports and academic competition. Public vs private debate not unique to Georgia The debate that has caught fire in Georgia between public and private schools does not end at the state's borders. Pennsylvania Governor Appoints Penn Foster's CEO Frank F. Britt to Higher Education Advisory Panel SCRANTON, Pa., Feb. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Penn Foster, Inc., one of the largest online learning institutions in the world, today announced that its CEO, Frank F. Britt, was selected to serve on Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett's Higher Education Advisory Panel. The 30-member panel was created to make recommendations on how to make higher education accessible and affordable to the students and taxpayers of Pennsylvania. Tegrity and the Center for Digital Education Report on Alternative Funding Mechanisms for Deploying Lecture Capture in Postsecondary Institutions SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In light of the recent U.S. economic downturn, higher education institutions have experienced a steep decline in the amount of government funding that is available to support operations and investment. DecisionView Launches Quarterly Report On Clinical Trial Enrollment Benchmarks SAN FRANCISCO, March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CORE NEWS FACTS DecisionView today announced the release of the inaugural issue of the DecisionView Enrollment Optimization Report â€“ a cross-industry analysis of real-world enrollment performance using data aggregated from the company's customers. Allan W. Barber: State must fund higher education The Council of the University of Georgia Retirees Association understands the severity of the economic conditions facing our state and appreciates the magnitude of the task before the governor and the legislature in balancing the state budget. Students at the Center Project Refocuses Reform Debate on Meeting Individual Needs to Meet Higher Standards Nine Research Teams Explore How Students Learn Bestâ€”Papers on Teaching; School Districts; and the Brain Released Today BOSTON, March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cutting-edge research shows that adapting K-12 classrooms to individual interests, needs, and strengths is essential to maximizing each student's learning and improving schools, according to an ambitious new interdisciplinary project, Students at the Center: Teaching and Learning in the Era of the Common Core. Editorial: Higher-education meddling ill-advised It's becoming distressingly clear that one of the problems with the Georgia General Assembly is that too many of this state's legislators really would rather be members of the University System Board of Regents, judging from their all-too-frequent attempts to assert their will over higher education in this state. Editorial: Tuition bill poses danger to higher education Sometimes, you get the feeling that some Georgia lawmakers would rather be serving on the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, the 18-member body that oversees the state's 35 institutions of higher education. NCORE to Celebrate 25 Years of Addressing Race, Social Justice Challenges and Access in Higher Education NEW YORK, March 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading experts from across the United States will come together to discuss race, social justice challenges and access in American higher education at the 25th anniversary of the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in American Higher Education (NCORE), held May 29 to June 2 in New York City. Hyland Software Partners with CollegeSource, Expands OnBase Transfer Credit Evaluation Solution CLEVELAND, March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today's economic climate finds most campuses with fewer enrollment staff to effectively manage admissions processes. At the same time, more transfer students arrive with previous college credit ready to complete their degree, hoping they won't have to repeat a class. Domination last season revs up private-vs-public debate A debate that has long existed between public schools and private schools in Georgia has grown to a fever pitch with the completion of the 2008-2009 school year. And that debate seems to have little, if any, middle ground. New Study From the Kellogg School of Management: College Culture Contributes to 'Academic Disadvantage' for First-Generation Students EVANSTON, Ill., March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A college education is traditionally viewed as the great leveler in American society â€“ an engine of social mobility that provides equal opportunities to all students.