Matt Bevin's dismantling of education committees shows his disdain for democracy
Recently, Gov. Matt Bevin issued an executive order that disbanded and reconstituted seven education committees. I have served for several years on one of those, the Committee for Mathematics Achievement. The committee was what its name would indicate: a group ofshareholders working to advise policymakers and develop plans to improve mathematics achievement in Kentucky.
Bevin’s dissolution and reconstitution of this committee is a setback to the worthwhile work it was doing to help students in Kentucky. His executive order is not just reckless executive decision making. More significantly, it is further evidence of his disdain for democracy and one of its most vital institutions: public education. More than a simple abuse of power, Bevin’s actions are a multi-layered dismantling of and disregard for the democratic values and processes that are the foundation of our government and society.
First, unlike many state committees, the Committee for Mathematics Achievement was established through the legislative process. In other words, Kentuckians democratically elected representatives who then democratically voted this committee into law (KRS 158.842). Bevin’s executive order subverts both the voice of the people who elected those representatives and the voice of the representatives themselves.
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