Freedom of Education

Currently, in our society, education is not a right that is officially recognized by the U.S. Constitution though the power to collect taxes and give sates money for it is a power the Federal Government possesses. While many view this exercise of power as motivated by good intentions it isn't necessarily so. The exercise of the power can be used for the betterment of the education system and the people but so far this doesn't seem to be the case. That is not to say there has been no benefit, but there is no underlying intent inherent in the system motivates the Federal government to provide funds for education solely for the benefit of the citizenry. The power of the Federal government to fund state programs has been used, more often, to establish the hierarchical relationship of the federal government as superior to the State government and to provide incentives to States which cooperate in working towards goals and programs set by the Federal government.

For education to be for the good of the citizens and for the process to be more directed towards providing high quality education to all people the right of education must be recognized and codified by an amendment to the U.S. constitution. There are all kinds of theoretical benefits and incentives for raising the education levels for the people, however in practical application there are many motives to resist educating the population.  

A highly educated population is more difficult to govern and the political process is complicated by a more active participation by a diverse population with competing interests that are validated by rational argument.  And educated population is more difficult to influence because it is more critical of the information being presented and more able to defend their own interests using argument.

Historically, it is more beneficial for those in power who design and run a society to be the ones best educated and for the majority of the population being governed to be less educated. This isn't a matter of prejudice but a matter of expedience. The more educated dissenting voices to the process  the slower the process will work in designing and executing policy.

I would wonder in the case of a government where there are a large number of leaders that seem to be poorly educated where the power dictating policy and actions is seated. Leadership and governing large systems requires both education and intelligence.  If the public face of government is neither then the power lies elsewhere.