In discussing the subject of education, Thomas Jefferson asserted: "I know of no sure repository of the ultimate powers of society but the people himself; and if we think they are not enlightened enough to exercise their control with healthy discretion, the remedy is not to take it away from them but to enlighten their discretion. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1976). The education of America's future generations was a topic of discussion during the nation's founding. President Jefferson, like many founders, politicians, and scholars, emphasized the importance of educating the people. Knowledge was an important factor in a healthy Republic. Recent politicians have taken a stand against the Department of Education. Given the importance of education, why would anyone take a stand against education? The current position is not against education but rather against the Ministry of Education. The founders did not envision federally controlled education; instead, they proclaimed their support for state-governed education with federal assistance. More than two hundred years passed without a U.S. Department of Education, because people feared government interference in education. These fears are coming true. Today, the U.S. Department of Education is a bureaucratic nightmare. The department continues to grow in size and expense, with little progress seen. The American people fear that their children will not be able to receive an adequate education without the ministry. This fear is propagated by the ministry itself. After all, they have to earn a living. At least two different federal education plans have been developed since the ministry began operations. Therefore, the Department of Education should be abolished because the American people have failed to do... middle of paper... as they were charged in 1981 to collect information and investigate the state of education. The commission was to prepare a report for the Secretary of Education and the President within 18 months. Studies have shown that American students perform worse on tests than their counterparts in other countries, including Japan, South Korea, and Germany (National Commission for Excellence in Education, 1983). This fear was the driving force behind the commissioning. The commission produced A Nation in Danger: The Imperative for Education Reform in April 1983, on schedule. The commission said American education had been in decline since the Soviets launched Sputnik. Illiteracy increased and average test scores declined during this period. American industry is losing ground to Japan in automobiles, South Korea in steel and Germany in machine tools..