CGC Board Members in the Denver Post

Elaine Gantz Berman and Jerry Wartgow
Denver Post, May 21, 2006

In a piece for the Denver Post, Common Good Colorado board members Elaine Gantz Berman and Jerry Wartgow discuss the impact that excessive bureaucracy and fear of litigation have had on Colorado’s public school system. They write: “Schools are increasingly over-burdened by rules and regulations that undermine the professional authority of teachers and principals to manage schools effectively. Something is seriously awry when teachers feel unable to take children on school trips for fear of being sued and when something as simple as hosting an after-school activity requires lengthy procedures and compliance measures to prevent liability.” Berman and Wartgow go on to explore the history behind the current state noting that the now-stifling rules and regulations are simply the unintended results of efforts by well-intentioned individuals. They present the mission of Common Good Colorado, which hopes to “restore the authority of teachers and administrators to regain control of schools mired in bureaucracy and legal process,” and suggest a step-by-step approach to reestablishing an effective school system that is grounded on trust and accountability and free of the burdensome red tape with which our schools currently struggle.

Click to read the article.