The Jacket and The Cost of Strings Attached
What do Jerry Seinfeld’s ruined suede jacket and federal Title I funding have in common? Both are "gifts" that come with conditions; so many they can actually prevent you from doing your job when the weather gets rough. In a classic episode of Seinfeld , Jerry buys a miracle suede jacket. It is expensive, high-status, and comes with a very specific set of rules: don’t wear it inside out, and for heaven's sake, don’t let it get caught in the rain. When Elaine's very intimidating father refuses to be seen with Jerry if the jacket lining is exposed, Jerry finds himself walking through a snowstorm, and his precious new jacket becomes a liability. He is so tethered to the conditions of the garment and situation that he loses the ability to react to the actual weather. In our education system, federal funding often functions like that suede jacket. While the 10th Amendment theoretically reserves the power of education to the states, the modern reality is you are als...