Michigan sued to prevent use of public funds for private schools News
Michigan sued to prevent use of public funds for private schools

Education and parent groups filed a lawsuit [complaint] on Wednesday to prevent the Michigan government from using certain public funds for private schools. The suit is a response to the state’s education budget [materials], which allocates $2.5 million for reimbursements to private schools for the cost of meeting state requirements, such as health and fire codes, immunizations and building codes. Opponents like Michigan Association of School Administrators (MASA) [advocacy website] Executive Director Chris Wigent say [press release] the allocation violates the state constitution [text].

In recent years legislation surrounding education and school policies has generated controversy in the US. In September a lawsuit was filed [JURIST report] in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan [official website] alleging inadequate education facilities and standards in Detroit. That same month the Supreme Court of Nevada ruled [JURIST report] that the state’s school funding system was unconstitutional. In February the US Supreme Court remanded a dispute [JURIST report] over an elementary school student’s service dog to the lower court. That same month the Illinois State Board of Education [official website] voted to approve [JURIST report] a settlement of a lawsuit claiming discriminatory school funding. In March the US Supreme Court vacated a lower court ruling [JURIST report] concerning transgender restroom policies. Also this month the Kansas Supreme Court [official website] ruled [JURIST report] that the state failed to ensure sufficient funding for public schools.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.