The Freeman 1972 - The Ludwig von Mises Institute

3fi9DONALD M. DOZERFORMAL systems and institutionsof education always represent agift from the present generationto the next generation.The school at all levels is ahighly complicated social phenomenon.It depends, first of all, upona controlling or governing bodyabody of taxpayers in the case ofpublic schools, a body of parentsand financial donors in the case ofprivate schools. This supportingbody forms the principal in theentire educational complex; it isthe base upon which the systemrests.To carryon the actual administrationof the school, this supportingbody selects a committeewhich is called by various namesranging from a board of educationto boards of trustees or regents.Representing the originalconstituent body this board em-Dr. Dozer is Professor of History at the Universityof California, Santa Barbara.ploys the administrators of theschool, namely the principal, headmaster,chancellor, president,deans and instructors, who togetherconstitute the implementingagent of the system and whosupply the technical expertiseneeded to operate it.The· beneficiaries of this systemare intended to be the pupils. orstudents, who are thus enabled tobe brought into contact with personswho are expected to transmitthe skills, amenities, and values ofthe past to present and future generationsand to stimulate in themenlarged visions for the future.This basic structure prevails atall levels of the educational process,from the kindergartenthrough the university, and isgrounded upon certain wen-definedlegal obligations and relationshipswhich are the product of centuriesof educational experimentation.Within this structure have appearedmany delicate nuances of