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Overview

The resolution can be approached in several ways. It can be interpreted as a straight debate over educational quality, or it can be seen more broadly as a debate between autonomy and equality. The role of the federal government as outlined by the constitution will be particularly important, as will the relationship between state and nation level goverments. A similar, although significantly more sensitive, issue in American history is that of the Civil War, when the southern states pressed for a much greater deal of localized autonomy (even to the point of independence)while the northern states wanted more federal oversight, particularly on the issue of slavery. Although ought implies some kind of moral burden, what excatly the burden of the federal government is will be an important part of the debate. Limitation of autonomy will also be a concept in need of addressment, as the resolution leaves room, on the Affirmative, for state governments to limit the autonomy of local school districts. Thus, if the federal government limits the autonomy of state governments (which it does), it is possible to argue that it also indirectly limits the autonomy of the districts that the state government has jurisdiction over.

Definitions

Limit the Autonomy

Autonomy is freedom; independence rather than response to and restriction by another authority. Autonomy usually refers to government, and in that case it means self-governance or the right to self-governance. To "limit the autonomy" is therefore to restrict the right of self-determined action or self-government of a person, organization, or government.

Local School Districts

A school district controls the schools in an area consisting usually of a town, a group of towns, or part of a city.

Curriculum

The group of courses at a school, or the material (what is taught) covered in each class. According to the Oxford English Dictionary: "a regular course of study or training."

Affirming the Topic

Negating the Topic

Further Reading

External links