Reflection on Goals of Education, Power and Control of Schools

What is the goal of education?  This question has become a political question, causing great controversy.  There are those that believe that the goal of education is to create good citizens.  Another answer is that education is meant to further the economy.  Finally, there are those that believe that education is supposed to improve the social class status.  Regardless of these conflicting answers, I believe that education can strive to meet all these goals.  I don’t believe that one single goal is superior to the rest.  In order to construct a strong, successful nation, we must possess all these good qualities:  good citizens and economy, and an improved social class.  As to who controls schools, I believe that the local government should have the ultimate say.  I believe that the federal government is inadequate because it cannot respond to the needs of each individual community.  In my opinion, local school boards, although sometimes exclusively elite groups, can run a school better than the federal government.  I also believe that the federal government is gaining too much control over schools.  In regards to financial aid by the government, I believe that is alright if it contributes money as long as it doesn’t try to impose any of its rules as a catch.